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Posted

Really? I ask because I don't think I have a great right hand technique. I tend to 'pop' the strings a bit - i.e. not pluck at 90 degrees. I wondered if one might help. Get a bit of timber and start sanding I suppose.

How close to the strings should it be?

Posted

Swings and roundabouts I would guess. They can encourage/enforce a lighter touch, yes - but surely at the cost of limiting dynamic range? What's so bad about "digging in"? :huh:

I wouldn't have one, but then again I am heavy-handed and not very subtle! :rolleyes:

Posted

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1330011242' post='1551387']
I used to use one when I was a kid, would use it to jump things on my BMX.
Not sure what it's used for on a bass though.
[/quote]

:lol:

Posted

Yes, just make one. get it to 'jam' in between your pick ups so your not attaching it to your bass. if it's what you want, great.If not,
can I have it so I can make 2 cheese wedges out of it to keep gear load-in doors open? :D

Posted

Here's mine:

[IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/SeiLEDs.jpg[/IMG]

I like to pluck the strings at a variety of different points between the "24th fret" and the bridge depending on the tone I want. Mine has been arranged so that the fingerboard, pickups and ramp are all level, giving me a uniform playing surface and thumb rest from the end of the neck to the end of the bridge pickup. If I need to "dig-in" I'll normally be plucking the strings between the bridge and the pickup anyway. Works for me on this bass.

Posted

I don't think you need a ramp to play lighter... just practise right-hand technique! The only use i see for a ramp is the ability to suport your thumb everywhere from the neck to the bridge pickups!


"Can of worms opened? Holly cr*p!!! I'll get my coat..."

Posted

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1330011766' post='1551398']
Here's mine:




[/quote]

You know they put those wretched things at PRECISELY the point I want to dig in. The inconvenience of it all. Tut.

Posted

Always find it odd that some people need a ramp to stop them digging in, or need to feel something under their fingers whether playing over the pickups or in between.

Makes sense as a thumb rest though.... whatever works for you I guess.

Posted (edited)

Put it this way, I would not put a ramp on a jazz bass or my Rickenbacker as I want to dig in at times.

However, on the Adamovic five string I have on order, I am definitely getting a ramp. Ramps make it feel as though you're playing over a pickup all the time. It doesn't get in the way, it just reinforces your muscle memory so you don't play to hard.

I like them, but not on my 'rock' basses...plus yes, the design I'm getting is a 'rampbar'. So there is good thumb supprt across most of the playing area. Dream bass time...

N

Edited by Cairobill
Posted

[quote name='Cairobill' timestamp='1330014389' post='1551469'] Put it this way, I would not put a ramp on a jazz bass or my Rickenbacker as I want to dig in at times. However, on the Adamovic five string I have on order, I am definitely getting a ramp. Ramps make it feel as though you're playing over a pickup all the time. It doesn't get in the way, it just reinforces your muscle memory so you don't play to hard. I like them, but not on my 'rock' basses...plus yes, the design I'm getting is a 'rampbar'. So there is good thumb supprt across most of the playing area. Dream bass time... N [/quote] Like the line 6 one?

Posted (edited)

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1330016634' post='1551526']
Like the line 6 one?
[/quote]

It's a housing that contains the pickups like this...

[url="http://www.adamovic.nl/3Options/Pickups.htm"]http://www.adamovic....ons/Pickups.htm[/url]

Edited by Cairobill
Posted

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1330012241' post='1551408']
You know they put those wretched things at PRECISELY the point I want to dig in. The inconvenience of it all. Tut.
[/quote]

Which is why this bass is mine and not yours ;-)

When I first started playing fretless I found I liked the feel I get when I played over the end of the fingerboard, but often the tone was too mellow. So when I had this one made one of the main specifications was that the fingerboard, pickups and ramp formed a continuous surface that gave me the playing feel I wanted and the tone(s) I wanted at the same time.

Besides if I need to dig in at one of the more conventional places I have another fretless bass that allows me to do that.

Posted

When I had a stingray I was always playing over the pickup anyway. It had exactly the same effect, I developed muscle memory to allow me to play over those sharp metal polepieces without hitting them too hard. When I wanted to hit the stingray hard, I would use a pick.

Posted

I used to play fingerstylet very, very hard. I've been weening myself off it and have a gentler touch nowadays but I can still overcook it at times. Ramps definitely keep my touch nice and light and help me to play with much more dexterity.

Posted

The ramp I think originated with Gary Willis although the raised pick-up thing works the same too which is one of Billy Sheehan's 'secrets' which he happy to tell everyone in a clinic.

A lot of people working on their right-hand finger-style technique, particularly using the Gary Willis approach, use them to govern their attack to ensure a light touch. The common element between Billy and Gary being that they both use three fingers to pluck, using the ramp/raised pick-up to provide a resistant surface to govern the slight uneven length and strength of the three fingers.

More broadly, you make the amp do the work in terms of volume, keeping your right-hand agile and tension-free. If you look at Gary's videos on YouTube, he certainly gets great dynamics. Over-playing, particularly to compensate for poor volume or monitoring is potentially very damaging to your hands. That said, in reply to an earlier post, I wouldn't stick a ramp on a vintage Rick or Fender either.

Posted

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1330011766' post='1551398']
Here's mine:



I like to pluck the strings at a variety of different points between the "24th fret" and the bridge depending on the tone I want. Mine has been arranged so that the fingerboard, pickups and ramp are all level, giving me a uniform playing surface and thumb rest from the end of the neck to the end of the bridge pickup. If I need to "dig-in" I'll normally be plucking the strings between the bridge and the pickup anyway. Works for me on this bass.
[/quote]

Sorry, but I am going to have to say it....... you have wooden pickups, they will never work you know!

Coat ready and on my way :)

Posted

I don't use a ramp for two reasons.

One: i dig in a lot.

Two: as inconsistent as my attack might be because of this, I just enjoy it and it feels right to me. Inconsistencies are smoothed out with my compressor ;) (I know, it's kind of cheating!)

Posted

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1330011766' post='1551398']
Here's mine:



I like to pluck the strings at a variety of different points between the "24th fret" and the bridge depending on the tone I want. Mine has been arranged so that the fingerboard, pickups and ramp are all level, giving me a uniform playing surface and thumb rest from the end of the neck to the end of the bridge pickup. If I need to "dig-in" I'll normally be plucking the strings between the bridge and the pickup anyway. Works for me on this bass.
[/quote]

What a sweet little bass

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