Is the action on my bass too high?

[Tupac]

Whenever I try to slap, it comes out as a just a big clack from the string hitting a fret. No matter how fast I seem to rebound my thumb or whatever different thing I try, the clack overpowers the sound. I want to make sure this is an issue with my skill rather than high action, so I'm not lead on a goose chase for good technique.


G String - 2 millimeters from top fret, 3 mm from board
E String - 3 mm from top fret, 4 mm from board

[cnltb]

Maybe you are hitting the string too hard?

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by Tupac

G String - 2 millimeters from top fret, 3 mm from board
E String - 3 mm from top fret, 4 mm from board

to me that's pretty low action

[Evil Undead]

Action sounds good to me

[Tthawth]

Hope you're not using flatwound strings.
What bass do you own?
Have you tried another bass?
What about Poping? Does it sound good?
What is the gap between strings & Pickups? Maybe your strings hit on them when you slap.

[waltwpowell]

Sorry...not to be rude but it sounds like your technique and not your bass.

With that out of the way, if your technique is good on other basses it might be your pickup height. If the pups are to high and the string hits the coil you will get a loud clacking noise. Also some pickups will "grab" the string with it's magnetic field as you push the string toward the top of the pu and that can make wierd noises too. Even without actual string contact. Hope that helps.

[MarkA]

You could have a slap-capable friend try your bass to see if he or she detects anything that would get in the way of your funksmanship.

[FunkMetalBass]

How are you currently EQing? Do you have a means of recording so that we can hear what you're hearing?

[MNAirHead]

Most of us start slapping too hard.

[Tupac]

Originally Posted by Tthawth

Hope you're not using flatwound strings.
What bass do you own?
Have you tried another bass?
What about Poping? Does it sound good?
What is the gap between strings & Pickups? Maybe your strings hit on them when you slap.

1. No flatwounds.
2. Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Special
3. Popping sounds ok. Feels like it takes some effort, but what do I know
4. From the top of the bottom pick up to the E string, 4 cm.


And no, it's most certainly not the string hitting the pick ups, the string is no where near low enough. I was investigating today, and I found that the clack is coming from the string hitting the fret closest to the body, close to where I slap.

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by Tupac

A
I found that the clack is coming from the string hitting the fret closest to the body, close to where I slap.

Isn't that the main sound of slap though?

maybe that last fret is not seated completely and is rebounding with the string hit.

Or do you have a bad E string, like with a dent or something on the underside?

[sandmangeck]

I slap and pop over the pickups naturally. Not near the fretboard at all. Try that out and see if it does the same thing

[MarkA]

Can you slap on other basses? Has anyone else tried to slap your bass?

["Q"]

Sometimes I slap pretty close to the bridge. The sound isn't quite as nice but it feels good.

[Staccato]

Action is a relative thing...some players dig in, and others use a light fingerstyle (or easy pickin'). Each would beg for a somewhat different string height.

[fenderhutz]

Hold the string down on the highest fret. See how close you are to your pickups. That popping sound might be your string bouncing off the pickup thus deadening the note. If so tighten those pickups down a little.

[darkstorm]

Where are you measuring from for that 2mm and 3mmm at which fret? If its 12th fret Id say the action was high. I normally get below 2mm for E string, 2mm is the highest I would tolerate and I concider 3mm excessive high.

[MarkA]

You are right to look at the setup of your bass. If you don't have good technique, a bad setup certainly won't help you acquire it. However, before you go chasing fractions of a millimeter here or there, or subtle variations in technique, I still think it would be a good idea to try slapping on some other basses (especially if a proven slapper will let you try their proven slapper) and to have someone slap-capable try out your bass.

The results might not be definitive, but they should be enlightening, and your friend might give you some helpful pointers based on actually seeing you in action with (and trying out) your bass.

Continue to seek help here, but try the above, if you can.