Recently Ive been getting into the Sly and Family Stone, especially the smooth basslines. Ive tried a few things to replicate his ton, like foam under the bridge, but it doesnt sound right. Especially the pops, when the bassist does it its still pretty well defined but with the foam it makes it sound terrible. So anyone know how I can get that special sound/tone? Im using a fender P.

This is also off topic but Im thinking about throwing A darkstar into my P-bass, how diverse is it? I usually play punk but lately Soul and funk have been catching my attention.

Which Sly stuff are you trying to play? Larry Graham was the bassist for the most part, another guy, I could look it up, did "if you want me to stay", But most of it was Larry. He has his own style of slap and pop. He kind of plucks.
I've been told he originate slap on electric bass starting out when a drummer didn't show up for a gig and he slapped to keep rhythm.
Anyhow, check out Larry on the web. There used to be some stuff on youtube and I know he has some instructional videos/DVDs out.
I think he used a Fender Jazz back then, he uses custom Moon Jazz basses made in Japan now.

Larry Graham used flatwounds back in those days, but he says it doesn't matter what kind of strings he uses. As for muting, I doubt very seriously if he used any muting at all. I certainly have never heard of it if he has.

Actually it was "if you want me to stay" that I first heard and made me want to check out the band haha, didnt know it was a different guy. I am brand new to most of this genre so I'm not going to know the names of anyone (yet). But yeah it was that song that made me go out and buy "Theres a Riot Goin' On" and Im really liking it. the bassline from "(You Caught Me) Smilin' " is especially good, along with "Thank You For Talkin' To Me Africa". If you know a place I can get some tabs for these songs I'd be greatful. Too bad I really suck at slapping, these could give me a reason to practice.

Sly Stone himself played the bassline to "If You Want Me To Stay," BTW.

Sly Stone himself played the bassline to "If You Want Me To Stay," BTW.

Are you sure that wasn't Rustee Allen? BassPlayer featured him and a transcription of that line last year.

Hmmm...I have always heard that Sly played it, but I just found the online BP article that says Rustee Allen played it, so I must bow to their wisdom.

I seem to remember a YouTube with Larry explaining his sound. He was into a bunch of obsure signal processors... stomp boxes.

Larry Graham's sound has nothing to do with stomp boxes, although he was one of the first to use distortion. His stomp boxes are there to get a few different sounds, but his actual "sound" is in his hands.

btw, he's on the cover of Bass Player this month - there's a bit about his gear during the day and what he's using now

Are you sure that wasn't Rustee Allen? BassPlayer featured him and a transcription of that line last year.


That's true...and that's what I always thought.
Not sure, though, but I think the current issue of Bass Player (w/ Graham on the cover) credits Sly with the part. IMHO, "IYWMTS" is a 'bass player's part'...was Sly that good a bassist?

"I used to just turn everything up until the room started to shake."-LArry Graham. May 2007 issue of BassPlayer.