Finger Ramps

[Bilbothebassplayer]

I have been using finger ramps on my basses for about 6 years, but every time I have used one, I have had to build my own. As it's only been recently that I have seen them start to become popular. I know Gary Willis has used one for a very long time and seeing some of his stuff on YouTube gave me the inspiration to start using one myself.

 

 <- Cort A5 SC                                   <- Fender American 2019 

 

 

I love how it makes my right hand (plucking hand) feel and how easy it is to float over the strings. Since I started using finger ramps I moved from anchoring my thumb to floating thumb instead, similar to how Gary and a few other of the fusion players do. This has allowed me to start using my thumb for plucking along with the index and middle and it makes string jumping a breeze. 

 

There is a reason for this post and not just an excuse to show off my dodgy woodwork. I have a question for anyone who uses one and or builds them. 

 

Currently the only way to attach a finger ramp I have found, is with double sided tape. For my basses this has worked fine but I wonder if there is a way to adjust the height after installation? similar to how the Gibson bridges on guitar are. I don't really want to drill into my bass haha. 

 

I have recently been to a guitar luthier who is currently building me a new on for my Cort bass, the new ramp will follow the radius of the fretboard and is Ebony, which will look nicer than my black painted bit of cheap B&Q wood haha. 

 

Saying that a drum tech friend of mine had a go at me for using cheap wood as he believed that the type of wood would change the sound. Is he right or wrong? I have no clue haha. 

 

For anyone who wants to build a finger ramp to try on their bass, this is the video from Gary that I learnt how to do it. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKffNbWXRfQ

 

Apologies if there is already a topic about this subject, I couldn't seem to find it. I have only been on this site for about a week, so I'm still wet behind the ears. 

[PinkMohawk]

18 hours ago, Bilbothebassplayer said:

I have been using finger ramps on my basses for about 6 years, but every time I have used one, I have had to build my own. As it's only been recently that I have seen them start to become popular. I know Gary Willis has used one for a very long time and seeing some of his stuff on YouTube gave me the inspiration to start using one myself.

 

 <- Cort A5 SC                                   <- Fender American 2019 

 

 

I love how it makes my right hand (plucking hand) feel and how easy it is to float over the strings. Since I started using finger ramps I moved from anchoring my thumb to floating thumb instead, similar to how Gary and a few other of the fusion players do. This has allowed me to start using my thumb for plucking along with the index and middle and it makes string jumping a breeze. 

 

There is a reason for this post and not just an excuse to show off my dodgy woodwork. I have a question for anyone who uses one and or builds them. 

 

Currently the only way to attach a finger ramp I have found, is with double sided tape. For my basses this has worked fine but I wonder if there is a way to adjust the height after installation? similar to how the Gibson bridges on guitar are. I don't really want to drill into my bass haha. 

 

I have recently been to a guitar luthier who is currently building me a new on for my Cort bass, the new ramp will follow the radius of the fretboard and is Ebony, which will look nicer than my black painted bit of cheap B&Q wood haha. 

 

Saying that a drum tech friend of mine had a go at me for using cheap wood as he believed that the type of wood would change the sound. Is he right or wrong? I have no clue haha. 

 

For anyone who wants to build a finger ramp to try on their bass, this is the video from Gary that I learnt how to do it. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKffNbWXRfQ

 

Apologies if there is already a topic about this subject, I couldn't seem to find it. I have only been on this site for about a week, so I'm still wet behind the ears. 

Your drum tech mate should stick to tub thumping. Slapping an extra bit of wood to the front of your bass isn't doing anything for the tone one way or the other. Frankly, I'm of the opinion that any tonal difference due to wood selection is minimal anyway, but that's another can of worms. Either way, taping a bit of extra wood to the front isn't going to make your tone suddenly crap. 

[floFC]

23 hours ago, Bilbothebassplayer said:

Currently the only way to attach a finger ramp I have found, is with double sided tape. For my basses this has worked fine but I wonder if there is a way to adjust the height after installation? similar to how the Gibson bridges on guitar are. I don't really want to drill into my bass haha.

I don’t use one but how often do you need to adjust the height and why? When you install it and look for the “perfect spot”? Every now and then? Between songs (comfort, ease of access etc)?

[itu]

That ramp may be a good place to mark pickup heights. I do not use those, but if that helps someone, go ahead.

[Reggaebass]

I’ve got one fitted to one of my jazzes which was an experiment really, I don’t play hard or dig in as they say but I quite like it, once you’ve found the right height which is close to the strings I can’t really think why you would want it adjustable 

[Bass4real]

Take it off

Unless you need it 

Trust me you don't 

Finger ramps are like a drug 

It feels great at first then you'll become dependent on it. 

JUST SAY NO    : ? )

 

I shouldn't have to say this 

                ¥.    ¥

      I'm kidding around 

 

You do you 

Finger ramps  or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bilbothebassplayer]

20 hours ago, PinkMohawk said:

Your drum tech mate should stick to tub thumping. Slapping an extra bit of wood to the front of your bass isn't doing anything for the tone one way or the other. Frankly, I'm of the opinion that any tonal difference due to wood selection is minimal anyway, but that's another can of worms. Either way, taping a bit of extra wood to the front isn't going to make your tone suddenly crap. 

I thought that was the case haha 

[Bilbothebassplayer]

14 hours ago, floFC said:

I don’t use one but how often do you need to adjust the height and why? When you install it and look for the “perfect spot”? Every now and then? Between songs (comfort, ease of access etc)?

I don't tend to change my action a lot but I sometimes I will set it a little higher when I'm playing more rock or metal stuff, so that I can dig in more without it flapping out at me.

 

but I guess the ramp would hit the strings too, so really my thoughts of an adjustable finger ramp are falling to bits here haha 

[fretmeister]

@Andyjr1515 made me a lovely ebony ramp for my Sandberg.

 

I

 

 

I need to take another bass to him for another ramp, but life seems to be getting in the way at the moment. I must get round to it though, I find it a lot easier to play with them.

 

[Dood]

 

I appreciate it is less than helpful for those who might not hang on to their bass and want to retain a re-sale value; my ramps on my two Shuker basses (That Jon Shuker and I designed together) drop all the way in to the body, thus it is routed like a pickup. 

We chose really strong springs so the ramp doesnt flex and it can be adjusted for height and angle. I'm not sure what it is, but the wood itself doesnt sound clacky and hollow when you tap it either. 

[Bilbothebassplayer]

9 hours ago, Dood said:

 

I appreciate it is less than helpful for those who might not hang on to their bass and want to retain a re-sale value; my ramps on my two Shuker basses (That Jon Shuker and I designed together) drop all the way in to the body, thus it is routed like a pickup. 

We chose really strong springs so the ramp doesnt flex and it can be adjusted for height and angle. I'm not sure what it is, but the wood itself doesnt sound clacky and hollow when you tap it either. 

That is a lovely looking bass. Having it built as part of the design is a great idea, I guess you can tilt it to give the lower strings room to breathe? or did you find that you play with a lighter touch because of the reduced distance below the string? 

 

I find when I play a bass with a ramp that I move through the string easier and can return my finger to a striking position quicker. because of the reduced distance underneath the string. 

[Dood]

10 hours ago, Bilbothebassplayer said:

That is a lovely looking bass. Having it built as part of the design is a great idea, I guess you can tilt it to give the lower strings room to breathe? or did you find that you play with a lighter touch because of the reduced distance below the string? 

 

I find when I play a bass with a ramp that I move through the string easier and can return my finger to a striking position quicker. because of the reduced distance underneath the string. 

 

Thank you! 

 

Yes absolutely, I can tilt it a little - my bass has a pretty heavy low string on it that needs a little space to move but the bass is designed with tap style in mind so the action is pretty low too. With that, yes, playing lighter means less chance of buzz, but not too much that the tone suffers. There's a balance to be had.

 

Absolutely the same here. I can definitely feel a slight height adjustment in the ramp the same as I can if the action has changed. There's definitely a sweet spot that feels right for me. - I have a couple of PJ basses with active EMG's in and I use the P style as a ramp when needed too, so the height of those are decided by feel rather than the optimal height of a standard passive P pickup (Active EMGs are interesting as they are best set as high as possible versus passive pickups that should have around 1/4" between the poles and strings).