Finger basses vs Pick basses vs Slap basses

TheSeagoats

TheSeagoats

May 21, 2015
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#1
Not another pointless this vs that thread. I've found lately that I tend to be fairly exclusive on technique based on the bass I'm playing. I have a few basses that I tend to only use my fingers on, my ESP and my Rogue, while I have a other basses that I only play with picks, such as my P bass and my short scale. I'm not a slapper but I'm now wondering if I would unconsciously dedicate a bass to that too if I were. Am I the only one out there that does this?
 
#2
I bought a P bass a few months back specifically for learning to play with a pick with. Started a punk band everything so I could facilitate that. I still only play this one with a pick.

I have a short scale that I've maybe put 5 minutes of play time in since getting. It's a neat novelty, but I prefer the longer scale stuff.

My LTD 5 string was exclusively finger style, but I've recently joined a band where a pick fits better so I've been playing that one with a pick for the last 2 months.

I've never spent any time with slap, but my friend that does says the P bass and the SS are slap machines.
 
#4
My main players w/ roundwounds, set up for fingerstyle/pick/slap.

I also have
- P w/ Flats, pick playing for loud rock. The guitarist calls it 'The Freight Train'.
- shortscale hollowbody with Flats for vintage tones, sounds best w/ pick.
- Fretless bass & a DB exclusively fingerstyle.
 
#5
I definitely enjoy finger and pick style playing on all my different style basses. They all sound a little different, but the "feel" is the same, depending on the method of play.

P bass with fingers and tone rolled halfway sounds divine, but I LOVE the way a pick sounds on a P, too. Whether full on or muted.
On the other hand, my Ray34 sounds like it's gonna EAT somebody when I play with a pick, but sounds incredible when played fingerstyle, too. I'm no proficient slapper (yet), but when I do it, the Ray sounds great.

I guess the long short of it is I don't necessarily pick the bass I intend to play based on playing style. The only exception would be slapping a P. I don't DISLIKE slapped P sounds (there are some times I've heard other people slap a P and thought it sounded great), but I'd reserve slapping for other setups, myself.
 
#6
It all depends on your style and what you want your sound to be. Some basses work best with pick and fingers, and some work best with slap. Also, how the instrument is set up can play a huge part in the sound using various attack techniques. I use 2 basses, active humbucker with rounds, and passive split coil with flats. I can get every style and sound from these 2 basses, and use various attacks on either for specific tones. It's all personal preference.
 
#7
Not at all... great idea, as it is in the set as well and technique.
I have basses that is use for Blues, Jazz, Rock etc.

Some are short scale, some a long scale, some are five string, so as semi acoustic, only two basses have roundwound strings, the rest have flats or different weights of strings..and so on.
So it is a good idea to have "horses for courses".
 
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