Steel Strings & Slap

[mikejdexter]

What steel strings have you tried that are good for slap? And
'easy' (less pain) on the side of the slap thumb?

[Gearhead43]

Don't slap with your thumb. Use your fingers / palm and keep the thumb out of the way. Some guys (ala Milt Hinton, Willie Dixon) slap with the thumb tucked under and use more of the side of the index finger / hand. Others (ala Kevin Smith, Bill Black, Pete Turland, etc, lots of other guys) use the hand more flat to the fingerboard and hold the thumb upwards out of the way.

Most slappers who play steels use solo gauge sets tuned EADG for lower tension.

If you like steels, then Eurosonics might be the ticket. They sound like mellow steel strings and are wrapped in a nylon type winding so they aren't bad on the fingers.

There are tons of other string choices.

[Francois Blais]

Many slappers use Jargar strings since they're the most gut-like steel strings.
They're also available in three gauges.
The Dolce ones are favored for that purpose I think.

[kmanley_29649]

Also Thomastik Superflexibles are pretty popular. Never used the solo's myself, but I had orchestras on my bass when I bought it, and they could be slapped, although they were pretty high tensioned.

[Tejano Bass]

Ya just might wanna take a look at this while you're at it:

http://www.fretwellbass.com/product_...products_id=82

Good Luck!

[txstatebass]

I've used Spiro weichs and mittels, belcantos, Pirastro Jazzers, flexocors (but not for long). Weichs and mittels work fine for me.

[Gearhead43]

Originally Posted by Tejano Bass

Ya just might wanna take a look at this while you're at it:

http://www.fretwellbass.com/product_...products_id=82

Good Luck!

[Tejano Bass]

My bad - wrong thread . . .

[mikejdexter]

Thanks everybody for the good info.

Mike