Pick for bass?

Now, before it even starts, please no 'Fingers only for bass playing' responses.

Anyway. I'm going to play with a pick. I got a bunch of Fender heavies. The bass strings are eating them alive, and I feel like I'd like something really fat to hold onto, like a Dunlop Jazz guitar pick, but bigger, and more durable.
Any suggestions?

Try a V-Pick from Vinnie...you'll rarely see wear on the pick. One of mine is 5 mm the other 7.5 mm...great stuff and great service.

I've found Dunlop Ultex picks wear like iron!

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/0/5/7/487057.jpg

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/3/7/2/367372.jpg

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/3/7/8/367378.jpg

Cheers, Tim

i use the grey nylon dunlop .88mm and it stands up to some pretty rigorous play.

Clayton Acetal Rounded Triangular shape, 1.26 or 1.52 mm.

Fender extra heavy 346 - rounded triangle shape.

It's not necessary to whang on the strings with force - let the amp do the work. Turn it up and pick more lightly - more control, too, over volume and attack.

Great pick players are Carol Kaye and Joe Osborn.

Try a V-Pick from Vinnie...you'll rarely see wear on the pick. One of mine is 5 mm the other 7.5 mm...great stuff and great service.

Hi. Thanks, and welcome to the forum!!

I've found Dunlop Ultex picks wear like iron!

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/0/5/7/487057.jpg

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/3/7/2/367372.jpg

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/3/7/8/367378.jpg

Cheers, Tim

Hmmm. Good to see that Dunlop has something. I swear by the little Dunlop pointy green picks for guitar, although the red Jazz III's are threatening their superiority.

Are the Ultex Jazz's a full size pick?

for bass i find coins work fine an aussie 10c piece is what you need

I use Herco thumb picks for everything.
Heavy for guitars, extra heavy for bass.
Can't drop 'em and they work for me.
They will break when they get hot so I
always have several on every gig. LB

Now, before it even starts, please no 'Fingers only for bass playing' responses.

Fah - really? I actually go the other way - people who play with their fingers annoy the hell out of me! So good on ya for using a pick!

I use a Dunlop Tortex .73mm - the yellow one. I used to use the orange one, but now I use the yellow one. See what you think...

i use the grey nylon dunlop .88mm and it stands up to some pretty rigorous play.

That's what I've been using lately too. They may not be the world's longest lasting but they'll outlast a celluloid Fender heavy.

Are the Ultex Jazz's a full size pick?

I use the ones that are regular Fender-sized, I assume the jazz picks are the little ones...

Cheers, Tim

I keep a Dunlop heavy nylon ( the black one ) stuck under the back of the bridge, to use on a couple of songs. For some reason its easier to sing , Fast as you, Youngblood , stuff like that while playing with a pick. Fingers for everything else.

I go back and forth, depending on what music i'm playing, but i use Dunlop nylon picks .60 thick. Works like a dream.

-I usually use standard shaped Clayton Ultem Gold picks. .72mm for guitars and 1.20mm for bass. I usually use picks on bass when some songs need more cut and edge than I can do with fingers only. Hey, I'm not that good!

http://www.steveclayton.com/images/products/ultemgold.jpg

L8R,
Matt D.

I use this brass dog tag. You can see it gets polished by the strings around the edges, but they definitely don't eat it. I'd say reshape a coin in about this shape. Probably cost you less than a pick would...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2098/2311708919_408d170f1d.jpg?v=0

Fah - really? I actually go the other way - people who play with their fingers annoy the hell out of me! So good on ya for using a pick!

I don't use a pick, but I wouldn't presume to tell anyone else how to play, and would dismiss anyone else's suggestions to me on how to play. Why would fingerstyle players annoy you? Just curious....

Never really was a pick player but would use one if required for a
song, like Joe Jackson's I'm Da Man.

A friend of mine told me he saw this band where the bass player had glued fake fingernails on.
(I wonder if they played "Dude looks Like A Lady ? " :wink: )

Maybe the best of both techniques ? Anybody ever try it ?

I don't use a pick, but I wouldn't presume to tell anyone else how to play, and would dismiss anyone else's suggestions to me on how to play. Why would fingerstyle players annoy you? Just curious....

Deep breath, and a group hug. I'm just starting to really play bass, and have a Geddy Lee sig Jazz. I got asked to join a band with a fellow TDPRI'er, and the aim is for really loud, nasty, growly, gritty bass sound for a southern/country rock project. The only way to get this is with a pick. I love fingerstyle playing, and have been practicing that as well, but I'm going for more of a Chris Squire sound.

I don't use a pick, but I wouldn't presume to tell anyone else how to play, and would dismiss anyone else's suggestions to me on how to play. Why would fingerstyle players annoy you? Just curious....

Hmmm... I dunno, fingerstyle has just always rubbed me the wrong way somehow. Maybe I just haven't been exposed to the right players.

As casterway noted, I too prefer the "grittier" sound acheived with a pick. That said, there are exceptions to every rule - I believe John Entwistle went back and forth between a pick and fingers, and I love ALL his playing.

I wasn't telling anyone how to play or dismissing anyone's suggestions, BTW - I was attempting a humorous reponse to casterway's "please no 'Fingers only for bass playing' responses" comment. I guess it came off more aggressive than I intended. But telling people how to play isn't my "thing." :smile:

Not a real bass player, but when I do, I use the same Dunlop nylon 0.73mm picks as I do for guitar. I dig the clarity and attack I get with pickstyle. My amp loves me back since I don't have to work it as hard to be heard. :lol:

- Scott

Hmmm... I dunno, fingerstyle has just always rubbed me the wrong way somehow. Maybe I just haven't been exposed to the right players.

As casterway noted, I too prefer the "grittier" sound acheived with a pick. That said, there are exceptions to every rule - I believe John Entwistle went back and forth between a pick and fingers, and I love ALL his playing.

I wasn't telling anyone how to play or dismissing anyone's suggestions, BTW - I was attempting a humorous reponse to casterway's "please no 'Fingers only for bass playing' responses" comment. I guess it came off more aggressive than I intended. But telling people how to play isn't my "thing." :smile:

I'm sure I missed your humor, but that's my fault. And there are "****s" in both camps that claim their way to play is the only "correct" way. So I think the initial post was to make sure those folks weren't involved in the thread. Oddly enough, I am primarily a guitar player and using a pick for bass is something I will have to get used to. I personally don't care for the Chris Squire grittier bass sound, but each to their own tastes, it's all good. The more I play the more I will likely embrace different sounds and styles, I'm still learning too. Enjoy!

+1 on large size nylon or similar.

mud

Cool. I'm going to try some different picks tomorrow. Fender picks suck as much as their strings do.

The wait is over! I found my new bass pick!!

I got some of the black Dunlop XL series Jazz III's, (stiffo's). Amazing! Nice and thick, grippy, low string noise, and seem pretty durable, as they're nylon.

Now GET BACK TO practising :twisted: OR YOUR FIRED!

Have a nice day :grin:

I recently found some mother-of-pearl buttons at Wal-Mart. They're big, thick, and round, with a big hole in the center. Hard to drop, and a unique sound.

I switch between fingers & pick depending on the song. These purple 2.0 mm work well for me:

http://www.jimdunlop.com/files/1153351062_DELRIN_500_STRD_410_463X342.jpg