Marcus Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Hi Guys, I only play with my fingers.... I know I should be able to play with a pick too but I've never wanted to and now simply can't !!! A couple of songs i'm playing now are very identifiable as a pick and simply don't sound right with my fingers...... Any pedals out there that would help simulate the attack of a pick ? Sorry if this is a daft question ? ATB Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 ummm turn the treble up? maybe a enhancer of some sort? i dont think theres any specific pedal, what did that electro harmonic knockout pedal do again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted August 3, 2008 Author Share Posted August 3, 2008 [quote name='BassManKev' post='253874' date='Aug 3 2008, 07:39 PM']ummm turn the treble up? maybe a enhancer of some sort? i dont think theres any specific pedal, what did that electro harmonic knockout pedal do again?[/quote] I've tried everything I can with EQ and it's not getting me there...... Cheers Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 you tried just doing downstrokes with a pic? im rubbish to, and i cant alternate pick for sh*t, but downstrokes should be easy enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar South Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 What about an EHX Steel Leather? It probably wouldn't make it sound like a pick, but the description of how it modifies your tone certainly seems to imply it sounds a bit more pick like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Just buy a pick, it's not that hard to learn. Your hand will ache until you get used to it, but it's all part of learning the instrument and different ways of playing it. A pick will cost you 25p, a Steel Leather pedal will give you more of a spiky transient at the beginning of your note but it won't sound like a pick and will cost a lot more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 [quote name='Oscar South' post='253937' date='Aug 3 2008, 09:27 PM']What about an EHX Steel Leather? It probably wouldn't make it sound like a pick, but the description of how it modifies your tone certainly seems to imply it sounds a bit more pick like.[/quote] that's pretty much what it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 I cranked the presence on my sansamp, played near the bridge, and conciously tried to use more nails when a pick sound was demanded. Gave the necessary bite, but then we dropped that part anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Tube of superglue. Pick on each digit. Let your fingers do the walking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 The digitech bass squeeze can get half way there. If I use my boss AW-3 but have it set to a pedal wah type thing, with the expression pedal, I put the pedal all the way back and it creates extreme trebley attack. Then I put that through some overdrive to round it off a bit. It does sound loads like i'm using a pick when I do that. If you have one or can try one, i'll find the settings and post them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassMunkee Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I have found that if I turn up the attack on my noise gate and fiddle with the decay I can get a pick-like sound. It is however only "pick-like" - I play with a pick mostly anyway to be honest and there is no substitute that will satisfactorily replicate the sound imo. As was said earlier, you would be better off buying a couple of picks for 50p, and just practicing, it's all technique and as you appear to have discovered, only being able to play one way can be a limiting factor. If nothing else it's a lot cheaper than buying a (possibly unsatisfactory) pedal to replicate a sound yo could easily get for 50p and a bit of practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 i have to say that although ican play with a pick, i much prefer to use my fingers. in order to achieve that 'picky click' I use an EHX Steel leather. it does exactly the right eq adjustments to make it sound right. however, time practising with a pick will probably serve you better. If you are stubborn and really don't want to learn, the the EHX pedal will be your best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Ibanez Phat-Hed is good for it. Clean mode, attack set to 2, it gives a clanky pick-eque tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 and im selling one of those if you fancy one [/shameless plug] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 is the phat head a distortion but with attack time, so the distortion only kicks in after whatever time you set it to? In which case can I buy it please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 i dont think so, it has an attack switch switch has 3 setting: 0, 1 and 2. im not sure how to describe what it does tbh! just adds high end in short i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I will have a look at the manual when I get a min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 [quote name='Matty' post='254275' date='Aug 4 2008, 11:47 AM']Ibanez Phat-Hed is good for it. Clean mode, attack set to 2, it gives a clanky pick-eque tone.[/quote] i dunno if its just me, but i find setting 2 far too harsh to use really on clean mode (im experimenting now) however set to 1, i likey! although after playin through it for about 20 mins, iv just turned it off and now my stingray clean sounds dead in comparison! i wouldnt say it sounds like a pick though, although i do know what you mean, doesnt tim out of ratm use one in this way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 aye, i meant setting one. I never got past that sound. Its like an exciter and eq in one. I'm sure theres some real nice dirty sounds, but that clean setting just sounds so good i dont want to lose that. I think i need a second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted August 5, 2008 Author Share Posted August 5, 2008 Thanks for the advice guys ! I think i'll look into the steel leather ATB Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I use the Dunlop Tortex Trangles, nice and big to get a good grip on! Give em a try: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redzombie Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I think Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) does a great job of immitating the pick sound, on STP's song "Down". He claims he used a Sansamp Bass Driver for that song, also he was bi-amping with a 70's Marshall Plexi guitar head and a Fender Bassman IIRC. Billy Gould sounds like he's pick playing on a lot of Faith No More albums (to me anyway). Unfortunately I've no idea how he went about doing this, aside from using his fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee650 Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 One thing Nathan east does(apparently) slightly grow your fingernails on your picking hand, it gives a slightly similar attack, i know when mine are getting a bit long, i can tell, just a thought- lee Thanks for the advice guys ! I think i'll look into the steel leather ATB Mar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share Posted August 9, 2008 [quote name='lee650' post='258553' date='Aug 8 2008, 10:21 PM']One thing Nathan east does(apparently) slightly grow your fingernails on your picking hand, it gives a slightly similar attack, i know when mine are getting a bit long, i can tell, just a thought- lee Thanks for the advice guys ! I think i'll look into the steel leather ATB Mar[/quote] not a bad idea that..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 depending on what 'pick' sound you're looking for but it may be worth trying out a Musicman bass or similar - I've heard those get a pick like attack with fingerstyle ? But yeah - persevere with the pick itself - a lot cheaper ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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