Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Is anybody out there hand muting a Ric Bass like I do?

It is not impossible ... if you lay the edge of your right hand between the foam mute and the bridge saddles and extend you little finger straight and play with a pick you can hand mute a ric bass.

I have been doing it for years so it is second nature to me ... it is easier with the 4003s5 beacuse of the tailpiece shape.

This is one of the reasons that I remove the bridge pickup cover ... because when my hand is back there I need the room for picking.

But this hand muting can be an added dimension to you ric playing ... I use it to simulate flat wound strings ...

Jeff,
Like you,I play with a pick and removed the bridge pickup cover of my 4003. Sacrificing the good look of the cover on is kind of the necessary evil, I think.
I however rest the edge of my palm in front of the mute pad like most bass pickers do. My usual picking area is exactly in the middle between the 2 pickups.
The advantage of this is that I can pick between the neck and the neck pickup (if I need a warmer tone) and still be able to mute with my right hand palm.

What pick do you use? I use Fender Extra Heavies. One of my friends bought 100 of them for me from a trip to Tokyo, Japan last month because they were(still are) not available here in my country. I feel very "safe" now.

I use the fender 346 Delrin Pick XH ... I get them here ...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030122134020065085230180518049/search/g=bass/detail/base_id/43865

I buy a whole buch of them at once ... These picks have a great attack and they last a long time ... It takes forever to wear down the tips ...

I only use Stainless Steel picks.

It gives a great attack and it increases the "trebly" tone of the Rickenbacker Bass.

They will last forever !!!

I use Dunlop 3mm "Big Stubbies"; easy to hold, a bit more round in shape than a standard pick. Easy to brush the string with a touch of thumb or finger in Squire fashion.

I understand from his instructional video that he uses Herco heavies; how are they? More to the point, where are they?

Herco heavies (gray nylon) are only .75mm. They were also used by John Paul Jones (and Jimmy Page) back in the day. The brand is owned by Dunlop but you won't find them at many stores unless they also carry the Herco thumbpicks. They aren't rigid but IMO they are stiffer than a regular Dunlop medium .72 nylon and easier to grip.

http://www.jimdunlop.com/herco/guitar.html

I do have a few but when I use a pick on bass it's usually a thicker one.

Lindsay...Herco was bought out by Dunlop a while back but you can still get the Herco Heavy's at this website http://www.jimdunlop.com/herco/guitar.html
I don't know if they ship internationally and it looks like ya gotta buy a box of 100
personally I use the black Dunlop 1mm....I've been using them every since the Hercos dissappeared back in the early 80's...although I think I've still got a couple of old nubbed out grey Herco heavy's around somewhere...Love the nylon because they NEVER break...they just get more rounded as time goes by. The stainless steel sounds like a good idea..but these days I play Blues and R&B and the bassier the tone the better. Cheers, David

Thanks, David. I'm going to be in the UK later this year, I think I'll try there.

Am I the only one here that uses a thin pick? I like the Dunlop Orange Tortex, which is flexible enough to 'feel' the strings and provides sharp attack without all the audible clicking of heavier picks. They also last a very long time before the tip wears down.

As for muting, I mute naturally with various parts of both hands without having to really think about it.

Lindsay, they are US-made, you should be able to find them at a well-stocked shop that carries a good selection of acoustics, such shops often carry the Herco line because of their fingerpicks.

Brad, I can't get a decent amount of fundamental using a thinner, more flexible pick on thick strings. I guess it all depends on the particular sound you're seeking. I'm used to fingerstyle sound and I use a pick when I want a little more attack than fingerstyle can provide, but I still want a strong fundamental.

Put me down as another Dunlop 1mm Nylon user, the worst picks to lose on a dark stage, though they have the phosphorescent ones now that I've yet to try.

As for muting, I use my 4001 which has the PU cover removed if I need to palm mute. It can be done with difficulty with the cover on, though.

However, I also like using the cover as an anchor for playing over the neck pickup, which gives a better tone IMO. It really depends on the part.

Well, I have the pickup cover in place, and have used Dunlop Tortex 1.14 mm (purple) picks for years.

Thanks, Dave. I was aware that Herco was affiliated with Dunlop, I just haven't seen them marketed. I'll keep my eyes peeled; anything that might contribute to Squire Sound is worth a try!