Plectrum or fingers for your Starfire Bass?

[hieronymous]

@krysh:
Your bass has a wiiiiiiide spectrum of tones to use!
@ hieronymous:
You definitely got the Phil Lesh tone down pat!

Doing it live with a band is another thing altogether! It was fun figuring it out - and of course it's only one possible interpretation - I actually know several people who have absorbed his influence deeply.

Both you guys use your picks in a way that it doesn't sound too "clicky", if you know what I mean.
I sound clicky, but then I'm using a really thin fender pick. I will have to try some others, though I like the sound I have now. Just some may find it too clicky.
Playing with a pick definitely changes the tone, and brings out the tone differently than finger style. I think it brings out the hollow body sound really well. I will have to try it on the Ric bass and see how it sounds on that bass, too.

BTW, across all the basses I ever played, I cannot control the clank of my right hand finger style playing. I am too heavy handed.
Only if I really raise the action can I avoid it. Playing with a pick definitely cleans up my technique, and no annoying pops and clank!
I did a blind sound test with my wife as the listener and she said she likes the pick tone better than my finger style tone. Pick is more clear and powerful sounding for her tastes.
I find my time keeping is better with a pick. With finger style, my middle finger sounds a little off sometimes. Probably no-one would notice but me.

I actually play pretty hard, both with pick and fingers. I've backed off a bit, but for me it's plucking/striking with just the right force, and I'm sure that the sound of the string hitting the frets is part of it. Then, how you EQ it can affect its role in the overall tone.

Rickenbacker with pick is one of my all-time favorite sounds - Roger Glover was an early influence on me, and later Lemmy Kilmister & Chris Squire (and of course Geddy Lee with the quintessential Ric/fingers approach)

 

[lungimsam]

I used one of the Carol Kaye teardrop picks I had laying around today and was amazed how different the tone was from my Fender Thin teardrop pick. Almost like finger tone. Almost no pick click. I don’t know what it is made out of though.

 

[zulu]

I use fingers unless the song demands it, or for endurance, like a constant 1/8 note "pedaling" bass line at a good tempo. My fingers get tired in a 4 minute+ song.

the strike motion is parallel to the bass face, not pushing down towards it, like finger style.

With all due respect, you're doing it wrong (of course no technique that works for a player can be "wrong"). I have a great bass buddy with the same affliction-pushing the strings down toward the pickups instead of plucking up toward the forearm. The finger style technique should also have a motion parallel to the guitar face, or nearly so. Watch a video of a good upright player and see they're pulling the string sideways, not pushing it down.

 

[zulu]

Not a Starfire but still a Guild (Alembicized M-85 II):



I'm using a Telefunken graphite pick that @edwin turned me on to. Nice even tone, thin but not too flexible. I usually use heavier picks, like 1.14 mm Dunlop Tortex (purple) or maybe the lighter one (blue), but I also like the Adamas 2 mm graphite - Edwin turned me on to those too!

As for the why, in this case it's because I'm emulating/interpreting Phil Lesh. I wonder what kind of picks he used back then?

My first thought watching this was - I want to jam with this guy!

 

[Guildedagain]

Picks generally generate more electricity than fingers = louder with clearer attack.

 

[lungimsam]

Anyone used a metal pic?

 

[mellowgerman]

I've tried a metal pick with bass and thought it sounded awful, even trying to work with it for a few days and adjust technique... Never sounded good to me.
I'm happy with my .88-1mm Dunlop Tortex picks. Same ones I prefer for acoustic and electric guitar. Plus they're cheap enough so I don't have to sweat it when I inevitably lose them

 

[hieronymous]

My first thought watching this was - I want to jam with this guy!

It certainly helps that I'm playing along with masters of the jam!

 

[zulu]

they still make felt picks for bass, too.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Since I am a converted guitarist I took my pick with me so I play with a pick about 90% of the time. Since I also sing lead, it's one less thing I have to think about!

Like here:




I've worked a little bit on learning to play with my fingers. At this time I can only do it on slower songs.

Like here:

 

[drlucky]

After 50 years of playing guitar more or less exclusively, the past 6 months have found me playing bass (band-wise) on gigs. I've been working on using my fingers more (great on slow blues, shuffles, etc.), but on fast Chuck Berry-esque tunes (or when I have to sing) I still use a pick. It just works better. I also have a problem (probably due to my crappy bass technique) with strings clanking on the frets when I use my fingers. Working on it, tho...

 

[Prince of Darkness]

Since I am a converted guitarist I took my pick with me so I play with a pick about 90% of the time. Since I also sing lead, it's one less thing I have to think about!

Like here:




I've worked a little bit on learning to play with my fingers. At this time I can only do it on slower songs.

Like here:

Always good to hear some Freddie KIng and Bill Withers. Great performances

 

[fronobulax]

What did Bill Withers say the umpteenth time he was told that "ain't no" was bad grammar?

I know, I know, I know, I know....

 

[krysh]

And here a compilation of a gig in 2011 with my ex 1965 sf1 with added neck pu, both original bisonics:

Played both finger and pick but cant remember on which songs.

 

[lungimsam]

Just for info:
I tried a Gold light ‘66 Herco pick today and sounds great. Massive tone and clear highs and not plunky.
Nice grip with the knurled end of the pick.

 

[DeArmond Hammer]

I'm learning bass so I usually practice plucking with my fingers. Using a pick is easier for me, and for bass I like a thick pick with a rounded end for a gentler release, more like a finger's release. My favorite bass pick so far is the Dunlop Jazztone 207.

 

[krysh]

I'm learning bass so I usually practice plucking with my fingers. Using a pick is easier for me, and for bass I like a thick pick with a rounded end for a gentler release, more like a finger's release. My favorite bass pick so far is the Dunlop Jazztone 207.

I like the 208 better.

 

[DeArmond Hammer]

I like the 208 better.

You probably pick a lot faster than I do! I can imagine that the pointier tip would help you do that.

 

[mellowgerman]

Funny this came up here... I just found a worn old 208 a few days ago (no idea where it came from!) and I LOVE it. For years I've been using the Tortex .88-1mm picks but this 208 is an eye-opener for me. Will be ordering more for sure. Only thing is, the one I have is plain black shiny plastic... is that because it's so worn that you can hardly read the 208 on it or did they change to another more matte material?

 

[lungimsam]

So does the roundedness of the 207/8 make it less picky/plucky sounding than a standard shaped pick?