antimatter Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 Really Odd. I bought an Agile LP and have been playing that for the past few weeks. Then I broke out the Strat, and for some reason I was very aware of where my pick went. What's crazy is I couldn't remember where I picked before the LP invasion! I never really thought about it, just kinda you know, played. I seem to stay in between the middle and neck pickups, but I also feel comfortable between the bridge and middle PUPs too. And just maybe, I moved all over anyway, and just never payed attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbach1 Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 The middle pup on my Tradition is a stacked and I hate that thing. No only do I never use it, but I hit it with my pic. I'm swearing off all three pickup guitars. bbach Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael saulnier Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 A simple test will reveal how much pick location can affect the sound of your guitar... For that reason, it's part of my playing style to move the pick to the place that creates the type of sound I need at the moment. It's pretty unconscious now, but it's worthy of practice and experimentation if it's new to you. Perhaps the most extreme things to try are strumming over the neck, way up by the 15th fret to get a real "mellow" strumming tone. And then try some "chicken pickin'" stuff way back by the bridge. Or how about "behind" the bridge on a LP style guitar where the string passes to a stop tail... it's a wierd sound you won't otherwise get. michael I'm still "guitplayer"! Check out my music if you like... http://www.michaelsaulnier.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lone Chicken Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 I never gave this much thought before myself, but now that I think of it, I tend to pick close to the middle on my Strat, as well as on my Ibanez acoustic-electric guitar, and also on any other guitar that I may happen to pick up. If I consciensely look to alter my tone in a given moment, I'll pick elsewhere, but for the most part I keep to the middle. Robert J. ("Bob") Welch III "If you were the only person who ever lived, God still would have sent Jesus His only Son to die on the cross for YOU, because that is how much HE LOVES YOU!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 you could of course just lower it til it no longer gets in the way of your picking. If your tradition has single-coil pups and the middle one is wired out-of-phase with the others, it can act as an effective hum-bucker for them. Originally posted by bbach #1: The middle pup on my Tradition is a stacked and I hate that thing. No only do I never use it, but I hit it with my pic. I'm swearing off all three pickup guitars. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 Picking in only one area is like missionary position for your entire life with only one babe. Did I say that out loud? Really, there's more tones in any guitar than a lot of players ever see, simply because they aren't getting all up in there from every angle. Anywhere along a string has a different balance of overtones and amplitude relationships. And relationship to the pickup position. Don't be dull and unimaginative. Make 'er scream, make her beg and plead, make her wail* * for Lee this may be different . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phait Posted November 6, 2004 Share Posted November 6, 2004 Whats wrong with you people! You're supposed to pick BEHIND THE NUT!!! Ok, I usually pick around the middle pickup, and at the bridge for that twangy sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antimatter Posted November 7, 2004 Author Share Posted November 7, 2004 Originally posted by greenboy: Picking in only one area is like missionary position for your entire life with only one babe. Did I say that out loud? I was just thinking about that first place you instinctively pluck when you pick up the axe and strum a chord or do that first warmup scale. I'm sure most people don't even think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 depends on what i am doing. palm muting puts your hand in one spot and strumming is cool over the neck as already mentioned. i tend to play in the middle to rear pickup area most of the time but thats only when i am not going for pinch harmonics, on a "strat" with a humbucker i wrap my pinky around the pickup ring (pacifica). but i still can move quite abit from there. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corner Pocket Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 In the car.....at stop lights. No one can see me, can they??? Paul Peace, Paul ---------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlesbad Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 I usually find myself strumming between the neck and middle pickups (though I do go as far back as the bridge, and sometimes up the neck, for different sounds), but I usually use the neck pickup so that's only natural .. National Capital Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoes Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 It's strange making a change from tune-o-matic setups to a strat style system because without the ash tray instaqlled you're not likely to rest your hand there any more. It is an odd feeling but you immediately fine that there is a range of sounds, tones and consequently reasons to pick all over the place. This is also influenced by the thickness of your pick / desired outcome and those who finger pick. Any of you who pick with other devices ever get caught in public. pens, keys, straws, crayons... How do you explain that I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymar Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 I'm glad you asked this question. Over the years I've mastered the art of proper plectrum placement picking between the neck and middle pickups, middle pickup and also between the middle and bridge pickups. I've posted a short MP3 to demonstrate thusly. Note the subtle shadings that can be achieved. You shouldn't chase after the past or pin your hopes on the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave da Dude Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 I usually play between the neck and mid pups. I like the "fuller" sound. I do have a tendency, however, to gradually gravitate (say it 3x quickly for an award ) towards the bridge when I use the mid / mid-bridge / bridge positions (3, 4 & 5?); winding up closer to the bridge with each position change; but never past the space between the mid and bridge pups. FWIW, I'm really an old converted acoustic player, and always played this right over the sound hole; although I would go towards the bridge when I wanted it to sound like an electric Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin-erator Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 Originally posted by greenboy: Picking in only one area is like missionary position for your entire life with only one babe. Did I say that out loud? Really, there's more tones in any guitar than a lot of players ever see, simply because they aren't getting all up in there from every angle. Anywhere along a string has a different balance of overtones and amplitude relationships. And relationship to the pickup position. Don't be dull and unimaginative. Make 'er scream, make her beg and plead, make her wail* * for Lee this may be differentyup, what greenboy says. Vinny Cervoni vcbluzman@hotmail.com www.bluzberrypi.com www.42ndstband.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave da Dude Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 greenboy, Make 'er scream, make her beg and plead, make her wail* * for Lee this may be different Like, "Make 'im moan, make him groan, mold him into your own tone."? Lee, absolutely NO offense meant here Just tryin' to let people see things from a woman's perspective too Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 I pick all over the place. In metal mode, I've got my palm glued to the bridge and when I wants to git funky I hits 'em closer to tha neck. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s mel gibson1642606968 Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 I've got to go along with bluestrat. So, in metal mode it's sort of between the bridge and the middle but closer to the middle. And the rest of the time it's more over the middle and just a little bit more towards the neck. With me, arched top LP's almost force me to rest my palm on the bridge because that bridge is so high off of the main body. Any Pete Townshend "wind mill" strumming and I usually amputate any hangnails I used to have, and creat newer injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMcGuitar Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 I tend to move where I pick quite a bit. I don't really think about it, I just move the hand to where it sounds the way I want it to. I find different guitars cause me to pick differently, and in different places, as well. Adjusting to my Artcore (hollow-body, archtop) took a little while, after playing a strat for so many years. The relationship between the strings and the body really affected me at first, but now it's second-nature again. May all your thoughts be random! - Neil www.McFaddenArts.com www.MikesGarageRocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s mel gibson1642606968 Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 One thing is for sure, I enjoy the differences from one guitar to the next because the differences put me into a different mood and sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in a rut if I stay with my Strat too long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMcGuitar Posted November 7, 2004 Share Posted November 7, 2004 I agree completely. That's why I've got different axes. The switch to the hollow-body was the biggest change for me (I was used to my strat, my Les Paul, and my acoustics), and it took me about a week to get really comfortable with it. It's feel and tones are different from my other guitars, and it does make me play a little differently. And I'm still quite smitten with it. May all your thoughts be random! - Neil www.McFaddenArts.com www.MikesGarageRocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J J Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 no answer, just a quick question what do you think of your agile? I think im gonna order the 3000-prestige LP model in a few days or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHAN Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 Originally posted by michael saulnier: A simple test will reveal how much pick location can affect the sound of your guitar... For that reason, it's part of my playing style to move the pick to the place that creates the type of sound I need at the moment. YOU STILL DA MAN!!!! On average, I tend to be close to the center pickup. But depending on the sound I'm looking for, I'm all over the place. I never even think about it anymore. So Many Drummers. So Little Time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Red 67 Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 All over the place!!! One thing that I didn't see, when I play faster runs or licks I tend to pick over the pick ups so the picking depth is limited. When I am picking hard and digging in I pick between the pick ups. Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrysb3 Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 I fingerpick, or fingerstyle, about 90% of the time, but FWIW, when my old tele started getting the squeals, I began looking for another solid body guitar. I wanted to hang on to the tele, but because of its age, didn't want to take it traveling, and didn't want to replace pickups, frets, etc. that would reduce its collector value. I found a really great early nineties Strat Plus at Kansas Guitar Exchange (no spam - just a great little shop). It looks like Blackie, has Lace pup's and a sweet neck, but I had one hell of a time adjusting to the pickup positions and lack of the tele's ashtray bracket. Now, my hands know both configurations. When flat picking, I usually hit between the middle and bridge pup's, but I can't tell you why. Henry "I started out on burgundy, but soon hit the harder stuff. Everybody said they'd stand behind me when the game got rough. But the joke was on me, there wasn't nobody left to bluff. I'm going back to New York City, I do believe I've had enough." ...Dylan He not busy being born Is busy dyin'. ...Bob Dylan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mach1mike Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Good subject, thanks for the info. I have not been playing very long so this is new to me. I tried picking in different areas and it does make a difference. Now i just need to train myself. God Favors no Group, Only Religions Do That Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 Yeah, like Guitplayer and many others have said here, I also pick in different places- and in different ways- to achieve different tones, different amounts of attack, and to level the string-to-string balance on chords. (Try all of this on an acoustic guitar, too, if you've got one handy...) Pick some single notes right near the bridge; then where the middle pickup is (or would be). Then try picking the strings directly over the spot where the 24th-fret would be, generally over the neck-pickup for a Strat, or a Les Paul's neck-pickup's polepieces, for example. Then try picking any one of the open strings directly over the 12th-fret; listen to how deeply bell-like the note is, like it just went >kerplunk< into a deep pool under a bridge at high-noon, right there where that old sunken boat's been collecting moss all these years... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 Originally posted by greenboy: Picking in only one area is like missionary position for your entire life with only one babe. Did I say that out loud? Really, there's more tones in any guitar than a lot of players ever see, simply because they aren't getting all up in there from every angle. Anywhere along a string has a different balance of overtones and amplitude relationships. And relationship to the pickup position. Don't be dull and unimaginative...[/i]Despite greenboy's very astute observations, I usually hover between the middle and neck pickups, often closer to the neck. (This is true when I'm playing other guitars, too.) It takes all my concentration just to try to play the right notes without having to think about moving the pick around to color them. Besides, GB, if you play enough notes fast enough the timbral differences among them don't really matter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 If I want to chunk it up, then my picker sits closer to the bridge. For more free-flowing stuff, though, I'll pick closer to the neck, or even around the 22nd fret area for a more "acoustic" sound. That works great with the neck and middle pickups both on. Sorry, 3-way switchers! sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antimatter Posted November 11, 2004 Author Share Posted November 11, 2004 Originally posted by J J: no answer, just a quick question what do you think of your agile? I think im gonna order the 3000-prestige LP model in a few days or so.Well besides messing up my Strat pick placement, I'm happy. I still want to bring it in to a good tech for a setup. It arrived with very low action, and had some buzz on the lower frets. I'm still getting used to the P90 pickups, and finding my amp settings for them. And again, the build quality is very impressive for a $230 guitar(Agile 2500). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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