Where to get a slap ring

capnsandwich · #1 12-20-2009, 04:05 PM

I've been watching Mark King and Kai Eckhart's slap techniques and I see that they both use rings on their thumps to get a really hot slap and pop tone from their basses. I looked up slap rings in here and online but the only place I found that sells them is http://www.slapring.com and they're all the way in Germany. They cost $29.99 PLUS $14.99 for shipping a little piece of brass to you. Too much money for that, IMO at least, plus I'd like to have it for the New Year's Eve gigs I'm doing in a couple of weeks.

Does anyone know any other places that sell something like that here in the US or know of a cheaper alternative? I really would like to have one of these here soon but $44.98 is just too much for a piece of brass.

kesslari · #2 12-20-2009, 04:12 PM

Local hardware store + some time with hacksaw and files?

capnsandwich · #3 12-20-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kesslari

Local hardware store + some time with hacksaw and files?

I thought about that. I'll look into it when I ever get some time to actually go shopping.

RWP · #4 12-20-2009, 04:43 PM

$45 does seem a bit much. The problem with making one is finding the right material. The tube would have to be fairly thin and light but strong. Not sure anything you would find at the hardware store fit the bill.

JimmyM · #5 12-21-2009, 12:41 AM

tape a shoehorn to your thumb.

eddievanbassman · #6 12-21-2009, 12:45 AM

Larry Graham would laugh at a "slapring".

LiF · #7 12-21-2009, 01:01 AM

Mark King does not and never has used a slapring. What you can see around his thumb is some insulating tape. He taped his thumb up to protect it, as in the early days he would slap so hard it split his thumb.

Scourge441 · #8 12-21-2009, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

Larry Graham would laugh at a "slapring".

Lots of bassists laugh at picks. Your point?

Stereo Joe · #9 12-21-2009, 01:12 AM

You could probably cut down a guitar slide and turn it into a slap ring pretty easily.

In fact, I bet you could just put the slide straight on your thumb with no modification and get almost the same effect.

capnsandwich · #10 12-21-2009, 01:34 AM

I'll use anything as long as it works, duct tape, shot glass, shoe horn, shark cartilage, etc. The guitar slide sounds like a cool idea but to get one big enough to wrap around my thumb will be the hard part. Plus, it would have to be a thinner gauge of metal but yet hard enough to not bend. I'm just going to have to be creative with this. Thanks for the info guys. Keep it coming.

alexofc69 · #11 12-21-2009, 01:38 AM

black electrical tape per Mark King.

conqr · #12 12-21-2009, 11:28 AM

A ring to achieve a certain tone is one thing, but I'm not understanding the need for any kind of thumb protection. Seems to me the old 'let the amp do the work' philosophy applies. I find it then takes a firm but relatively light 'bouncy' touch to get good speed and slap tone - think Marcus Miller. That's been my experience anyway.

capnsandwich · #13 12-21-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conqr

A ring to achieve a certain tone is one thing, but I'm not understanding the need for any kind of thumb protection. Seems to me the old 'let the amp do the work' philosophy applies. I find it then takes a firm but relatively light 'bouncy' touch to get good speed and slap tone - think Marcus Miller. That's been my experience anyway.

Yeah, I've got a decent callous on my thumb from slapping the crap out of my bass. I just like the hotter percussive tone you get when you pop the strings with a piece of metal. Check out this video of Kai Eckhardt. The slapping starts around the :37 mark of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsuYOg-KS3A

conqr · #14 12-21-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

Yeah, I've got a decent callous on my thumb from slapping the crap out of my bass. I just like the hotter percussive tone you get when you pop the strings with a piece of metal. Check out this video of Kai Eckhardt. The slapping starts around the :37 mark of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsuYOg-KS3A

Owch! my boy is hot!

ctufankjian · #15 12-21-2009, 05:38 PM

From the Slap Ring website: "Looks extraordinary and noble!"
Sweet....

T-MOST · #16 12-28-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

Larry Graham would laugh at a "slapring".

Billy Graham would even laugh at a "slap ring".

Darkstrike · #17 12-29-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

Larry Graham would laugh at a "slapring".

Larry Graham is constanly laughing, I don't see your point, he's like Dr. Hibbert on steroids.

On topic, they soung great, love that extra percussive snap.

Lutuh · #18 12-29-2009, 09:29 AM

What about flexibility when switching from slap to fingerstyle and vice versa? Seems like the thump can not be bended any more with the ring on.

capnsandwich · #19 12-29-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lutuh

What about flexibility when switching from slap to fingerstyle and vice versa? Seems like the thump can not be bended any more with the ring on.

I don't know since I haven't tried one out yet but I can always adjust my technique if I need to. If there is a will, there is a way.

polydeathsphere · #20 12-29-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Larry Graham is constanly laughing, I don't see your point, he's like Dr. Hibbert on steroids.

On topic, they soung great, love that extra percussive snap.

I sure hope you don't mind me quoting you here in my signature, cause I am going to either way