Tapping on flats?

[ilovethesechord]

Hello all,

I was wondering... I do a lot of soft slapping and tapping. In the middle of a very "mathy" post-post rock slap riff I'll throw in one or two taps to create a very fluid, wobble-y bubble jam.

I'm using a Spector 6, bubinga style, through a Trace.

Would changing my rounds to flats give me a more appropriate tone? My bass is passive, and I love playing it at higher registers.

...I know it's hard without a sound clip, but any input would be greatly appreciated.

-Trent

EDIT: I can't post a link, but if you search "piglet 1" on you tube you can find a good example of "math rock."

[ilovethesechord]

...so that's 0 and 20 then?

bemp.

[arjune]

Rounds all the way. All of the math rock bassists that I know use rounds. Also, in my experience I'm not a fan of flats for tapping.

[ilovethesechord]

I don't know... I just have this tone of like an under-water bubbly tapping fun sound. Would I be better off just trying some effects?

[dreadheadbass]

i have flats on all my bass's and although i very rarely tap with my band i do noodle about a bit at home with flats you get less string noise so your taps sound cleaner which is good if like me you have terrible tap technique
however the overall tone isnt as bright as rounds and doesnt have the sharp deffinition which is hard to explain but i'll have a go

rounds
dingy dingy ding dingy ding diiiiiiing

flats
duh duh doo duh duh doo

thats just my exp dont take my word for it i'm not a tapper or a slapper i'm a finger fumbler and thats it!!

[nortonrider]

Originally Posted by dreadheadbass

rounds
dingy dingy ding dingy ding diiiiiiing

flats
duh duh doo duh duh doo

YEP!!!

[bassnug47]

im confused.....
Im still not sure what "math rock" is? can you post some examples with better sound quality?
also, What is a "fluid, wobble-y bubble jam." and a "under-water bubbly tapping fun sound."

[debassr]

Originally Posted by bassnug47

im confused.....
Im still not sure what "math rock" is? can you post some examples with better sound quality?
also, What is a "fluid, wobble-y bubble jam." and a "under-water bubbly tapping fun sound."

My thoughts exactly.
When I heard "math rock" I instantly thought of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxmKRyLdBho

[rarisgod]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Math_rock

That's what I could find, anyway...

[line6man]

This is math rock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqpWETqoD5Q

[debassr]

Originally Posted by line6man

This is math rock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqpWETqoD5Q

Interesting... but I'm not sure I care enough to want to ever listen to it again.

[ilovethesechord]

Originally Posted by dreadheadbass

i have flats on all my bass's and although i very rarely tap with my band i do noodle about a bit at home with flats you get less string noise so your taps sound cleaner which is good if like me you have terrible tap technique
however the overall tone isnt as bright as rounds and doesnt have the sharp deffinition which is hard to explain but i'll have a go

rounds
dingy dingy ding dingy ding diiiiiiing

flats
duh duh doo duh duh doo

thats just my exp dont take my word for it i'm not a tapper or a slapper i'm a finger fumbler and thats it!!

Best. Advice. Ever.

[thombo]

though you may be onto a very original sound, i don't think that flats will work for you, especially w/ passive pups... too slow of response, especially when tapping for technical music.
for sting choice,

if you really want to get away from rounds, pressure/half/ground-wound (similar design depends on brand) strings might work for you. i play in a post-math-whateveryouwanttocallit band (mainiam) and have had luck w/ the rotosound pressure wounds in the past, though i went back to rounds.

i don't know if effects are an options, but, if i understand the sound you are after, a lowpass or envelope filter can five you that thuddy-bubbly sound if you set the frequency response low enough (ala stu brooks from the dub trio). i use a moogerfooger lowpass for that kind of think.

[thombo]

btw, that youtube clip was rad!

[ilovethesechord]

Hey, thank you all for responding. And hey, I'm glad you dug that clip!

..I think I'm just gonna have to try it.
that's really the only way to know, right?

And thombo, I'll definitely try out those effects next time I'm at Sam Ash.

Thanks all!!

[thombo]

keep us posted, i am kind of curious...

[ilovethesechord]

I bought a set of TI flats, and I am now one step closer to ""the tone in my head""

w00t.