settings of amp and bass guitar for slapping?

[phil-am]

gud day..just want to ask if what settings must i have for slapping?..for instance, must i use a gadget?or the settings of my amp?or the settings of my bass guitar treble, mid range and bass?for info i dont have an amp that i own, financial difficulties for some reasons..i just borrow my friends amp, yamaha, its not an amp for bass, somewhat like a miniPA only..i also dont have a gadget that i use..by the way my bass is cort artisan C4..tnx for the advices..more power to Talkbass.com

[Aged_Clayman]

The only "gadget" you need is your right hand. As for the settings,
my combo has 4 band parametric EQ, and I set it like this (the numbers are like clock digits):

low between 12 and 3
low-mid between 9 and 2
hi-mid between 2 and 4
and high - 9 to 2

[lemur821]

All you need is your hand – but I find that usually turning both my pickups on to soften the sound gives me what I want.

[FretlessArt]

Listen to a recording of a slap tone you like and try to reproduce it with your rig. A recording is always going to have a lot more compression then a live sound so try cutting back tone rather then boosting.

Start with your EQ normalled in the middle and then cut what you dont like rather than boost.for example if it sounds tinny, Cut the treble frequencies rather than boosting the lows. This principal will also help you get more headroom when you go to boost your gain.

Its all subjective to your rig and the room you are playing in. Hope this helps

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by FretlessArt

Listen to a recording of a slap tone you like and try to reproduce it with your rig. A recording is always going to have a lot more compression then a live sound so try cutting back tone rather then boosting.

Good advice, but I'm not sure what compression has to do with it. The big problem with the original question is that no one (including the OP, perhaps) knows what OP's desired slap tone is.

[phil-am]

tnx for all the advices..also to fretless art tnx for your advice..i will try setting the equalizer to zero and try cutting instead of boosting..and also for info, the slap tone that i want to copy is the tone of victor wooten..im sure obviously i cannot totally copy his tone but im still gonna try..again tnx for the advice..more power to talkbass..

[Williamsburgjim]

Many players prefer the typical graphic EQ 'smiley face' curve. But the resulting tone will vary between rigs and basses. I would say at the very least, bringing up your high's is almost a necessity for good vibrant pops... . Compression (some amps have built-in compressors ie, Carvin) of course will help with sharp spikes in your slapping/popping technique/tone and it will sound 'tighter' (without having to turn-down when it's your turn to get funky).

Have fun.

Jimbob