how to eq Bongo when playing with a pick?

[shakinbacon]

I've posted this dilema on Talkbass but now that I have a Bongo I want to reexamine the issue

I play bass and classical guitar. Unfortunately, to get the tone I like I have to make a choice. You see, for classical guitar I have to have nails on my right hand to get a good tone. For bass I have to have no nails. I haven't played classical guitar in a while and I miss it a lot. (in a band context I LOVE playing bass. when playing solo I love classical guitar)

What's a boy to do? I've tried using picks before on basses with no luck.

So I like a thick tone with clarity (think of the bass tone on the first Boston record mixed with John Deacon) The thick part usually gets lost when using a pick for me.

Tonight I tried putting a mute (ie strip of cloth) under the strings by the bridge to deaden the "zing", used a 2.0mm dunlop pick played lightly and proceeded to twiddle the Bongo's eq.


You know what? I think I might be able to pull this off (of course there is a compromise, but I want to see how close I can get).

I found that if I put a hair of piezo, favor the neck pickup slightly, play between the pickups lightly with the pick, pull the hi mid back, boost the bass and low mid while leaving the treble alone I am pretty close

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[maddog]

I like wedgies.

 

[Basscake]

2 mm picks are serious weapons.
You might try something lighter.

I like rather elastic ones.
The rubber ones in maddogs link are intruiging. Haven't tried those...

Currently I'm playing Dunlop Nylons 0.88 or 1.00 mm.
Furthermore I mute the strings lightly with the palm of the right hand on the area of the bridge. And I try not to hit it to hard. A too hard pick attack ends usully just in a louder "clang" than a fatter tone... Take it easy there.

Don't know about eq settings.
I'd also think that the "zing" of the pic is somewhere located in the high mids.
But anyway:
I think cutting such a narrow and specific band of frequencies is rather a job for a parametric or graphic EQ on your amp.

 

[strummer]

I'm all for Wediges, and also JohnnyBoy here on the forum got me felt picks, supposedly for madolin work, but they are great for bass playing too!

 

[shakinbacon]

I like wedgies.

Interesting. Which do you think would work for my needs - the 3.0mm, soft?

Looks like there are soft medium and hard varieties in 3.0mm and 5.1mm - makes my head spin


Thanks again,
shakin'

 

[Grand Wazoo]

shakingbacon, send me a pm with your address and I will send you a couple of very interesting leather picks which are handmade for me in Italy. I think they are the best in the world, try them and see if you like the way they feel.

I repeat leather picks (there is no r in that sentence at all)

 

[lowendgrowl]

Wedgie Picks are a good place to start..... or a thinner pick......(I use tortex yellows for example)

Other than that you may try boosting the bass, dump the mids to almost nothing, and treble down to about a 1/4. Don't use the Piezo, and play closer to the neck...... Then use your amp to get set the mids and treble.

 

[maddog]

Interesting. Which do you think would work for my needs - the 3.0mm, soft?

Looks like there are soft medium and hard varieties in 3.0mm and 5.1mm - makes my head spin


Thanks again,
shakin'

I like the 3.1mm soft and mediums.

Amazon has them for $2.25 for a 3 pack.

It'd be a cheap thrill to find out which you like.

 

[AtomicPunk]

Thanks for the info on the Wedgies, I've never tried them. I am using the 1.0mm picks also and I could stand to have a little less pick noise too.

 

[shakinbacon]

Thanks guys

You guys are the best. Very helpful info here

Much appreciated

Grand Wazoo, I've sent you a PM

 

[Grand Wazoo]

You guys are the best. Very helpful info here

Much appreciated

Grand Wazoo, I've sent you a PM

here's the picks I will be sending you. Remember they are leather and they do wear off a bit, but they last ages. I've got no need for them as I can't use them anymore. (without a thumb on my right hand, I've got nothing to grip them with lol).

 

[OldManMusic]

I love those leather picks. I remember a bassist in San Francisco using similar ones back in the 80s. I just ordered some Wedgies fro MF earlier this week to see how they sounded for those few songs where a pick works better than my fingers.

 

[shakinbacon]

I love those leather picks. I remember a bassist in San Francisco using similar ones back in the 80s. I just ordered some Wedgies fro MF earlier this week to see how they sounded for those few songs where a pick works better than my fingers.

Please report back on how you like the wedgies

The leather picks look nice

 

[Sonnyonbass]

Ask Gene Simmons!

Just kidding.....