JTUK Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Palm mute with thumb with a pick type action. You aren't going for much speed here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1320869649' post='1432642'] Palm mute with thumb with a pick type action. You aren't going for much speed here. [/quote] Fair point but there's plenty of grace notes and 'feel' type strokes which I can't manage with just a thumb. Gets a nice new blister as it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) I've been messing around with foam under the bridge of my bass all week in the studio trying to replicate Carol Kaye's tic-tac bass sound on Pet Sounds for one of or tracks (even though she placed a piece of felt over her strings as opposed to under the bridge). I regularly palm mute and use a piece of foam under the strings for recording and live, but I wanted to try it out with a pick. I ended up recording through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp and wth the spring reverb cranked, it sounded fantastic! Edited November 9, 2011 by risingson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 On my Precision I use the foam from underneath a Jazz bass pickup. I also have one of these: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mufler-Bass-Guitar-Mute-Jazz-Sound-/130597126010?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6831ff7a"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mufler-Bass-Guitar-Mute-Jazz-Sound-/130597126010?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6831ff7a[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monckyman Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have loads of bits of foam just for this purpose. I lose them all the time, flinging them out for the song where I don`t want it, then losing it... I`m looking at the bloke in Holland that makes purpose built mutes for about £80. Got an easy on.off lever. What? it`s only £80.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jynxterstu Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I noticed Elbows bass player had foam under his stings on the BBC gig the other week. Jynxter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperbob 2002 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 [quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1320852997' post='1432279'] One thing I've noticed it it definitely sounds better when I play down the neck, the impact is slightly lost once you get further up the fretboard. Personally I don't have a problem with this guy's tone & I remember the clip when I saw it on Jools Holland's show. However, I do have a problem with his pickguard choice! Just goes to show we are all different [/quote] I quite like his tone too- very retro- vintage- no problem with his playing either- dont think it would look as good with the bass under armpits a la marky king!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 [quote name='Beefyeggo' timestamp='1320838132' post='1432002'] In Mexico recently I spotted a guy playing an elderly Jazz with a piece of what appeared to be a piece of upholstery foam underneath the strings near the bridge. I couldn't get close enough to take a proper look or ask the guy about it.. Does anyone know the purpose of this? Rob p.s. My profile says [u]no longer[/u] a newbie but that's bollocks... [/quote] Robbie Shakespear (Sly & Robbie) had a similar piece of foam under his strings when I saw him live in Rome 2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Not sure about the "girls way" comment and the palm mute if your playing fingers? Otherwise, I like the effect on recordings and in certain free situations away from the normal covers sets I do I now often use some foam with flats and enjoy the results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Palm muting with fingers is a ballache at the best of times, but it is possible. I tend to use my ring finger to just rest on the string and pluck with my index and middle but it wasn't easy to learn at first, felt properly wierd. Nowadays i'm that used to having my ring finger there that if i can feel my strap coming off, or it does come off, that my finger just jumps at the B string to hold up my bass whilst i carry on playing, useful skill to have. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I like using the thumb and fingers. Damned sexy and very funky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Felt under the strings sounds different from foam. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwYoi9G67DU&feature=player_embedded#! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefyeggo Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 [list] [*]Thanks, all. Some very comprehensive info there. [/list] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1320839866' post='1432040'] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]The differences: [/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]Too much foam under the strings in a live situation. At 1.45 the bass player tries to play a line which he screws up because the notes die instantly. It doesn't work and sounds awful to me.[/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial][/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]This is the original, with foam. The same line at 1.56 sounds pretty good to me but this is in the studio where it works well. [/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPJ-KnveLh8"][color=#800080]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPJ-KnveLh8[/color][/url][/font][/color][/size] [/quote] I just love the sound but I do agree that it works better in the studio or at quieter gigs. I also love both of these versions, probably because I don't know the song that well so didn't notice that the bassist in the 1st clip had actually made a mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 [quote name='owen' timestamp='1320946546' post='1433623'] Felt under the strings sounds different from foam. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwYoi9G67DU&feature=player_embedded#[/media]! [/quote] That's a brilliant double bass sound Owen, the clatter of the strings is very authentic. The playing is cool too! Can we see what the dampers look like? I never got foam to sound like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 http://www.fender.com/news/index.php?display_article=503 There is a pic on here. It looks like they are RIGHT up against the saddles which I guess gives a different envelope to the attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzy Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 i've used a bit of foam under sthe strings on and off over the years,it's a great sound in the right place. If you get a chance to see the "Classic Albums" program about Lennons Plastic Ono Band theres some bits with the great Klaus Voorman showing his bassline all played on his beaten up Precision with a lump of foam under the strings,great sound .Check this at 3:30 [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=KeV_qWk-_9s"]http://www.youtube.c...1&v=KeV_qWk-_9s[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_C Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I spent an afternoon trying out all sorts of foam on an acoustic bass, and in the end settled on some rolled up kitchen towel, squashed down more under the lighter strings. It gave quite a passable double-bass-ish sound whereas the foam either muted too much or too little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
originalfunkbrother Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I use the fleshy part of my palm to mute down all strings and I pick with my thumb...it used to be awkward in the beginning but with time it has become second nature.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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