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What is the best bass for using a pick?

#81
Nev375 said:
If you play a bazooki with a pick do you also get more attack?

Greek_bazooka.jpg
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Exactly!

However there is an alternative (this thread is about to get seriously derailed) especially if you are a traditionalist. You can use a risha or an [This invalid link has been removed](even though those are illegal to sell in some countries)
 
#83
I posted yesterday; recommended P-BASS W/ FLATS for finger style and Rick W/ROUNDS with a pick. I have reversed that in my own selection. After decades of using rounds on my Rick, I strung it with flats in 1998 and mostly play it finger style and my P-Bass is strung w/rounds, which I alternate betweeen fingers ar pick, as I believe the tune calls for.

The neat thing about flats is they last a lifetime, IMHO.. no need to change stings again unless you want to. As for rounds, change them as often as you can afford to.
 
#85
Rockin Mike said:
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:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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That is pretty nice looking. Though you'd think for 5K they could put a knob on that naked pot. Maybe they want to keep it stock. Well, except for the tuner. And the bridge. I'm guessing they're mistaken about the pickups. There isn't a lot of info out there unless you really dig, and I can see them not having the time for that. The price makes me happy I didn't sell mine when I was considering it.
 
#91
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.
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The Mouradian is such a monster with a pick, I love when Squire use his green one. Never seen such a bass except on pictures.
 
#96
Calaverasgrande said:
you will injure yourself trying to do any of that thumb slappy carny foolishness on an Ovation Magnum. Thats why they put that aluminum rail there. To protect the world from thumb slappy carny foolishness.
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It's not fundamentally different from any other bass guitar and that rail isn't even in the zone where a lot of people slap. It might be somewhat limiting but by no means prohibitive.

ovationmagnum.jpg
 
#97
I agree there's no such thing as a "pick" bass, but I think good semi-hollow basses have an especially righteous, cool tone with a pick, such as the Epiphone Jack Casady someone mentioned. That's a good call. I had a DiPinto Belvedere for a few years, and it was great with a pick: huge, but with some definition. Check out the live QOTSA DVD to hear their players tearing it up with picks on old hollow or semi-hollow Yamahas. I got a similar tone on the DiPinto.

After many years of fingerstyle, I play mostly pickstyle now due to a joint problem in my right index finger. I love P-basses, but for some reason usually prefer J-basses with a pick. Maybe it's because they don't "clank" quite the same way, and have a certain "bite" I don't get from a P-bass. Or maybe it's because with the treble turned down a bit, they still have lots of definition. Not sure exactly, but it works for me.

Regardless, good pick tone really is mostly about touch and technique, and the pick itself makes a big difference. Try several. You really might be able to get the tone you want out of your P-bass. (Not saying you shouldn't get another bass, mind you. We all know you probably should, and we don't need an excuse like allegedly requiring a "pick bass." Just say you want another. It's okay. We understand. :D)
 
#98
Nedmundo said:
I agree there's no such thing as a "pick" bass, but I think good semi-hollow basses have an especially righteous, cool tone with a pick, such as the Epiphone Jack Casady someone mentioned. That's a good call. I had a DiPinto Belvedere for a few years, and it was great with a pick: huge, but with some definition. Check out the live QOTSA DVD to hear their players tearing it up with picks on old hollow or semi-hollow Yamahas. I got a similar tone on the DiPinto.

After many years of fingerstyle, I play mostly pickstyle now due to a joint problem in my right index finger. I love P-basses, but for some reason usually prefer J-basses with a pick. Maybe it's because they don't "clank" quite the same way, and have a certain "bite" I don't get from a P-bass. Or maybe it's because with the treble turned down a bit, they still have lots of definition. Not sure exactly, but it works for me.

Regardless, good pick tone really is mostly about touch and technique, and the pick itself makes a big difference. Try several. You really might be able to get the tone you want out of your P-bass. (Not saying you shouldn't get another bass, mind you. We all know you probably should, and we don't need an excuse like allegedly requiring a "pick bass." Just say you want another. It's okay. We understand. :D)
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+1 on the pick choice.
When I started playing with a pick, I went with the biggest, thickest and hardest one I could find. Hell, I was a step away from using a Bachi. Over the years I have concluded that the best material for me is the dunlop tortex. Gauges have been constantly dropping and I am seriously close to going to .50mm ,their lightest gauge, from the one I am currently using, the .60mm. By the way all this pick thing started when I picked the guitar.(Incoming flaming in 3,2,1...)
 
#99
jeff arddun said:
It's not fundamentally different from any other bass guitar and that rail isn't even in the zone where a lot of people slap. It might be somewhat limiting but by no means prohibitive.

ovationmagnum.jpg
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I was gonna tell you how everyone who ever borrowed my Magnum complains how it hurts the bottom of their thumb, but I really just want to know what is up with that odd dial on that bass. Is that the Shadow Hills mod?
 
#100
Calaverasgrande said:
I was gonna tell you how everyone who ever borrowed my Magnum complains how it hurts the bottom of their thumb, but I really just want to know what is up with that odd dial on that bass. Is that the Shadow Hills mod?
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Heck I dunno, it's just a pic I grabbed off the web. It is a dang cool looking bass though. A buddy of mine had one of these in high school and I thought it was junk because it wasn't a Fender...dumb as a post back then and only a little smarter now :rolleyes:
So, what exactly is the Shadow Hills mod? Some of the guts out of a Gama preamp or something?

Certainly not calling you a liar either...I just have real issues with ideas like "can't" and "impossible".
 

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