Popping, Slapping Finger Mallets Gain and Compression

[Roger Pounders]

Im throwing this out to the board in hopes of getting some ideas.


I will often play with multiple styles in a show...
Fingerstyle, Pick, Slapping and also I use the occasional Tony Levin Finger mallet.

However Ive noticed that when I switch to Slap or mallets I will Lose gain/volume from my amp. I use compression on all my effects patches to some degree, my main patch is simply compression...

Pehaps this should be in the effects section but....

Do you guys think that my issue might be the attack on the compressor or is it just the nature of the technique to lose Gain/volume when playing percussively?

[Cristo]

Typically slaps and pops are higher signal levels than "normal" playing.

If your compressor is setup for "normal" playing, it may be applying too much gain reduction for the slap style.

Could be you need to lengthen attack to let more peak signal through before it is compressed. Also if your release time is too long then the compression may be extending into the attack portion of the next notes.

[Koki]

the question is: Do you have a warwick?
if you do, you know the answer.. you will loose volume when slapping a warwick

[ScottyAx800]

Flea uses an mxr micro amp to balance the levels between his slap and fingerstyle sounds. That, or something similar, may be in store for you as well. On the other hand, I have spent alot of time experimenting with the different dynamic ranges of my fingerstyle and slap playing to the point where I have had reasonable success getting even volume from both styles whilst using just my hands. Yet, it all changes in a band setting...

[DWBass]

That is weird! I had that happen with one bass I owned. A Yamaha TRB1005! Whenever I slapped on it, it totally disappeared in the mix! I actually thought something was wrong with my amp but when I switched back to fingerstyle, there I was again! Weird! That bass is gone now!

[spindizzy]

Sometimes it depends on your slap technique whether or not you get lost in the mix. I can understand the "mallets" if you are using the "funk finger" approach and wooden drum sticks for your "funk fingers". It is more a matter that the tonality of the string attack changes. If you are using the "thumb through" approach that is the root of double thumbing and most modern slap style your tone ought to be very "meaty" and more likely to be equal to or greater in the mix (not buried more). If you do the Mark King thing (I think this is how he plays) where you are striking the string and bouncing off (forgiveness Mr. King if this is not accurate) you may find that you have a "thinner" tone than when you use either pick or fingers.

I used a limiter when way back in the day to compensate for the difference in tone but now I just turn up loud and work to lighten my attack, regardless of what technique, letting my hands adjust volume to balance each technique with each other.

Disclaimer; I am just guessing based on what the OP described in the thread. I am not claiming to know anything about either the techniques or the proponents. All angry replies should be forward to whocares@idont.com.

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