Pick Tone and the right EQ

[Marky L]

On 01/09/2025 at 20:30, BassAdder60 said:

I just had these arrive and I’m very pleased how they feel and sound 

 

Warm full and punchy is how I would describe them and the little dish recess where your thumb sits ( feels odd at first ) seems to add to the tone as does the Delrin material 

 

Is there much flex in those?

[BassAdder60]

15 minutes ago, Marky L said:

 

Is there much flex in those?

No not too flexible due to the design and the material produces a warmer tone 

[thodrik]

I use these for guitar (sometimes the green 0.88m version): 

 

I use these for bass (though sometimes the red 1.5mm version): 

 

I don't really consider the exact tonal benefits of a pick, I just like a good amount of rigidity as opposed to 'flex' and I only really consider types of picks that are readily available and easy to source. 

I also love the stubby triable picks because they are very large (so more difficult to lose), durable, easy to hold and it doesn't matter which point I use.

I don't generally EQ the amps differently between fingers and pick playing on bass. 

 

[BassAdder60]

25 minutes ago, thodrik said:

I use these for guitar (sometimes the green 0.88m version): 

 

I use these for bass (though sometimes the red 1.5mm version): 

 

I don't really consider the exact tonal benefits of a pick, I just like a good amount of rigidity as opposed to 'flex' and I only really consider types of picks that are readily available and easy to source. 

I also love the stubby triable picks because they are very large (so more difficult to lose), durable, easy to hold and it doesn't matter which point I use.

I don't generally EQ the amps differently between fingers and pick playing on bass. 

 

I’m the opposite tone with a pick is very much my goal to make it punchy and full sounding / a cross of finger fullness and pick drive tone. 
I can do both methods and prefer to set my amp to sound the best with a pick. Playing rock in a single guitar band requires the bass to be present full and driving 

[thodrik]

1 hour ago, BassAdder60 said:

I’m the opposite tone with a pick is very much my goal to make it punchy and full sounding / a cross of finger fullness and pick drive tone. 
I can do both methods and prefer to set my amp to sound the best with a pick. Playing rock in a single guitar band requires the bass to be present full and driving 

 

I didn't actually say anything about my actual core tone. I just find that I can get a decent pick or finger tone without having to massively change the EQ I am using at a given time. My main amp is a Mesa Walkabout, about 50% of the tone shaping on the amp is based from where the gain control is set.  It isn't a very 'flat' amp with settings all at 12 o'clock to start with, but it sounds really nice fingerstyle or pick, so I tend to EQ more for the room/stage rather than making big tonal shaping moves on the amp.