Lots of Nikki fans here but you’re clearly out in front.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
New Knob Day! The set for the VP arrived today. The neck volume knob was missing the silver disk. The lettering on the new ones is slightly smaller than on the knobs that came with it so I replaced all three. If someone needs A VP volume or tone knob circa 2017, let me know.
And yeah, I’m not pleased with the gnarled bridge bolts. Anyone know where or how to find unmolested ones?
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
It's just a matter of incorporating it every time you play - the more you do it the more nuanced you'll get. I sometimes used a pick for most of my life, then I joined Bond Girl playing a lot of soundtrack type songs and wanted my bass-lines to be more distinct in the mix. Not 'cut through' as is always said, but more distinct. That was because the lines were very structured and minimal - classic fundamental underpinning of the arraignments. When bass-lines are well written, using a pick with palm-muting gives you a lot of tonal control to nuance the bass-line. I still use finger-style when needed, but anymore play 80% of the time with a pick. Once you get into it, it'll expand your skills two-fold, and it's fun!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
^^^^^
this - I hardly ever drop a pick and hold it with a very light touch. I've also gotten to where I can palm the pick during a song to play finger-style for a passage and retrieve it quickly for another section. It's like having two bass sounds in one song and can be very effective. Up and down strokes also - getting this fluid will allow you to play faster sections/changes. It may take a while to find an ideal pick for your preference. I started with standard Fender Med's but have gravitated toward heavier softer picks lately. (not mushy soft - just not brittle) It's partially a feel thing but also a tone thing. For more aggressive rock I like those larger triangle pics for digging in more. I even have a few thick felt picks that can work with a certain bass or song. Experiment with as many as you can try until you find one that lets you do what you need to do best.
And play along with Beatles songs - Sir Paul played with a pick and all those bass-lines are gold! You'll learn a lot from his playing alone!
Last edited:
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,237
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
.73mm Tortex pick = Ignition switch when applied to a '70s Thunderbird.
Right on Dude, ever use your thumb with palm muting? Remember really early bass instruction books (Mel-Bay for example) where they rested the palm on the pup cover, anchored fingers on the tuck and thumbed away?..
Hmm, that's thumbthing I've never tried.
Did a little live jam thing tonite. Got a call this AM that their regular bassist couldn't make it. Used my Squier VM Jag SS 'cos it was outside in FL heat/ humidity with T-storms forecast(didn't happen). Actually, 'round these parts the weathermen[not the band]could just pencil in "high, 87, 50% chance of thunderstorms, May to September." Out of a sense of preservation, the 'Bird stays home in the AC.
It's just a matter of incorporating it every time you play - the more you do it the more nuanced you'll get. I sometimes used a pick for most of my life, then I joined Bond Girl playing a lot of soundtrack type songs and wanted my bass-lines to be more distinct in the mix. Not 'cut through' as is always said, but more distinct. That was because the lines were very structured and minimal - classic fundamental underpinning of the arraignments. When bass-lines are well written, using a pick with palm-muting gives you a lot of tonal control to nuance the bass-line. I still use finger-style when needed, but anymore play 80% of the time with a pick. Once you get into it, it'll expand your skills two-fold, and it's fun!
Sage advice from each of you!
As a self taught player I've always just used my poor finger technique because it works for me. On many occasions I've tried different picks - plastic, rubber, felt, steel and even leather. I really liked the playability of the leather pick, mostly because it was more supple than the others, but it's also closer to a finger style sound, which isn't what I'm after. I think Chucks idea of a light gauge might be the ticket for this stage in my pick journey.
The other obstacle in my lack of improvement with picking is that I find it utterly frustrating that I can't play some of the simplest of songs with a pick yet I'm perfectly capable of working my way through very complex songs in finger style. It's like being in a multi lingual environment, I keep reverting back to what's comfortable.
At this point I think I really need to just force myself to learn a couple of songs that absolutely require a pick to pull off correctly. Bullet Holes by Bush is one such song. It just doesn't sound right if played finger style.
If you know of other songs that are a must for pick playing it would be helpful if you could list a couple. I'll force myself to learn them on the Greco which just screams for a pick.
Possibly a hint of good news on the Guitar Center purchase. Just got an email with tracking number indicating my "Epoch Firebird" has been shipped.
I can't wait to see what one of those looks like in person.
On the flip side, the email noted... "Your order may arrive in multiple shipments"
I guess it's possible they might ship the headstock separately from the rest of the bass.
I've been working on picks as well. I found 1mm was too stiff. I got a couple each of 0.5mm and 0.43mm and they were more comfortable, but a little too floppy. I have settled at 0.6mm being about right - I like to flex the pick as I grip it, so it isn't as floppy as you might think. I also got the 'cat tongue' brand; with a bit of texture, I don't feel like the thing might slip out of my fingers.
I decided it was time to learn to use a pick when I decided it was time to play some Motorhead. The songs are simple - 3 chord rock - but they demand a pick. And a lot of drive; need lots of drive. The Hotwax is good for that.
Thats great news!! Hopefully they shipped the headstock with it. You don't want that to get lost in shipment.
That's very true. I may just use a pic the next time entirely just to shake things up a little bit. I certainly don't mind playing with a pig and I always like the sound, but typically tend to use one where there are certain playing patterns. At least with some songs, others I think I just grab a pack and play, and then every time I do that song I use a pic.
Back when I played more guitar, I had a Marshall 50 watt combo. I was never really happy with the sound until the day I sold it. The buyer plugged in his SG and turned the the treble knob way down. I had never thought of doing that.
There’s that Furman SS-6B. Simple, cheap and actually reduce noise.
Has a Thunderbird headstock ever been reported as being held hostage?
I feel the same way as you do regarding playing with a pick. I had a long period of time where I just couldn’t seem to get the hang of it, and I would get frustrated and go back to fingerstyle. Just be patient, and it’ll start to get easier. As far as song suggestions, anything from the Foo Fighters catalog should be a good place to start. Nate Mendel plays with a pick almost exclusively with them, and they’re not hard songs to pick up and learn. Good luck!
Roger Glover always used a pick. “Highway Star” pretty much demands a pick, but most RG-era DP does to sound proper.
