slappin' with metal

[smokinbass]

Am I going to hurt myself trying to slap with spiro med strings?
A local player I really respect says I gotta go gut.
-Mike

[boombloom]

Hey Mike! It's Steve, over across the lake. Thanks for the tip on Rigel. They did a fine restoration for me.

Lots of folks slap on steel. I did it for years, but eventually swapped for Golden Spiral G and D. It depends upon what you're up to, whether you're jamming all night with dozens of banjo pickers, whether you have sound reinforcement, and whether your technique is good. Also, likely, how many dishes you wash in hot soapy water and how much you mind spreading superglue on your fingers. Look it up. To each their own

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

Steel is slappable. I'm not much of a slapper and I've been able to slap a blues line on a bass at school strung with an ugly set of wires as strings. String height was about 10mm which I think is kind of standard for orchestral basses. Just don't think you'll be able to slap a 2 hour set your first time. Practice at home in short intervals to build up strenght and callouses.

Happy slappin'

[mpoppitt]

Try getting a solo set, and tuning them back down to standard.

A lot of folks will use a gut D&G, and metal E&A.