tapping technique

[enigmabass]

I seem to be having an issue with my equipment or my technique when tapping, when I tap my mid/low range frequencies come through clear as a bell but my higher notes don't seem to have any umph. when i go to guitar center and play on a fender aerodyne or a warwich corvette on a peavey tour 700 head it sounds clear across the range, i don't know if it is my bass or my amp, i play either a dean edge 5 string tuned eadgc, or a hondo modified standard tuning through a hartke 410 and a ha1400 amp, any thoughts on what it could possibly be?

[Joe P]

I always use at least some-amount of compression when I tap - often tons of it, actually..

- else I'd probably have that problem too.

I know, I know; I didn't forget I'm in the Technique Forum rather than my usual - Effects and processing...

I can actually do most stuff pretty-well without it. But still: I would have probably given-up on tapping, if I hadn't had that compression a year or two ago, when I first started touch style!

Joe

[enigmabass]

hmmmm, all i have in compression is a little button that fizzles when i push it

[ludwig109]

i use no compression myself, youve just gotta work out pressure etc. but for your problem could it be the way your eq is set up? or the action on yer nbasses might be too high..

[enigmabass]

I guess the action could be the issue on one of them, but the other is almost too close to the frets. I have been playing with the tonal controls for awhile but I get nothing of the results that I want.

[Swift713]

fresh strings?

[ibanezcollector]

sounds like a setup issue.. I would invest in a good book on setup.

Now I to use a little compression to even things out a bit, I dont squash it but just a dab will do ya.

Alot I have figured out is technique, learning the right amount of pressure needed on that particular bass etc.

When you say your going to GC and no problem, its also your using better gear. But any gear can be good gear if its setup right.

Also you might want to try lighter gauge strings. I use 95-40 rotosounds on my tapping bass which is a SX.

[Dr. Feelgood]

All I can suggest is.... Replace your strings, and then experiment with your EQ...

[enigmabass]

i have new strings on all of my basses, I splurged when I got paid. on my bass im using for my higher techniques I have 105-32 on guage. e,a,d,g,c tuning. im working on buying better equipment but I am going to try my bass at GC to see if it is the bass or amp and will invest accordingly. anybody have a svt3pro for around $500...lol

[Jonny B]

Try raising the bottom end of your pick ups so they are closer to the strings. This will take you 20 seconds to try and change back if it doesn't work... but I bet it does.

[JimmyM]

Ya, pickups and strings. If your technique is good and you can make other basses do what you want but not yours, it's more than likely the pickups. Tapping pretty much requires your pickups to be fairly close to the strings to get even output. And the newer the strings, the better they vibrate when tapping.

[enigmabass]

i'll try that, it makes sense.

[Disc]

I get the exact opposite, good thump but thee highs are he only thing that have any sustain.

[enigmabass]

I wish I had all of the answers....sigh.