Blocks Between Pickups

thegummy

On a lot of modern basses I see what seems to be a block of (presumably) wood attached between the pickups.

What is the purpose of that?

Winny_Pooh

Thumbrest I reckon

Funkfingers

The ramp thang, huh?

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/03/bass-ramps-the-how-and-why/

https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2014/03/the-evolution-of-bass-ramps/

thegummy

Funkfingers said:

The ramp thang, huh?

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2013/04/03/bass-ramps-the-how-and-why/

https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2014/03/the-evolution-of-bass-ramps/

Cheers man appreciate the links.

That's kind of what I guessed - that it was to make it feel like you were playing over the pickup regardless where you plucked but what confused me is that to me, playing over the pickup always seemed to feel worse but was worth the tradeoff for the sound it got.

I think this maybe highlights a flaw in my plucking technique and maybe I'm plucking too hard when not playing over the pickup.

fretmeister

I've had a couple of basses with ramps.

I really like them. Prevents digging in too much, also acts as a bit of a physical compressor to even out notes.

I'm going to have one made for my Sandberg when I get a break between needing it all the time.

thegummy

fretmeister said:

I've had a couple of basses with ramps.

I really like them. Prevents digging in too much, also acts as a bit of a physical compressor to even out notes.

I'm going to have one made for my Sandberg when I get a break between needing it all the time.

Don't think I'd actually want a ramp but I'm definitely going to practice solely over the pickups for a while to make sure I'm not digging in any more than I should be.

prowla

Ramps.

No good if you use a plec or pop.

Plus they look stupid!

thegummy

prowla said:

Ramps.

No good if you use a plec or pop.

Plus they look stupid!

I think I generally see them on the basses of players who are in to that style of music that to my (likely ignorant) ears just sounds like they're playing loads of random notes really quickly lol

Funkfingers

Anyone capable of disciplining their picking digits to play directly above a pickup ought to be able to maintain that degree of control anywhere along the length of the strings.

thegummy

Funkfingers said:

Anyone capable of disciplining their picking digits to play directly above a pickup ought to be able to maintain that degree of control anywhere along the length of the strings.

I tend to see them on the basses of quite advanced players, pretty much never on novices so I reckon it's more about preference than relying on it.

Definitely not for me but glad I know what they are now.

I'm not a fan of the look of them either, it's one of the features of some basses that are too "non-classic" looking for me.