Pick and Fingers!

[dave74200]

I alternate between both but always struggle to get my tone right. If I set it for pick, when I play with fingers it sounds boomy and vice versa. I'm starting to think I should just stick to one for the whole set. Any advice?

[itu]

Do you do the settings in the bass or amp?

[Bilbo]

Do you need another bass (as well as, not instead of)? Most of us do. 

 

[ezbass]

It’s the difference in tone that I use to decide what songs to use each technique on.

[nekomatic]

Have you experimented with where on the string you pluck or pick - as in, down near the bridge, right up over the fretboard, or somewhere in between? That can make a huge difference in tone. 

[Bagman]

On 21/06/2025 at 07:59, dave74200 said:

I alternate between both but always struggle to get my tone right. If I set it for pick, when I play with fingers it sounds boomy and vice versa. I'm starting to think I should just stick to one for the whole set. Any advice?

it's a great thing to be able to play with thumb, fingers and plectrum 

 

I use an EQ pedal live sometimes or Compression / Limiting - it's set for what technique I use the least - stomp on 

[SimonK]

..them EQ knobs on the bass can be quite helpful for things like this - or just get a GEB-7 or similar to tread on when you switch between the two?

[bassalbert]

for me, if I pick is because I want the click and the aggressive tone, if I pluck I want the round tone, that is the point, so I don't change anything

[KingBollock]

I use 3mm Dunlop Primetone picks and get a very fingery sounding tone from them. They do a rounded tip version, too, which sound even more fingery.

 

I never actually play with fingers, I keep a selection of picks for getting different tones and attacks.

[dave_bass5]

Are you changing where you pluck/pick? I tend to move back a bit closer to the bridge when I use fingers, but mostly use a pick. I like the contrast between the two and dont change any settings. 

[Wombat]

I use a Stomp so completely change my rig by pushing a footswitch. Patch for slap with compression etc. 

I do find however that at some venues I use different patches as the tone I ‘wanted’ isn’t the one I ‘need’, if that makes sense! But it’s great to be able to switch from eg a GK to an Orange ‘just like that’ though.

Alternatively, when practicing with my P I find when I use a pick by rolling the tone off 1/4 I ‘mimmick’ the tone o had with my fingers.

Each to their own of course!