Pick hitting pickups

[ondray]

Hi,

 

I just noticed that when i use the pick on the higher strings, the pick hits the pickup before the strings. Is this acceptable? and will it generate any weird sounds if the bass is connected to a big amp?

 

Am using a soapbar pickup and a guitar practise amp so i cant really hear the difference.

 

Thanks

[Timothy Lyons]

Every once in a while my pick hits the polepieces on my Stingray. Never heard anything bad on stage, never had an audience complain about horrid sounds. Since your pick isn't metal, you shouldn't have any problems, except maybe a few scratches on your pickup.

 

Oh yeah, I wear down about a pick a song live by doing this

[ondray]

Thanks for the reply.

[jeremy c]

I beg to differ. If you ever get in the studio, you will definitely hear the noise when the pick hits the pickup. Try to avoid doing this.

[Connie Z]

Hi Ondray,

 

This is not really addressing the specific issue you've brought up, but I had posted a thread a while back about hitting the pickups with my pick because of two things:

1. I lowered the strings

2. I was using the wrong technique

 

http://www.musicplayer.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=005319

 

The issue was not an issue until I lowered the strings, but I am glad it happened because I have really developed certain preferences now for where I pick to achieve certain sounds. Before the "pick hitting pickup" incident, I wasn't even aware of that at all.

 

... connie z

[dcr]

I'm a pick numbskull, but it seems to me that if the pick is hitting the pickup, the pick is going WAY too far between the strings to allow for an efficient technique, even leaving the noise factor out of it (which, as Jeremy notes, IS a real factor).

 

I always thought the point was to use the pick on the STRINGS.

[Invincible]

There's always the option of just using your fingers.

[_Sweet Willie_]

Originally posted by Invincible:

There's always the option of just using your fingers.

Now you just cut out that crazy talk! What? Were you raised by wolves?!

 

[ondray]

Thanks for all the replies, this forum really rocks with you guys.

 

Just woke up...its 5.30 am here. And I have decided to practise not to scrap the pickup. This might take some time though cause i am so used to my current playing style.

 

About fingers, i do use them but not when i am playing my band's songs cause we play punk rock. Would be too tiring for the fingers. But i do practise using the fingers at home when am practising funk, boogie and reggae stuff cause it sounds warmer. Am not really good in fingerpicking though, still doing the chromatic exercises.

[doc taz]

Just a thought...if you can, consider having extra pickup covers on hand just in case. Of course, you may not be able to change that during a show, but still, they might come in handy. Now that I've thought of this, I might do that myself, even though I'm primarily a fingerstyle player.

 

Voivod tunes get the finger treatment with me... (see my sig).

 

Oh, and welcome to the forums.

[Bartolini]

Hello there, from S'pore as well.

I have this problem with my StingRay. (hitting poles, I hope I havent pushed them down) Because where I finger strings is exactly over the pickup. So I lowered the pick up, still got this occational treble thuds/ clutters when hit hard on the strings. Not so impressed with it. Recently on a gig, I heard this treble clutter via PA and my rig when I hit right hand mutes. May be its inherrant in StingRay. Got to live with it.

 

As for my previous complain about string hizzing when not touching strings, a luthier gave a simple remedy. He replaced my amp-head-cable's 2 pin with a 3 pin.(Asia needs grounding?) Problem solved.

[ondray]

Oh my, it's so nice to hear from someone in Singapore.

 

What's your band's name? i really love the local bands here.... Plain Sunset, Astreal, Throb, Fishtank, Objection Overule......

 

My band will be performing in our first gig on the 26th of October in the Substation. WIll be playing on the opening slot.

[Dave Martin]

There's always the option of moving your right hand so that you're not playing directly over the pickup...

[imAmisfit138]

this is a very easy problem to fix. first, take your pick in your hand in between your thumb and forefinger. then, go over to the garbage can and throw it away.

[Tom Capasso]

There are songs where I did this by design for the little "crack" you get. To do this I changed the angle that I was using to pick the strings. I think that's probably the key to avoiding this issue. Pick side to side, not up and down on the string.

 

Tom

[BenLoy]

this is a very easy problem to fix. first, take your pick in your hand in between your thumb and forefinger. then, go over to the garbage can and throw it away.

While I'll be the first one to say that a bassist can and should cover as much ground as they can with their fingers...there's nothing inherently wrong from knowing how to use a pick.

 

If you think I'm wrong, then go tell Bobby Vega that he's wasting his time.

[Mr. Phil]

Originally posted by BenLoy:

this is a very easy problem to fix. first, take your pick in your hand in between your thumb and forefinger. then, go over to the garbage can and throw it away.

While I'll be the first one to say that a bassist can and should cover as much ground as they can with their fingers...there's nothing inherently wrong from knowing how to use a pick.

 

If you think I'm wrong, then go tell Bobby Vega that he's wasting his time.

and Flea...

[imAmisfit138]

umm... flea doesnt use a pick. and there is nothing somebody can do with a pick that i can't do with my two fingers. i'm not dissing pick-users i just strongly believe in using fingers (better sound).

[Gord -B]

err.. he does on the latest album. Said he wanted to emulate joy division (who come from macclesfield woo!). Also does anyone know of a band called marion? met the bass player last night who also played for a bit with echo and the bunnymen and now he's working behind the bar and living with his mum in sutton. Said he spent all his money on cocaine, quite sad really.