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VIEW FULL LIVE VERSION : Do you thumb your G string? Let me know.


climb
09-28-2007, 09:40 AM
Excuse the ridiculous sounding title of the thread, unless you're an exotic dancer. If you are an exotic dancer, then... well, what's it like to be one and what are you doing on TB?

For the bassists in the audience, I have a question. I frequently slap/thumb in the Marcus Miller vein, which includes a ton of thumbing/thumping (not popping) of the G string. I've noticed that the G string struck this way sounds really good on a few basses (my Sadowsky 4 string Jazz, Marcus Miller Fender Jazz), but kind of hollow/empty on others (my Sadowsky NYC 5, Fodera Monarch, Sukop 4). I don't think it's a string or action issue, b/c I've tried all sorts. I also don't think it's necessary pickup related, because I can hear the difference without an amp. On some basses (jazzes?) it seems to really ring at an almost even volume to the A string, but on the others, it needs a much harder thumb strike to get it to sound full, and then it loses some subtlety.

Any ideas? Marcus? Are you reading this?? TIA.

Ultraviolet
09-28-2007, 10:11 AM
I really struggle to get any sort of volume out of my (standard) Fender Jazz on the G, and it sounds fairly thin when I do...

And when I do strike it (with force), this seems to cause the open strings (E, A) to ring... (see my post on FT technique).

Best solution.... don't slap the D or G ?!?!

UV

Kobaia
09-28-2007, 10:46 AM
i learned to slap and pop every string. there is a video by cliff engel you should check it out its on his site

Infernal Affair
09-28-2007, 11:13 AM
Maybe it's string/setup related? That would be my assumption since you say it's good on some basses but not on others. I am by no means a slapper, but you might want to check your thumb angle when hitting the G as opposed to the A or D. See if you can recreate the exact technique on the G as the D and then try to derive something from that.