The best pick I ever used was one I made myself, out of some kind of businness card. It was a bit thinner than your regular bank card, and a different material too. But that on guitar. But I'm very into DIY picks... if you can get a good tone out of something "recycled", it's a starter for savings...
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IN RE Picks...
Got a couple of 12 pick packs that I got to try a pick and I won't be using the rest. So, if anybody in the US or Canada hasn't ever tried either or both of these and wants to try one or both of these out I'd be glad to mail you one or both to try. Just PM me your address and which one/both you want.
Available:
1. Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm and/or
2. Clayton 1.90mm
Got a couple of 12 pick packs that I got to try a pick and I won't be using the rest. So, if anybody in the US or Canada hasn't ever tried either or both of these and wants to try one or both of these out I'd be glad to mail you one or both to try. Just PM me your address and which one/both you want.
Available:
1. Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm and/or
2. Clayton 1.90mm
Finally found a spot to discuss this: I own a BC Rich Baritone Bich.30" scale, originally tuned A-A. In the original description, it said that it could also be converted to a 6 string bass. My question is this: besides a new custom nut, anything else that I need to do? It's a string-through so no bridge worries. Also, the VI strings are all wound, right? The unwound strings that are on it now suck, as do all unwounds IMHO.
Hi matt.
You might want to tape-measure the E0 string length from the ball end to the nut and from the nut to the 6th string's tuning machine capstan in order to figure out which string set you'll need:
- the one which is made for the Schecter Hellcat VI (these also fit the Danelectro/Jerry Jones Bass6), or
- the set made for the Fender VI (these strings are longer to accommodate the 'VI's 'floating tremolo' tailpiece.
Is this instrument like the one you have?
I have been reading through the forum #2 and am aware of the "2" different string sets. I would eventually probably go for the thicker gauges because I like a more substantial string thickness. My question would be: do I need to worry about string tension vs neck? Is the thicker strings gonna bow my neck? This ax is pretty much impossible to replace short of sourcing 1 from ed roman or going custom if I mess it up. And yes, it is like the one in the picture. 30". A-a. 1 PU (BDSM?). Volume and tone. Eventually would like to replace the pickup with another passive. Any thoughts on what? Played as a bass, mostly...
You could e-mail <[email protected]> for string tension figures for their round-wound and flat-wound strings for the Hellcat VI and the Fender VI and then compare those figures with the tension of the strings you are currently using.
Re the pickup: get the strings sorted out first. The pickup may sound fine with heavier E - e strings.
An update...Schecter has agreed to change some of the specs for their upcoming Ultra VI based on our input. They were very receptive to our concern that VI's require some different components/values to nail the right sound. So, here is what they have agreed to do so far...
1. Change the pots to A500K
2. Change the Tone Cap to .047
3. And add a .002 Treble Bleed Cap on the Volume so the tone stays bright when rolling down the volume.
They tell me "We have tested this out and it sounds great."
Before we got involved they were going to use the same specs as they currently use for their standard Ultra guitar model. Got to hand it to them for listening to our concerns. It would have been much easier - from a production and operations standpoint - to have just one set of specs for their entire Ultra line instead of taking the time and expense to customize the Ultra VI. They elected to do the right thing.
1. Change the pots to A500K
2. Change the Tone Cap to .047
3. And add a .002 Treble Bleed Cap on the Volume so the tone stays bright when rolling down the volume.
They tell me "We have tested this out and it sounds great."
Before we got involved they were going to use the same specs as they currently use for their standard Ultra guitar model. Got to hand it to them for listening to our concerns. It would have been much easier - from a production and operations standpoint - to have just one set of specs for their entire Ultra line instead of taking the time and expense to customize the Ultra VI. They elected to do the right thing.
I have never heard of a manufacturer so responsive...ever.
So nice to have a company who does something other than "remember that guitar/bass we designed 50 years ago? we dont make any new ones so you should buy those ones again!"
*COUGH FENDERANDGIBSON COUGH*
excuse me
So yeah apparently Schecter has the best customer support ever
So nice to have a company who does something other than "remember that guitar/bass we designed 50 years ago? we dont make any new ones so you should buy those ones again!"
*COUGH FENDERANDGIBSON COUGH*
excuse me
So yeah apparently Schecter has the best customer support ever
That's awesome! Now I really, really want one of these. I've always been impressed with Schecter's quality and I've heard great things about their customer service, but this is the first I've heard about taking customer input in on the designs.
I may be joining a new project very soon in which my Hellcat VI will be my main bass, at least until I either get my Epihone Rivoli fixed or acquire a Harmony H-22. It's a garage/psych/surf kinda thing...
A good environment for a 'VI in that a bass guitar's role can be more loosely defined and exploited accordingly.
- Jun 3, 2009
- 3,330
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- Disclosures
- Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
The Dunlop Jazz III XL is the pick of the gods. Guitar and bass.
The XL is usually harder to find and it is a regular sized pick, not that tiny Jazz III you always see. But everyone from Joe Satriani to me swears by 'em. I know that Garry Tallent uses the Jazz III XL.
I also have personalized picks I use, custom from Steve Clayton, the Ultem in the 1.2 with my logo on them. I love these. They are the closest to the original tortoise shell I've found.
And yes, I'm a "picker".
The XL is usually harder to find and it is a regular sized pick, not that tiny Jazz III you always see. But everyone from Joe Satriani to me swears by 'em. I know that Garry Tallent uses the Jazz III XL.
I also have personalized picks I use, custom from Steve Clayton, the Ultem in the 1.2 with my logo on them. I love these. They are the closest to the original tortoise shell I've found.
And yes, I'm a "picker".
The next time you're at a music shop, grab a 30" bass, drop-tune its E string down to a C to find out if you can live with the resulting floppy string.
Increasing the string's gauge would increase the tension but then achieving proper intonation might be a problem (due to the limit in string saddle travel), depending upon the strings involved.
I've tried drop-tuning my E0 - E, .026 - .095 flat-wound-strung MIJ Fender VI down to B0 - B and the strings were w-a-y too floppy for me.
If one is willing to sacrifice a touch of picking hand attack they can be tuned down to D0 - D and still sound pretty good, but of course any dramatic reduction in string tension will soon require a truss rod adjustment.
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