stewblack Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 Friend just bought himself a bass. Rather nice Squier Precision 5er, and for a bargain too. It had something called a ramp fitted between the pick ups. Lawd knows what or why this chunk of ebony had been shoehorned in there but I bet someone here can tell me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antnee Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 Tommy C'esque thumb rest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 Some people prefer the feel of it. Otherwise if you play between the pickups there’s quite a gap below them to the body. Sometimes having a ramp can encourage more consistent and accurate playing. I’ve had them in basses before, but only in basses where the pickups don’t naturally act like a ramp anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 I was told in the studio that by feeling the ramp below your fingers it stops you digging in too much and forces you to play with a lighter touch 🙂 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted February 3, 2019 Author Share Posted February 3, 2019 Thanks guys. Knew you'd be there for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Gary Willis likes one on his signature Ibanez. Didn’t early Alembics have something similar but looking like a third pickup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Just now, Grahambythesea said: Gary Willis likes one on his signature Ibanez. Didn’t early Alembics have something similar but looking like a third pickup? That’s a hum cancelling coil and normally it sits flush with the surface 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 20 hours ago, Reggaebass said: I was told in the studio that by feeling the ramp below your fingers it stops you digging in too much and forces you to play with a lighter touch 🙂 Yup. They are standard on the Ibanez Gary Willis bass too. I like them a lot. Billy Sheehan covers the tops of his pickups in epoxy and shapes them into a ramp as well 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 On 04/02/2019 at 18:03, fretmeister said: Billy Sheehan covers the tops of his pickups in epoxy and shapes them into a ramp as well Indeed... So this is why a ramp helps... even though ironically he doesn't use a ramp as such because, as you say, uses his pick-up for the same purpose... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 For me , what ped said. You get different tones from playing near the bridge and further up the board. If you like tone between the pups, and you use the anchored thumb technique, there's nowhere to anchor, so a ramp fits the bill. I have one on my Basso 4, a nice piece of old ebony 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 I'd fit a ramp, but then I think of how many bones Evel Knievel broke playing with them.. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 6 hours ago, Lfalex v1.1 said: I'd fit a ramp, but then I think of how many bones Evel Knievel broke playing with them.. That rather dates you... (and me for getting the joke) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) I'm wondering whether an elongated thumb rest running from the bridge right through to the farthest point of the body might be an even more unsightly solution. 😉 Edited February 7, 2019 by stewblack Feckin autocorrect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) Sorry double post. Edited February 7, 2019 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 6 minutes ago, Cato said: Please tell me you just did that on Photoshop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) Sorry, double post. Edited February 7, 2019 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 As above, please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) 8 minutes ago, stewblack said: As above, please It was a commercially available product, I think a couple of companies made something similar. Edit. Here you go https://www.shapeways.com/product/S9UMXUFE7/thumbrail-fits-fender-jazz-70-s-geddy-lee Edited February 7, 2019 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Doesn’t function like a ramp though, the whole thing with a ramp is the feel under the plucking fingers. It’s use as a thumbrest is secondary. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I had a ramp on the shuker 6 string I had made. It's a brilliant device, and so simple. Having played the bass both with and without it, it was a much better experience with it. It's been described as a natural compressor, which I think hits the nail on the head. Certainly evened out my ropey right hand technique! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I just think of all the brilliant players who somehow got by without ramps and stuff! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 2 minutes ago, chris_b said: I just think of all the brilliant players who somehow got by without ramps and stuff! Doesn't mean people shouldn't use them - some brilliant players even manage to get by with P basses! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 41 minutes ago, chris_b said: I just think of all the brilliant players who somehow got by without ramps and stuff! I'm not one of them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 (edited) 6 hours ago, chris_b said: I just think of all the brilliant players who somehow got by without ramps and stuff! I don't think anyone said you have to use a ramp. But like the other posters here, I got one on my GB and I love it. To the point that on other basses, I view the crevasse between the pick-ups as a right-hand smartness inhibitor. Edited February 8, 2019 by visog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikkoantt Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Hi Here is my ramp basses. First one is Mayones jabba Classic 4, then comes Elrick platinum hybrid classic 5, then comes Fodera AJ 5 Elite and last one is Ibanez Gary Willis fretless. Ramp really helps my playing, because I have soooo soft touch novadays. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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