Pick Tone and the right EQ

[BassAdder60]

I’ve discovered that in my search for a good PBass pick tone ( fuller and deeper ) that adding bass wasn’t the answer

 

Im finding the following makes the difference in a close enough to finger tone kind of way 

Turn PBass tone control to around 50% 

Leave amp bass tone set as normal

 

Reduce low mids to appear to make sound deeper ( not too much ) as a large scooped tone doesn’t cut through ) 

 

Turn high mids to give a little bite but nothing excessive and leave treble around mid way ( no cut or boost ) 

 

This is where using the amps “ shape” feature that you find on some amps or Ultra Low etc doesn’t really work for this pick tone ( it’s too boomy and sucks too many mids out ) 

 

Its more of a slight reduction in low mids that the increase in mids pick playing doesn’t need ( if you want a fuller sound ) Still got the clank if you need it ( increase bass tone more ) but it’s a good place to start on the amp 

 

Also found using a standard sized pick  was easier to palm mute when required instead of a triangle pick that in truth isn’t that much larger in terms of grip. 

Edited Monday at 15:36 by BassAdder60

[Hellzero]

And the bigger the pick (plectrum for the others), the fatter the tone.

[BassAdder60]

Just now, Hellzero said:

And the bigger the pick (plectrum for the others), the fatter the tone.

Bigger as in gauge I agree but there becomes a compromise of playing technique if too thick 

[Hellzero]

If I need to play with a pick, it's always at least a 3mm one as it's the closest to finger style tone.

[BassAdder60]

I find between 1mm and 3mm about the best gauge for me 

[dave_bass5]

Ive always used a pick. Not proud of it, it's a habit I can't get out of. 

After 30+ years ive settled on using 1.52mm most of the time. Those EB large shield ones seem to work for me as they are quite grippy. I do very occasionally use a felt or leather pick, but only for certain songs.

Always struggled with tone though. A BDDI went a long way for a couple of decades, but just recently I got an EBS Microbass 3 (and a Nux preamp). Both have sweepable mids and both have been a real eyeopener. I think in someways the BDDI was working as it was reducing some of the attack, but now I realise I was losing too much of the basses natural tone as well.

Edited Monday at 15:50 by dave_bass5

[BassAdder60]

It makes sense 

Use a pick and mids increase a lot sounding like less bass.

 

Increasing the bass doesn’t work but cutting back the mids does bring the fuller tone back but with that glorious pick tone you can’t get using fingers. 
Well it’s possible of course ( Steve Harris as example ) but lots of string replacements and a ton of gear !  

 

[Dan Dare]

21 hours ago, BassAdder60 said:

I find between 1mm and 3mm about the best gauge for me 

 

Same here. I go for about 1.5 mm. I find a thicker pick defeats the object as you lose that click/attack that is so much part of the sound and it approaches the tone you get when playing with fingers. I always loved the pick tone Ladi Geisler achieved on those old Bert Kaempfert records. He used a Jazz bass.

[cetera]

.88 picks for me as they have enough tension to provide solid drive while having enough flexibility to give the click/attack I want.

[Lozz196]

In my old band where I need a harder attack I use .88, in my classic rock band I`m on .73, and looking at .60 as want to reduce wear & tear on my poor paws.

 

I find with the Precision being quite middy a thicker pick encourages lows & highs better, whereas with my Sandberg Jazz being less middy the thinner pick helps bring mids back in.

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by Lozz196

[BigRedX]

The material the pick is made out of will make just as much difference as the thickness. If you are still finding your way playing with a pick get a load of different ones in a variety of shapes, sizes, thickness and materials and try them all. There is no right answer when it comes to using a pick, and in fact a lot more variables to deal with since different thicknesses and materials can make a massive difference to the sound. And again there is no right answer to what EQ to use. It will depend not only on all the factors above but also how you want the bass sound to fit into the mix of the other instruments.

Edited 22 hours ago by BigRedX

[BassAdder60]

Also what sounds lacking in isolation can sound perfect with the band 

 

Definitely helps if you tweek the EQ to pull back some of those massive increase in mids when you use a pick 

 

Some songs it works but I’ve found reducing mids slightly works but don’t overdo it as you then get buried in the mix 

[Lozz196]

Most definitely, my preference at present is .73, I have 3 different types:

 

Fender Medium - nice warm, even/vintage sound

Dunlop Tortex - more upper mids and highs to the sound

Dunlop Ultex - modern, scooped sound

 

At home I prefer the Fender, but for the band the Tortex

 

Edited 22 hours ago by Lozz196

[BassAdder60]

I like the JD Delrin 500 in 1mm and 1.5mm and they are very grippy 

 

Normal teardrop shape 

[dave_bass5]

Just now, BassAdder60 said:

I like the JD Delrin 500 in 1mm and 1.5mm and they are very grippy 

 

Normal teardrop shape 

Delrin is also my preferred material. 

[Russ]

For me, the best P-bass-with-a-pick sound is: 

 

Small boost at about 200Hz

Big but narrow cut at 500Hz (that "boxy" frequency)

Small boost at about 3kHz

Treble and bass shelving flat

 

Not a frequent pick player, but I actually like thin ones best. 0.5mm, ideally. Having a skinnier pick gives you a bit more control of dynamics, I find, and still gets you that pick-y articulation. I also quite like the green Dava Control ones - they're thick-ish but flex like a thin one. 

[Stub Mandrel]

Stiff (i.e. not nylon) 0.6mm. Enough to get a good clack but with a bit of givefor comfort. I want the maximum contrast with my fingerstyle sound.

[miles'tone]

This is a great thread! Thanks for all the eq suggestions 👍

I'm currently working on being competent with a pick, something I've never been, and I struggled getting a good sound last rehearsal. Will be putting some of your suggestions to the test at rehearsals next week. 

As for picks, I've settled on the orange Dunlop tortex .60 with the TI flats on my P tuned up to F# for some Smiths tunes. Working a treat at home, hoping for the same live in the room now.

 

[police squad]

purple tortex 1.14mm for me

been using these for over 30 years now

[Marky L]

I've used these Wedgies for many years now. I like them for the thumb indentation that helps with grip.

 

I've recently started fiddling about with my EQ to try and remove some of the 'click' but I still want clank. Not there yet

[BassAdder60]

45 minutes ago, Marky L said:

I've used these Wedgies for many years now. I like them for the thumb indentation that helps with grip.

 

I've recently started fiddling about with my EQ to try and remove some of the 'click' but I still want clank. Not there yet

They must be a brand for the USA as not seen them in UK 

[Marky L]

6 minutes ago, BassAdder60 said:

They must be a brand for the USA as not seen them in UK 

 

Yes, I found them on eBay or an online UK seller but they are a US brand. I bought a few packs luckily as UK supply seems to have dried up a bit.

[PaulThePlug]

Dunlop Nylon, 1mm

Don't like the powdery feel of the tortex material, and they are too stiff for the thickness.

[Beer of the Bass]

I mix finger and pick playing depending on the song, so my focus is more on getting the balance right between the two with a single amp setting, and bringing out the differences I want to hear with the pick. So I probably make some different choices than I would if I did everything with the pick. I like relatively light picks (Dunlop Ultex triangles in 0.88mm), specifically to bring out the attack click.

I always favour the neck pickup with a pick (on a bass with Jazz style wiring), tone control back just a little for an older feeling rock tone, or tone control up and a light overdrive for a brighter, "let's pretend it's a Ric" tone on one tune.