Bass playing Guitarists...I'd like to give you a Wedgie!

[cardell]

The great Carol Kaye always recorded bass with a pick. She said it gave a better attack versus playing with your fingers.

Yes, of course that's true, but if you are after a more mellow tone with that percussive chugging sound*...you can't beat fingers.

These picks seem to give me the mellow tone, but not the chugging sound...

BTW, this thread has an example of a bass line where I have used one of these picks:
http://forums.taxi.com/topic31932.html

Stuart

*I think I just invented a new description of a bass sound...

[Hookjaw Brown]

"percussive chugging Copyright that!

[pike]

I am also a guitarist who plays bass on my recordings. I bought a 3-pack of Wedgie Hard Rubbers and I love the sound on my bass tracks. One thing I noticed is that the Wedgie picks tend to pull on the strings (because of the rubber). I solved that problem by dabbing some Finger Ease near the tip of the pick (both sides) and this helped a lot. My playing is smoother now.

Thanks for letting us know about these picks!

[Hookjaw Brown]

I went and bought a pack of all their picks.....too many choices now ..<grin>

[cardell]

I am also a guitarist who plays bass on my recordings. I bought a 3-pack of Wedgie Hard Rubbers and I love the sound on my bass tracks. One thing I noticed is that the Wedgie picks tend to pull on the strings (because of the rubber). I solved that problem by dabbing some Finger Ease near the tip of the pick (both sides) and this helped a lot. My playing is smoother now.

Thanks for letting us know about these picks!

No problem Pike. BTW, thanks for the Finger ease idea.

That's what I really love about this forum: we all benefit from sharing our findings.

Stuart

[pike]

You're Welcome! I agree these forums are a great source of sharing of ideas.

[jonathansorensen]

I'm a guitarist who plays bass on my own recordings. I love playing bass but I'm not very good at playing bass with my fingers. I'm much better with a plectrum (because I'm used to that from the guitar).

I recently discovered Wedgie Rubber Plectrums. They give me a sound which is much closer to fingers (but not quite). I really love 'em.



See here: http://www.wedgie.com/picks_rubber.html

BTW, they're also very good on acoustic guitar.

Stuart

Just used them on a track. They're not exactly like fingers, they're like zombie fingers. Really cool.

Jon

[Torch]

I built a music career playing bass guitar, using a pick most of the time. Usually, the biggest issue with using a pick on a bass is that you get that sharp tic-tac sound with each pluch of the bass string. But here is a way to get around that problem without changing picks.

1) Most every bass guitar has a treble/bass tone control. Roll the tone knob all the way backward so that you have a full bass tone, no treble.

2) When you plug your notes with your pick, make a conscious effort to pluck at the neck position. As you pick your notes, move your picking hand around the neck and pickup area of your bass and this will help to determines what sounds best,

I hope this helps some!

Torch

[Hookjaw Brown]

Kewl! Thanks Torch, as an occasional bass player little things like what you advise comes in handy.

[Hookjaw Brown]

Just got done with a session where they wanted a Samba style guitar using my thumb........I don't do that. Used a light weight rubber Wedgie from the assorted pack of thirty or so that I bought on your recommendation.

WORKED GREAT!!!

Thanks bunches for the post.