Plectrums

Bigpops · 25 Jun 2006 at 22:58

I love the Jazz IIIs myself. Red ones (slightly softer) over the black ones.

Small, pointy, and thick (1.38mm).

Augmented · 25 Jun 2006 at 23:48

I've found the raised lettering that Nylon picks feature a little uncomfortable to use compared to a smooth finish like the Tortex; nice picks, but it's something that puts me off using them.

skinnyl · 26 Jun 2006 at 03:02

Orange Tortex 0.66mm.

best i ever used

IceBus · 26 Jun 2006 at 03:49

Chronos-X said:
was like strumming with a stanley knife.

LMAO

penski · 26 Jun 2006 at 11:12

fenderbass86 said:
It's really down to what you find comfortable, you can't say bass is meant to be played with fingers, because it comes down to personal choice. I use a pick the majority of the time, but I do like to use my fingers just to keep things fresh, hell I even like 'poppin n' slappin'!

When I played (bandstyle as opposed to just buggering about with it every now and then) it was very hard, very fast and very loud...Which is why I don't really hold with the 'you need a pick for accuracy' argument :/

But yeah - whatever you feel most comfortable with.

*n

SidewinderINC · 26 Jun 2006 at 11:29

<not a bassist>

i far prefer the sound of a pick to using fingers with bass, just sounds a lot more raw. mmm.

ruffneck · 26 Jun 2006 at 12:11

I prefere really thin picks, so I use dunlop 0.38, its like paper, makes a great sound on the acoustic

Unromantic__Me · 26 Jun 2006 at 13:11

I could never have anyone that played bass with their fingers over a pick in my band, just sounds aweful in comparison imo

riddlermarc · 26 Jun 2006 at 16:57

Augmented said:
I normally use:
1.0mm Tortex Standard (Blue)

That's what I used to use, got switched on to some Stagg TSR100 diddy 1.0mm plectrums:

http://www.soundsmusical.com/produc...rs Pack (6 Plectrums) - 1.00mm&cl=Transparent

They are fingernail sized and transparent, not the easiest thing to find on the rehearsal studio floor if you drop them!

As it happens, I have a blue Tortex 1mm, a 1mm TSR100 and a 0.76mm yellow Planet Waves one in my pocket - do others carry a plectrum or two at all times "just in case"?

Jimbo Mahoney · 26 Jun 2006 at 17:42

ruffneck said:
I prefere really thin picks, so I use dunlop 0.38, its like paper, makes a great sound on the acoustic

W00t! I'm no longer alone!

SexyGreyFox · 26 Jun 2006 at 18:52

SidewinderINC said:
<not a bassist>

i far prefer the sound of a pick to using fingers with bass, just sounds a lot more raw. mmm.

I won't allow bassists to play with their fingers in my band. I have Jason and every now and then we have a stand in and both play with plectrums. They are both amazing without plectrums but our music and tightness demands a pick player. As soon as the pick is taken away you can tell the difference.
Jason will take the pee some nights and for a bar or two play with his fingers and straight away I can tell.
I can also tell when I hear a band for the first time if the bassist plays with a plectrum or not. The bands with a plec are a lot tighter.

SidewinderINC · 26 Jun 2006 at 19:32

dont understand how the tightness changes between fingers/plectrum. i'm assuming you mean the way you get the attacking sound from a plectrum but dont when using fingers mostly.

IceBus · 26 Jun 2006 at 19:37

SidewinderINC said:
dont understand how the tightness changes between fingers/plectrum. i'm assuming you mean the way you get the attacking sound from a plectrum but dont when using fingers mostly.

The peak of the note is a lot more distinct with a plectrum and so sounds tighter, also alternate picking with a plectrum sounds faster than alternate picking with fingers.

SexyGreyFox · 26 Jun 2006 at 19:45

IceBus said:
The peak of the note is a lot more distinct with a plectrum and so sounds tighter, also alternate picking with a plectrum sounds faster than alternate picking with fingers.

Correct.
Fingers have their place but if you want to be really tight with the drummer then plectrums all the way.

SidewinderINC · 26 Jun 2006 at 19:50

IceBus said:
The peak of the note is a lot more distinct with a plectrum and so sounds tighter, also alternate picking with a plectrum sounds faster than alternate picking with fingers.

wicked, so i was right in my mind just my words didnt explain what i was thinking haha

ive tried telling our "bassist" that i want him to use a plectrum but he says he cant use them. he cant keep in time with his fingers and our drummer is a better bassist than he is because of it.

SexyGreyFox · 26 Jun 2006 at 20:03

SidewinderINC said:
wicked, so i was right in my mind just my words didnt explain what i was thinking haha

ive tried telling our "bassist" that i want him to use a plectrum but he says he cant use them. he cant keep in time with his fingers and our drummer is a better bassist than he is because of it.

Listen to the wise old man - get rid of him.

Of course there are many finger bassists who keep perfect time but I'd love to hear some of them with a pick.

penski · 26 Jun 2006 at 20:45

I can never get on with a pick - I keep dropping them :/ My fingers are too big for the stubby little things.

Which is weird because I first started out with one when I was younger (and had smaller hands)...

I find that if you are using your fingers you need to condition yourself to 'play' slightly earlier as the roundness of the note during usual finger-play (fnar) means that there is a slight delay between you 'starting' the note and it's 'peak'.

*n

PS: Show me a pick-player who can do time-perfect stacatto picking on all four strings at once...

There are some fast alternate pickers but you need your fingers for multiple strings.

SexyGreyFox · 26 Jun 2006 at 20:59

penski said:
There are some fast alternate pickers but you need your fingers for multiple strings.

Of course and thats why playing with both styles should be in every bass players armoury.

MrMoon · 26 Jun 2006 at 21:44

dunlops all the way, green ones think its like .77 not 100% use .50 on my acoustic though