Where do you pluck?

[misterCRUSH]

I'm kind of an all around guy, near the neck for jazz, in the middle for folk and rock, and towards the bridge for solos. Just curious.

 

[bholder]

Mostly between the neck and neck pickup, other spots if the song calls for those sounds...

 

[Lee Moses]

My default is over the neck pickup, or thereabouts. But I will definitely go bridgeward when I need a tighter sound and feel.

 

[Standalone]

It varies. Centered on the neck pickup, but will move over the neck for light deep overtone vibes or nearer the bridge for some octave snap.

Multiscale basses have so far felt like they fight me on my plucking hand position. I run out of room on the treble strings when I want to get a little snappy and play near the bridge

 

[bass12]

My default position on my Jazz basses is between the two pickups, slightly closer to the bridge. But I'll move around depending on the tone I want.

 

[TerribleTim68]

If you're talking playing finger style, I'm always right over the neck pickup. I use the neck pickup as my "thumb rest". It just feels more comfortable/natural to me.
If you're talking picking, I generally place the side of my palm on the bridge and pick fairly close to the bridge. It's basically the same location Nikki Sixx picks as well, he even uses a little "stand" that he screws onto his basses so he isn't resting his palm on the saddle height screws. I suck with a pick, so it's not something I do a lot. But when I try, that's where I pick.

 

[johnh89]

Up near the neck for pretty well everything . Never thought about it too much . I am happy to move all over to get the sounds that I want

 

[Katoosie]

Over the neck pickup like most of the time.

 

[gln1955]

All over. My hand position is a better tone control than that knobby thing.

 

[Vinny_G]

I play with a pick, mostly between the neck pickup and the bridge pickup, but sometimes a little more towards one or the other depending on the sound and energy I'm looking to achieve.

 

[6-3-2]

If it's just plucking, then I'm right in the middle with my thumb on the neck pickup. I prefer to adjust my balance to change the tone. Never loved the tone playing near the bridge or how the tight tension feels under my fingers.

 

[2112]

I move around to suit the song.

 

[vvvmmm]

Ears and eyebrows, never the nose.

 

[J Wilson]

For any given tune, I move my hand until I hear the tone I want. Way faster than all those knobs.

 

[themickster]

I'm kind of an all around guy, near the neck for jazz, in the middle for folk and rock, and towards the bridge for solos. Just curious.

Wherever feels good for my arm

 

[Killing Floor]

On the outside. Lots of position shifts. Depends on the song.
And sometimes in traffic.

 

[KenD]

Usually somewhere between the nut and the bridge, depending on the tone I'm going for. Although one can get some interesting effects by plucking between the nut and the tuning pegs.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm kind of an all around guy, near the neck for jazz, in the middle for folk and rock, and towards the bridge for solos. Just curious.

My go to tone is about an inch behind the EA side of the split. So, about directly over the DG side of the split. Or, slightly off center, toward the neck pickup, on a Jazz bass.


But, I play however, and anywhere, it needs it.

 

[singlemalt]

Kind of a personal question, isn't it? Pretty much anywhere works for me. Candlelight is nice, moonlight, stars, waves crashing on the beach....

Wait, you said plucking? I thing I misheard. Damn tinnitus.

 

[CryingBass]

So - no "fretboard tappers" here? GOOD