ideal action for slap bass?

rakuenso · #1 10-01-2006, 10:55 PM

hi guys i'm a bit of a bass newb still, so here's my Q on slap bass, i own a fender mim j-bass

anyways i find it difficult to slap on, for example when i slap on an open string, its doable. But if i fret anything, it becomes much harder to slap (And sometimes no sound is made, only a thud of sorts) it's much harder to slap on the A string than the E string.

anyways, for all you slap bassists, how do your action look? mine is pretty low right now.. and i feel that i'm not really giving the strings a chance to vibrate when i slap it

anyone?

labgnat · #2 10-01-2006, 10:58 PM

yeah you want low action. slapping is all in the wrist, a twisting motion. unless ur double thumping it's a bit different. but regular slap u gotta have ur thumb slap off the string, if it just lays down on it the strings not gonna vibrate.

rakuenso · #3 10-01-2006, 11:09 PM

i'm trying to get the punchy sound, but sometimes no sound is made

labgnat · #4 10-01-2006, 11:16 PM

sometimes u don't get a sound is what makes me think ur muting the string with your thumb or the palm part of ur thumb comes down and rests on the string,

BrandonBass · #5 10-02-2006, 12:15 AM

slap near the end of the neck

Cactusgrant · #6 10-02-2006, 10:11 AM

My action was low too and I found slaping a bit difficult, raised it a bit and it sounds awesome now, but each to his own.I say experiment and see whats best for you.

BuffaloBass · #7 10-02-2006, 01:16 PM

Medium low action, and I would spend a few $ on a slap lesson from a pro so you dont start doing it wrong.

www.musicdojo.com used to have slap lessons.

rakuenso · #8 10-02-2006, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cactusgrant

My action was low too and I found slaping a bit difficult, raised it a bit and it sounds awesome now, but each to his own.I say experiment and see whats best for you.

Can you actually take a ruler and give me a measurement at the end of the neck?