Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[xJasonSmithx]

I like the Dunlop USA Nylon .88 mm.

This has been my go to for at least 15 years.

 

[arbitrary]

This has been my go to for at least 15 years.

My dad used those for forever. I fancy the Dunlop .88 Tortex. The turtle is also totes adorbs.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

Another .88 tortex user here, but only on my bass vi. And I'm thinking about experimenting with something lighter to make strumming a bit easier for the noob I am.

Also, talking about picks gives me a great reason to show off my pink LEGO pick box

 

[xJasonSmithx]

Another .88 tortex user here, but only on my bass vi. And I'm thinking about experimenting with something lighter to make strumming a bit easier for the noob I am.

Also, talking about picks gives me a great reason to show off my pink LEGO pick box

View attachment 4214731

How do you like the MBD2? It has been on my short list forever but I can't spend any money at the moment.

 

[lucas303]

Another .88 tortex user here, but only on my bass vi. And I'm thinking about experimenting with something lighter to make strumming a bit easier for the noob I am.

Also, talking about picks gives me a great reason to show off my pink LEGO pick box

View attachment 4214731

That Lego box is AWESOME.

I use fingers more than pick, especially lately as I've been working on learning thumb-index-middle-ring plucking. That said I'm not an evangelist for pick or fingers.

For me, I like having the tactile experience of using fingers rather than having the "interface" of the pick. But some of my favorite bass players use/used picks.

 

[Kaa]

For picks, I don't like the overly bright attack of plastic. so, I use ukulele picks. They are a kind of felt-y material with a stiffening layer in the middle. Sounds more finger-y.

 

[ConfoundedBridg]

I've also come around to rounds on some of my basses again

So were you using flats for doomier stuff? If so, what strings? Just curious because you don't really see that often, and I love flats but I have yet to get any that are stiff enough for C-standard and bright enough for doom. My experience is very limited though!

 

[kleinenenten]

So were you using flats for doomier stuff? If so, what strings? Just curious because you don't really see that often, and I love flats but I have yet to get any that are stiff enough for C-standard and bright enough for doom. My experience is very limited though!

Flats for EVERYTHING. I use Chromes, but play mostly 5 strings, so down tuning is not an issue. They're apparently bright for flats, but I've never tried others. No need for me. Down tuning that much would be tough.

For picks, I use Tortex. .88 on guitar, and from .88 to 1.14 on bass. Still figuring that out. But I ALWAYS put some off brand Flex Seal on the fat end to make a nice grip.

 

[oZZma]

Tortex .88 club!
I tried so many picks. The most disappointing were the metal ones, I thought they would have sounded metallic but it doesn't work that way, apparently
Oh, I bought new strings for the Peavey T-40:
EPS330 ProSteels | Bass Guitar Strings | D'Addario

I hope that 107 won't be too light to tune it in C
I chose this set to have the top strings lighter so chords will sound better (hopefully)

 

[Deleted member 132197]

How do you like the MBD2? It has been on my short list forever but I can't spend any money at the moment.

I love it! Great OD. I kinda use it as a light, always on OD, but you can also get some really smooth heavy overdrive out of it.

 

[cornfarmer]

The most disappointing were the metal ones, I thought they would have sounded metallic but it doesn't work that way, apparently

huh? I've been using 'ice pix' for a couple of years and they sound metallic/aggressive to me. They are either their copper/thinner ones or the steel/mediums......I don't really use the brass ones because they're too thick for me.

 

[oZZma]

huh? I've been using 'ice pix' for a couple of years and they sound metallic/aggressive to me. They are either their copper/thinner ones or the steel/mediums......I don't really use the brass ones because they're too thick for me.

I dunno, they are the mellower sounding picks I tried. My theory is that this is due the fact they are too rigid.
As for the sound, I'd even go for thinner picks like Tortex .73, but they are really difficult to play, at least for me.

 

[Flamingo21]

For me, I like having the tactile experience of using fingers rather than having the "interface" of the pick.

Same here, I apparently need to feel the string. I have a good collection of picks, and give it a try every few months, but no.

 

[ConfoundedBridg]

So for people that play without pics in metal groups, jam sessions, or the like... Do y'all find yourselves beating the crap out of your strings like Geezer or are you cutting through with less aggressive styles?

 

[220_Hz]

I dunno, they are the mellower sounding picks I tried. My theory is that this is due the fact they are too rigid.
As for the sound, I'd even go for thinner picks like Tortex .73, but they are really difficult to play, at least for me.

I think the metallic sound comes partly from the rig too, at least in my experience. I like a cab with a horn to capture all the nasty high end noise, and I think the metallic qualities of the ice pix sit mostly in that 6-10k range that most bass cabs ignore. Everyone’s rig is different though, what works for me might not work for you, etc.

 

[xJasonSmithx]

I posted this in the basses section but Squier has some cool looking stuff coming out:

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I really like this medium scale jag:

 

[scabpicker]

I use fingers more than pick, especially lately as I've been working on learning thumb-index-middle-ring plucking. That said I'm not an evangelist for pick or fingers.

Hehe, I use a thumb pick, and use finger picking on some songs with it. I started out using them on bass because I was sick of dropping picks. After awhile I could do a banjo roll on guitar, and thought "what the heck" and bought a banjo. I still suck at banjo, though.

So for people that play without pics in metal groups, jam sessions, or the like... Do y'all find yourselves beating the crap out of your strings like Geezer or are you cutting through with less aggressive styles?

I'm really a pick player, but when I want to cut through, I beat the strings against the fretboard with the thumb pick.

 

[kleinenenten]

So for people that play without pics in metal groups, jam sessions, or the like... Do y'all find yourselves beating the crap out of your strings like Geezer or are you cutting through with less aggressive styles?
View attachment 4214992

I feel like I'm (moderately) heavy-handed (fingered?) when I play finger style. Nowhere near Geezer territory, but if I play softly on purpose, my gates etc. start to cause trouble and not pass signal (as they are designed to do). To me, the biggest things to cut through (or at least be heard, even if you don't want to "cut") are your own EQ, the band's EQ as a whole, and volume. I'm lucky that when I jammed, I had people that wanted the group to sound good, not just themselves. We EQ'd together to make sure it worked in the mix. That's the biggest thing in my opinion.

 

[callofcthulhu]

So for people that play without pics in metal groups, jam sessions, or the like... Do y'all find yourselves beating the crap out of your strings like Geezer or are you cutting through with less aggressive styles?
View attachment 4214992

Beating the crap.

 

[oZZma]

I think the metallic sound comes partly from the rig too, at least in my experience. I like a cab with a horn to capture all the nasty high end noise, and I think the metallic qualities of the ice pix sit mostly in that 6-10k range that most bass cabs ignore. Everyone’s rig is different though, what works for me might not work for you, etc.

Oh definitely. Horn always ON for me, steel roundwounds etc.

Beating the crap.

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