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What is the best bass for using a pick?

#41
jeff arddun said:
The pick sound? What's that exactly?
I could name you several pick players who get radically different sounds.
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Wouldn't that have to do with... equalization? I play with a pick too, and I have found a "sweet spot" for me in the tone of my bass, one that still gives it plenty of attack without sounding too raspy.

But, of course, this is a personal thing. The "pick tone" is whatever one chooses to have.
 
#43
NecroticImbecil said:
Mouradian. You won't see many people recommending them because few people have played one. You'd need to be able to afford 3 Rics and be staggeringly lucky to even find one for sale.

Since you can't have one of those, any decent bass should work. Maybe try out a bunch and pick the one you like the best? No, that's crazy talk.
Click to expand...

Bass Central has a nice Mouradian right now. If I could afford it, it would be gone.

2nd one down from the top on this page:
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#44
If your pick is hitting the wood such that you need a pickguard, you're doing it rong.

If you play 100% pick style, string spacing becomes important so you can do string jumps (i.e. octaves) more quickly.
I like a 17mm spacing myself.

Other factors include knob placement so they don't bump your knuckles, especially if you are playing close to the bridge.

Most any bass is fine, but the one you like best is the one you will prefer (obviously), so try before you buy.

Tone-wise, it depends what you're going for. I've never met a bass that sounded good with fingers and bad with pick, or vice versa.

Picks by default are treblier than fingers, but you can get a wide variation in tone just by picking closer to the neck or bridge, and using your tone control. You can play reggae with a pick if you roll off the treble control and play up by the neck.
 
#45
I don't know about best bass, but I can tell you that changing your pick position on the scale makes a huge difference.

If you pick nearer the bridge you'll get a tone that's richer in the higher harmonics, because you are picking right where they vibrate. (i.e., between the nodes.) If you pick closer to the neck you'll get a tone that's richer in the lower harmonics and fundamental.

Just a little bit of change in picking position can make a big change in tone, even on the same bass.

Same is true for finger picking, but picks are better at picking near the bridge, imo, and I don't finger pick there myself, so... I hereby impose my limitations upon you.

The point being, take care to notice the effect of pick position, you might find what you want on the same bass.
 
#57
Agreed that there is no official "finger or pick bass", but if you want a DEDICATED finger bass, I recommend Fender P, strung with flats..brand of your choice and for DEDICATED pick bass..Rickenbacker 4001-s, of course strung with rounds, my preference: roto 66's .
!!! Buy an A/B/Y box; plug both basses in, step on the switch for " instant" bass change.
Frankly any bass has THAT sound when strung with fresh rounds and a pick..for a short while. Can't go wrong with a "Rick and a pick", though.
 

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