Do slap/funk bassists generally prefer thin strings?

[Chrisk-K]

I was surprised to find that Stuart Zender recorded all of Jamiroquai bass lines with Elites 035-090 strings (too thin!). And I found some slappers use even 030-090.

I wonder if slap/funk bassists generally prefer thinner gauges. If so, why?

[chicago_mike]

Easier to play faster stuff... I used to use those guages and if they had a slightly thicker tone, I'd still use them.

I put GHS super steels, 30's or 35's on a Geddy Lee once and it was the baddest tone ever. Had to have the tone knob almost all the way off it was so bright..but not harsh bright

[Muaguana]

My first teacher - one beast of a slapper, among other things - was a big proponent of GHS Ultra Light gauge strings, and basically said the same thing mike did: it's a lot easier to play fast. It made learning the double-thump easier, at least.

[anarkink]

I believe Marcus uses normal gauge 45-105. And he has the best slap tone, IMO.

[Muaguana]

Originally Posted by anarkink

I believe Marcus uses normal gauge 45-105. And he has the best slap tone, IMO.

What's the best slap tone for metal?

[chicago_mike]

I guess kinda an angry marcus tone...so I guess a VT bass pedal for grit?

Though I did see a clip once of a rap metal type group and the bassist just had a everday P bass into a mesa 400+. No pedals and got a great tone that worked with the distorted guitars.

[JimmyM]

doesn't matter what strings you use. use the ones that are most comfortable for you.

[selowitch]

Thinner string gauges allow lower action. It therefore will take less force with the thumb to slap the strings against the fret, so for some that means less fatigue. It also might make it easier to do hammer-ons and pull-offs.

It's all about what makes you most comfortable while playing.

[AmadeusXeno]

Interesting, I prefer thicker strings for slap. Thinner strings seem to flop around too much and have an inconsistant note when I slap them. Might be how aggressive I hit the strings though.

[Devo-lution]

I use 45-105 flatwounds at the moment.

Need some more power and I slap farther away for the fingerboard to get some more definition, but slaps just the same.

[HeadyVan Halen]

Thin strings= No Good
Maybe for tick-tacky music store licks, but for that real funk, you need some meat.


*This fact is based on opinion*

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by AmadeusXeno

Interesting, I prefer thicker strings for slap. Thinner strings seem to flop around too much and have an inconsistant note when I slap them. Might be how aggressive I hit the strings though.

I use Regular Light Gauge Chromes, and I find that I like the slap tone I get from the E, A, and D strings but not the G. It's too thin and doesn't respond to the thumbstrikes very well. I guess next time I change strings (like, next year) I'll try the next higher gauge up and see how I like those.

[AwkwardLoudness]

Originally Posted by AmadeusXeno

Interesting, I prefer thicker strings for slap. Thinner strings seem to flop around too much and have an inconsistant note when I slap them. Might be how aggressive I hit the strings though.

I prefer thicker strings for slap too, but I can see why thinner strings would increase quickness.

[gre107]

It really depends on what feels good to you. I don't buy into the whole idea that a thicker string has a fatter tone. Listen to Zender, King, Clarke, Wooten etc...

For slapping, using a lighter gauge string allows you to slap/pop/articulate the strings with less effort and more expression/feeling. This also applies to just finger style as well. You can really squeeze out the tone/overtones with a lighter gauge.

For years I played with 40-100's and at times tried using 45-105's but always found that the heavier strings caused me to play with more effort and less speed/fluency.

I'm now playing with 30-90's and I haven't looked back since. I don't even want to touch a bass with heavier strings. It takes a short time to adjust to (maybe a few hours of good playing/practicing) and it is well worth it. Make sure you re-adjust your action and string height if you do go to the lighter gauge strings though. It will make a big difference.

[JAUQO III-X]

The gauges on my basses are .110 .080 .060 .040 .030. 025. And live people think I'm using a heavier gauge because of the sound I get. And I'm not a slap/funk bassist per se. Those gauges just work for me overall.

[BobaFret]

I use .120 - .40 on a 5'er. I do like a lot of slap style but this just works for everything. It's less about speed and more about feel. I do have some hand/arm issues so the smaller gauge really helps out.

Jauqo - man, i thought I used small diameters.

DR Low Rider SS - Lite 5'er ( the perfect string for me )

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by BobaFret

Jauqo - man, i thought I used small diameters.

Those are the gauges I've been using for years. And they really work for me all around.

[hasbeen]

I play a lot of slap. Twenty years ago, I used 40 through 95....Boomers.

When I switched to DR, the flexibility of their round core construction, let me go up to 45 through 105.

With these, I think the larger gauge gives me a bigger tone, but the round core makes them feel better.

I was involved with developing Trace Elliot bass strings back in the day. Mark King's set was a 30 through 90!!!!!!

[jaywa]

I don't play much slap-n-pop but I did notice when I had a heavier (.110) set on my P-Bass that slapping sounded great but popping was extremely hard to do and sounded like crap when I did.

Just a guess, but I would suspect this may be why companies like Ernie Ball came out with "hybrid" gauge sets that have heavier low strings and lighter high strings.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by hasbeen

Mark King's set was a 30 through 90!!!!!!

A 30 G string? Good lord I would be bending that thing out of tune whenever I fretted it.