To Ramp or Not to Ramp.....

I always use a ramp to get my cabs on and off stage.....


oh, I guess this was about something else, sorry...

 

I don't use a ramp on my main bass, but I "play the pickups" for a similar effect.

 

Me too.

 

Very rarely do I find it useful to play over the pickups. I wouldn't want a ramp. The pickups get the job done when it's needed, and leave me room to dig in. I really hate the look of ramps that don't match the top or finish. Just a big black slab covering up beautiful wood. But diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

 

i have a ramp between my pickups and i like it. i`m able to dig in quite hard, it`s a bit more comfortable and - first of all - makes me look like a jazz-wanabe poser, and that`s the main reason i got it

 

I've only played one bass that had a ramp, and it wasn't for me. I don't dig in very hard, but I do play with the fleshy parts of my fingers to get my tone, and I found that I just coudn't get 'under' the strings as much as I would have liked.

lates,
dave

 

actually i`ve made several of them

 

saw the picture on the kinal not sure if i like it

but i really can't figure out what it used for or how it is used

bill

 

Had a ramp originally in the design of my custom. But I asked the luthier to omit it from the plans when I finally tried a ramped bass and found the ramp screwed up my slap n' pop. I also saw that when I used a pick, the pick would eventually chew up the ramp.

Moreover, I found I really didn't gain much by having my plucking fingers arched higher over, (more perpendicular to), the strings.

Of course, that's only pertinent to MY technique...YMMV.

 

Check out Gary Willis' site for what has already been said here:

Gary Willis site

For the comfort of playing at the neck like you are on the pickup, I prefer a thumbrest style ramp like those on the Caron F Bass. Then it doesn't affect slap/pop playing, or prevent digging in.

 

After looking at the posts I found out what was meant by ramp. no, i dont use one and dont think i ever will. for a thumbrest, a B-string is enough for most of the time
when i have to use the B then I put my thumb on either the neck p/u or the neck and variate with the angle and distance of my thumb and index finger. worked so far, I can reach the bridge pu easily from the neck pu. i can get a decent dig-in tone without a ramp, too.

 

Ummm...yah, me too! Now I look like that Bruce Willis guy.

 

Say, Tumbao... I'd never seen a Kinal with a "between pickup ramp". How does that one feel.

Here's a Willis ramp on a Kinal..

 

No ramps for me.

 

I have a ramp on my stingray fretless 5. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it does help. It all depends on how you set it up. The Mouradian shop in Boston made mine for me out of an un-used 30+ year old rosewood guitar fingerboard. IMO, it feels good under the fingers.

I have played Matt Garrison's bass a few times and his action is incredibly low. By far the lowest action of any bass I have played. The ramp seems give a physical parameter to work within. I don't think that his bass could be played without it due to his set-up.

To keep it from messing up the slap+pop thing, just have it made so there is some space between where the fingerboard ends and the ramp starts.

Hope this helps.

 

I've been thinking about puting a ramp on my R Bass 5 SC but I want it to be removable if I decide I don't like it in 6 months .... what do you guys use to mount these with?