Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

I started with fingers - it feels completely natural. I can play with a thumb, but pick is what's tough. Funny how things work.

I always had picks and played with one off & on but usually played finger-style. I joined a band that played songs that were played originally with a pick so started using one. Now, I primarily use a pick and secondarily finger-style when the song demands it. I'm not 100% proficient (ala master pick-player Bobby Vega) but I'm on route and getting better every day.
So much colour you can add having that option.

 

[BklynKen]

interesting...find 66s to last much longer..

Same here. I get at least a few months out of them. But I like the SIT Power Steels a little more.

 

[dagrev]

I always had picks and played with one off & on but usually played finger-style. I joined a band that played songs that were played originally with a pick so started using one. Now, I primarily use a pick and secondarily finger-style when the song demands it. I'm not 100% proficient (ala master pick-player Bobby Vega) but I'm on route and getting better every day.
So much colour you can add having that option.

I like that option as well. I don't know when I started using a pick after starting with fingers, but it must have been early on. No doubt in part due to Leon's influence again. I mostly use fingers (70%), but love to use a pick and get that extra snap attack (flats or rounds--flats sound really good with a pick!). On occasion I've played a set with pick because I just felt like it. I'm not sure what causes me to decide what songs to use a pick on, but at times it's if there's a quick steady driving beat, but that's not always the case. But once I start playing one way or the other I hardly revert to the other.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I like that option as well. I don't know when I started using a pick after starting with fingers, but it must have been early on. No doubt in part due to Leon's influence again. I mostly use fingers (70%), but love to use a pick and get that extra snap attack (flats or rounds--flats sound really good with a pick!). On occasion I've played a set with pick because I just felt like it. I'm not sure what causes me to decide what songs to use a pick on, but at times it's if there's a quick steady driving beat, but that's not always the case. But once I start playing one way or the other I hardly revert to the other.

same here...i remember being really conflicted (unjustified in retrospect) when starting out cause i really dug Rocco, Jaco, Stanley AND Entwistle, Squire and other pick players...in my neck of the woods at the time, pick players were considered guitarists playing bass but i didn't care since i never played guitar and really liked the approach regardless....then i listened to Zep's The Song Remains the Same live album and heard Jonesy rip it up with fingers on "Dazed and Confused" and then get REALLY funky with a pick on "Whole Lotta Love"....from then on i've used both techniques and am glad i did...customers (musicians i play with) really appreciate it....in the studio i mostly use a pick unless the song is a ballad or slow blues..

 

[BklynKen]

I always play up at the bridge pickup, so I think I get a sharper attack even with my fingers. @JJR58 has heard me play live, so he can confirm or deny.

 

[godofthunder59]

I played my first gig with my old band JOHNNY SMOKE the other week! I left four years ago, the usual band beefs lol I got the call in December asking if I would be interested in coming back. I said yes immediately. I spent 13 years of my life in this band and I missed it. The return of Scotty SMOKE!

 

[JIO]

I like that option as well. I don't know when I started using a pick after starting with fingers, but it must have been early on. No doubt in part due to Leon's influence again. I mostly use fingers (70%), but love to use a pick and get that extra snap attack (flats or rounds--flats sound really good with a pick!). On occasion I've played a set with pick because I just felt like it. I'm not sure what causes me to decide what songs to use a pick on, but at times it's if there's a quick steady driving beat, but that's not always the case. But once I start playing one way or the other I hardly revert to the other.

same here...i remember being really conflicted (unjustified in retrospect) when starting out cause i really dug Rocco, Jaco, Stanley AND Entwistle, Squire and other pick players...in my neck of the woods at the time, pick players were considered guitarists playing bass but i didn't care since i never played guitar and really liked the approach regardless....then i listened to Zep's The Song Remains the Same live album and heard Jonesy rip it up with fingers on "Dazed and Confused" and then get REALLY funky with a pick on "Whole Lotta Love"....from then on i've used both techniques and am glad i did...customers (musicians i play with) really appreciate it....in the studio i mostly use a pick unless the song is a ballad or slow blues..

For me when a song needs that fat pillowy bass tone - I use my fingers. (or for an upright vibe) Soft on audible articulation and big on bottom. Usually everything else is with a pick and palm-muting. Only when it gets full-on rock is when it's just straight-ahead pick for that biting bass presence.
Needless to say, the bass I use in that regard is a T-bird. Nothing out T-birds a T-bird.

But don't get me wrong though - I'm pretty good finger-style and most pick work is attempting to catch up what I can already do with my fingers! Also never played guitar - a bass player from day 1 to now and beyond. And chords sound great with a pick! Luckily I've never been intimidated by "playing bass like a guitarist" .

 

[JIO]

I always play up at the bridge pickup, so I think I get a sharper attack even with my fingers. @JJR58 has heard me play live, so he can confirm or deny.

On a 2 pu bass this is where my right hand dwells as well. On a 1 pu bass it's over the pu.

 

[RedVee]

Actually, it’s a 2018 Gibson, so I’m not sure how the pups compare to the Eppi VP.

I too have a variety of other basses and strive to not touch my amp’s EQ. This is the first bass I’ve had that had me leaning that way. I’m currently with a band that does a wide range of covers, so it’s a challenge to find that one bass I can play all night as were crossing genres. I do find the TBird is quite good at covering lots of sonic territory, which surprised me.

If I could just squeeze a bit more out of the top end, I’d call it a day.

I don’t know. All I know is to have one pickup not quite at 10 to get more oomph

I started with fingers - it feels completely natural. I can play with a thumb, but pick is what's tough. Funny how things work.

Same, this time around. My brief teenage flirtation was pick. A tort pick.

But... I do add the old sideways finger bit* when I pretend I’m playing an upright.

* You may tell at this point I don’t know the technical term for ‘sideways finger bit’

 

[bylar13]

I have always played with a pick. Usually a Dunlop (grey, .88mm or black, 1mm). I can play a lot of stuff with one finger pretty well but the second finger gets involved, things go south pretty fast...

I started using Stainless Roto's (105-.45) 1983-1992, then switched to D'Adarrio nickle round wounds, 105-.50. 1992-2015.
When I started back up playing in bands again, about 3 or so years ago, I couldn't find the D'Addario's in the gauge I liked, so I started using Erie Ball Nickle round wounds, 105-.50.

I sweat a lot when we play live and kill strings pretty quickly so the Erie Balls sound good and are relatively inexpensive ($16 or so online) and they get replaced fairly often.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I always play up at the bridge pickup, so I think I get a sharper attack even with my fingers. @JJR58 has heard me play live, so he can confirm or deny.

oh-oh....@JJR58 on the spot again......

 

[bylar13]

Actually, it’s a 2018 Gibson, so I’m not sure how the pups compare to the Eppi VP.

I too have a variety of other basses and strive to not touch my amp’s EQ. This is the first bass I’ve had that had me leaning that way. I’m currently with a band that does a wide range of covers, so it’s a challenge to find that one bass I can play all night as were crossing genres. I do find the TBird is quite good at covering lots of sonic territory, which surprised me.

If I could just squeeze a bit more out of the top end, I’d call it a day.

I replaced the stock Gibson pickups in my 2014 T-Bird with a set of Lollar T-Bird pick ups. They did for me, exactly what you are describing. As a point of reference I am using Erinie Ball Nickel round wound strings.

 

[BklynKen]

On a 2 pu bass this is where my right hand dwells as well. On a 1 pu bass it's over the pu.

I've never had a single pickup bass. Not sure what I'd do, since I love the higher tension by the bridge. I guess that's my answer. No single pickup basses.

 

[JIO]

I've never had a single pickup bass. Not sure what I'd do, since I love the higher tension by the bridge. I guess that's my answer. No single pickup basses.

Never say never - I love my 1 pu basses. (and my 2 pu basses!) I also like the higher tension near the bridge but I just end up over the (1) pu without thinking about it. On a 1 pu bass- that's where the action is. Think about it - on a 2 pu bass if you're playing near the bridge, you are most likely over or near the B pu - over the pu is where it's at.

 

[MCF]

I sometimes play that way on songs that aren't pushing me too hard[2]. If the part's at all tricky for where I'm at, my dynamics are all over the place. I know part of this is practice, but I'm pretty sure there's some technique I'm missing, or some ways I could practice that would be more effective.

I have the least bass experience of our bass players, and less time on instrument than almost anyone else on the team.[1] I don't count time playing guitar because I never got past "decent player", and that was years ago.

Everyone else seems happy enough with my playing, but I'm not. I'm not beating myself up; I just want to see real progress.

[1] I play at church, and we mix and match each week's team from our pool of musicians. We have at least 2-3 people each for bass, drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synth, piano, and vocals. Only one violinist; no other bowed instruments- yet. Several really good sound peeps. I'm pretty blown away by how many amazing worship musicians we have for a church our size. I'm thrilled and honored to get to play with them. My favorite part? Each of us brings what we bring. So any given song may not sound anything like the way someone else plays it. I can bring in a part influenced by anyone I like, or just make one up. Only three times in ~5 years was I asked to play a specific part, and I play at least 40-50 ~45-60 minute sets a year between Sundays and special events.
[2] (This has probably been here before. Oh, well.[3] But the bass player gets camera time, probably because someone was confused.)
[3] I was tempted to link a Fleetwood Mac video, but won't for now.

That clip of the Seeds on Shebang brings back fond memories of the local So Cal shows when I was a kid. Everyone in our neighborhood watched it and a show called the Lloyd Thaxton Hop. Shebang was culturally important; Kasem’s show started with mixed audiences and dancers, not too many months after the Watts riots.

As for the Seeds, hate to say it, but the singer used the bass as a prop. Session players played on the records and when they played live, keys covered the bass parts. Great song.

 

[Border]

Good evening Thunderbird friends. Just dropping in to say hello. I am taking a few days off and heading west to Seattle. If taking time off I should be getting after a dead tree in my yard, that is danger of spontaneously combusting. Leaving it all for a bit to attend the Rolling Stones concert! Last saw them in the old Kingdome in maybe 1982 or so. Hoping for a great evening of good music with good friends. Maybe see our queen at the show? Have a great evening, will post a few pics of the new Gibson soon.

 

[JIO]

[2]

He had that 'look' - the white pants - the buttoned up brown jacket, the sway and spastic leg ... and of course a hollow-body Vox Teardrop bass - couldn't have been more "of the time".

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I always play up at the bridge pickup, so I think I get a sharper attack even with my fingers. @JJR58 has heard me play live, so he can confirm or deny.

I play from just off the bridge to the 12th fret (occasionally beyond), even tough most of my time is nearer the neck pickup. That comes from my guitar days. Thee are tones that I can get from a pick, tones I can get with my thumb, and tones I can get with my fingers.
Theoretically, more fingers in play equals faster potential playing.

 

[JIO]

I play from just off the bridge to the 12th fret (occasionally beyond), even tough most of my time is nearer the neck pickup. That comes from my guitar days. Thee are tones that I can get from a pick, tones I can get with my thumb, and tones I can get with my fingers.
Theoretically, more fingers in play equals faster potential playing.

ah... don't think so. Even though it would be silly to have a 'speed' contest of fingers vs pick on a bass - my bets would be on a pick being "faster". YOMV

 

[Miles_ONeal]

ah... don't think so. Even though it would be silly to have a 'speed' contest of fingers vs pick on a bass - my bets would be on a pick being "faster". YOMV

We shall see, at least for me.