nilorius Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 (edited) Would You like or have a ramp on Your bass or do You hate it, or just feel that You don't really care? I have it on my Ibanez GWB1005 and feel pretty useful with it. So i like it. What about You? Edited November 6, 2023 by nilorius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 Yep, I’m a ramp guy, I’ve made a few for my basses, including one for my fretless and one for my 5 string. I find having one super comfortable, and, makes me play more consistently too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 Yes ramps! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 Like MacDaddy above, my basses have adjustable ramps that can be wound all the way down out the way if necessary. In fact, it was a design I put forward to Shuker along with the series 2 body shape that has been in production ever since. YAY! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 5 minutes ago, MacDaddy said: Yes ramps! I love how these encapsulate the pickups too, because, let's face it, black rectangles aren't that exciting! Let's put the engine under a tidy bonnet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 I had them on 2 prior basses (a GWB35 and a Roscoe Beck signature), I found them useful. I don’t have any basses with them now and can only surmise that what I liked about them, was the extended thumb rest, rather than the consistent depth under the strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Dood said: Like MacDaddy above, my basses have adjustable ramps that can be wound all the way down out the way if necessary. In fact, it was a design I put forward to Shuker along with the series 2 body shape that has been in production ever since. YAY! My Shuker's are based on the series 2 shape, but with the handle and a wider bulge at the bottom which better suits where my arm rests when I'm playing 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phill Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 I've got one on my Overwater 6, I like it for most playing but sometimes I feel like I'm not in the mood for it haha. Luckily it is removable. I had another removable one on my 72 Jazz but never got on with it sadly. I'm still sorta working on the learning curve of having one and its advantages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 No ramps, they get in the way and look sketchy at best. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 Not something I've ever looked into or felt the need to. Thank goodness, because I've tried just about every other damn thing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 I had one on my Overwater but took it off. I play using the floating thumb technique so a ramp is superfluous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman68 Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 Never really felt the need for them on my basses? I think it boils down to playing technique & right hand positioning.. A bit like fret wraps, they just seem an accessory to me? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StickyDBRmf Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 I always thought those things were to play higher notes! If I had one that's probably what I'd use it for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 8 hours ago, MacDaddy said: Yes ramps! What are the fretboard extensions above the zero fret for? Bendwell? I've got an EHB1265MS which I haven't put the ramp on, and I've now taken the ramp off my Sei Flamboyant - it didn't seem to be of any benefit to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) I have absolutely no use for a ramp as how I pluck the strings really is more so stroking the strings with the outmost tip of my fingers/nails in a slight inwards unforceful slapping motion, rather than really plucking, pulling or striking the strings. I will never pluck the strings as deep as any ramp will go, and I don't have any issues controlling my plucking, and even if I did by the time my fingers would hit the ramp they would already be way too deep in compared to how I am supposed to pluck the strings, so it would still be of absolutely no use to me. Finally I also utilizes floating thumb technique, so a ramp would be to no need as an bulgy oversized thumb anchor either. Also in my honest opinion I think ramps look out of place and ugly. Edited November 7, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 People! Please stop screwing needless/useless/nonsensical 'upgrades' onto your basses. Bass player #1; "Leo got it right!" Bass player #2; "What this bass needs is a ramp, a scrunchy thing around the nut, a drop-D tuner and a @Stub Mandrel Tone Shim." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) Stop innovation now! It's an order! Straying from hunter-gatherer culture was a mistake, and it all went horrible wrong from that point on in history! Throw out your basses and go back to banging on logs with blanched bones and whistling in the dark at once! Edited November 7, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) I quite like a ramp, but only ever had one bass with a ramp, don't even notice it to be honest....but I always over the rear pup/near bridge. 🙂 Edited November 7, 2023 by iconic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 9 hours ago, tauzero said: What are the fretboard extensions above the zero fret for? Bendwell? Extra frets to low D, and bendwell 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 I literally have no idea what these ramps are - what are they used for? Excuse my ignorance in these matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 I think that whatever makes your instrument feel better to you, like a ramp or anything else, is absolutely a great idea. I must admit to buying a fret wrap, but as someone who pounds the roots and rarely goes above the 12th fret (in a live situation at least) I rarely use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 Just now, bassbiscuits said: I literally have no idea what these ramps are - what are they used for? Excuse my ignorance in these matters. The stop fingers digging in too far. They can allow a more even attack. You kind of draw your finger across the surface of the ramp and the string is just in the way. I tried them years ago when I discovered Billy Sheehan putting epoxy on his P pickups to make a ramp surface and I really liked them. At about 3mins10secs you can see 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 Just now, bassbiscuits said: I literally have no idea what these ramps are - what are they used for? Excuse my ignorance in these matters. If you play with your fingers over the pickup, you get used to the feeling of the pickup beneath your fingertips. If you move in front of the pickup or between pickups, there’s a big hole where there’s no plastic to stop you. A ramp fills that hole, and gives a consistent distance under the strings all the way across it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 6 hours ago, bassbiscuits said: I literally have no idea what these ramps are - what are they used for? Excuse my ignorance in these matters. They're used for extracting £££ from bassists that believe hype and nonsensical add-on products. Think of all those bassists out there that use(d) their fingers. Did Geddy Lee use a ramp? Mick Karn? Entwistle? Bruce? Flea? Jamerson? Kaye? Jaco? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 Just now, NancyJohnson said: They're used for extracting £££ from bassists that believe hype and nonsensical add-on products. Think of all those bassists out there that use(d) their fingers. Did Geddy Lee use a ramp? Mick Karn? Entwistle? Bruce? Flea? Jamerson? Kaye? Jaco? I’ve managed 37 years without one so far… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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