Good slapping plus easy popping strings ??

Hawkeye · #1 07-20-2005, 09:52 AM

I'm just learning to slap and am having great fun with my "beater" bass (an 80's vintage Ibanez RB-999 "Bean-bass"). The RB 999 has nice wide spacing and sounds really good for the little dough I paid for it. It's the first bass that I feel comfortable slapping on.

My problem is that it is strung with what feels and looks like generic Med-Heavy strings. This makes the E & A sound good when slapped but the D & G really need to be quite deliberately pulled hard, to get a nice pop. The upper strings have a lot more tension than the medium Dean Markleys I use on my Godin BG-5 or the stock strings on my Lakland 55-01 which seem to pop very easily.

I'm looking for something with less tension, but still with some girth on the lower strings for slapping, but will be a bit more flexible for popping and fingerstyle. Any suggestions?

Figjam · #2 07-20-2005, 10:56 AM

Dr lo riders, medium gauge. I use stainless. I had ernie balls on before and noticed they had high tension D and G strings, these are much better.

sLiPkNoT_mAgGoT · #3 07-26-2005, 10:14 PM

are ghs flea bass strings any good for slap?

pyrohr · #4 07-27-2005, 03:09 PM

Ken Smith Slapmasters would be good for you.

Groovecenter · #5 07-27-2005, 07:02 PM

DR highbeams, Fodera Vic Wooten sig. strings, pretty much any roundcore, stainless string

sLiPkNoT_mAgGoT · #6 07-27-2005, 08:01 PM

so i should try ken smith slapmasters

pyrohr · #7 07-28-2005, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sLiPkNoT_mAgGoT

so i should try ken smith slapmasters

Yes, easily the easiest string to slap with!

fretlessrock · #8 07-28-2005, 09:27 AM

I'm not much of a slapper but the DR Fat Beams I had on my Read J were easy slapping, popping, and had that Marcus tone. Having an ash-bodied J didn't hurt either

epoxo57 · #9 07-28-2005, 09:12 PM

I like the Ernie Ball Super Slinkys (Nickel) 45-100. Nice slap/pop sounds on my Sterling (like thats hard to believe

) Tension seems medium-tight. Never could get it on with Boomers on any bass...just wore out a set of Flea Signatures that I was curious about...ok, but nothing special.

Currently I am test-driving a set of DR Low-Rider nickels which are pretty good on my Sterling. The tension I'd say is tight but good for funk/rock.

For the price, try a set of Slinkys. I, myself, do not like stainless steels, so I'm not sure what those options may be (I do have a set of Bootsy's Bootzillias, but I'm keepin' em in the box since Bootsy personally autographed them at Sam Ash here in Cincy

).

pyrohr · #10 07-29-2005, 09:17 AM

I have used the majority of string makers out there to acheive different results for different basses. I come from the FUNK school of bass players, not bass players playing funk! out of all the strings I've tried for slapping the easiest strings to slap with are "slap masters by Ken Smith" There are others that sound better imho but the poster asked for strings with light tension. I have used every string that has been mentioned so far in this thread and while most are dead on for slapping they are better suited for the experienced player that doesn't have tension issues. I myself normally use 45, 65, 85, 105-110's to slap with. 40, 60, 80, 100's are kinda thin and slinky for me although I have 3 or 4 new sets of these gauges laying around. Those are the gauges to learn on until you get your chops up where you can move up to the 45's. Remember let the bass and amp do the work, no need to beat on or pull the strings to the next room to get a decent sound!

sLiPkNoT_mAgGoT · #11 08-02-2005, 09:49 PM

so ghs flea bass boomers arent worth it

epoxo57 · #12 08-03-2005, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sLiPkNoT_mAgGoT

so ghs flea bass boomers arent worth it

Not to me. Not really sure what the hype is about, but again, never been a Boomers fan. Quality-wise, they are pretty solid though

GSPLBASSDC · #13 08-03-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Figjam

Dr lo riders, medium gauge. I use stainless. strings,

+1 on these. I used Bass Boomers before, but Lo-riders are great!! I've heard good things about SlapMasters and I mean to try some, but I just love the DR tone and it's hard to switch

hondo8671 · #14 08-03-2005, 09:54 PM

have you tried any Rotosounds? they have a good slap tone on my fender Jazz!!!!

gottawalk · #15 08-03-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondo8671

have you tried any Rotosounds? they have a good slap tone on my fender Jazz!!!!

I also have a "Jazz", and would be really interested to hear input on that one! I also have a Rick that I'm thinking of using as a "Funk"-shun bass and keep the Jazz for jazz...

Thoughts on strings for that "unique" Rick pickup sound for funk???

pyrohr · #16 08-04-2005, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondo8671

have you tried any Rotosounds? they have a good slap tone on my fender Jazz!!!!

He didn't ask for a good sounding string he asked for a more flexible string than what he was using, roto sounds are a little stiff so they are definately not what he wants. Remember he is LEARNING, the roto's will ring too much for him. Plus they're fret eaters, making slapping and popping hard on the neckfinish and frets!

rockstarbassist · #17 08-05-2005, 05:34 PM

DR Lo-Riders thump 'n pop for me quite well. It's all I ever buy, unless in case of emergency.