Pedal to make finger style sound like a pick ???

[Marcus]

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

[Kev]

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?

[Marcus]

[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

[Kev]

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

[Oscar South]

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.

[dannybuoy]

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!

[ahpook]

[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.

[Mr. Foxen]

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.

[stingrayfan]

Tube of superglue. Pick on each digit. Let your fingers do the walking!

[cheddatom]

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.

[BassMunkee]

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.

[dudewheresmybass]

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.

[Matty]

Ibanez Phat-Hed is good for it.
Clean mode, attack set to 2, it gives a clanky pick-eque tone.

[Kev]

and im selling one of those if you fancy one [/shameless plug]

[cheddatom]

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?

[Kev]

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

[cheddatom]

I will have a look at the manual when I get a min.

[Kev]

[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?

[Matty]

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.

[Marcus]

Thanks for the advice guys !

I think i'll look into the steel leather

ATB

Mark

[dannybuoy]

I use the Dunlop Tortex Trangles, nice and big to get a good grip on! Give em a try:

[redzombie]

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.

[lee650]

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

[Marcus]

[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.....

[rmorris]

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 !