Why does my slap sound so weak?

[narbinit]

I've been messing around with slap the past couple days and i can get a great pop sound. But whenever i slap it sounds really weak and quiet, i can barley hear it, i do it on my friends ibanez and it sounds good but on my MIM Fender Jazz it sound super weak. I have even messed around with the amp settings but can't get a good sound for it. Anyone know what im doing wrong or would care to give me advice?

[JimmyM]

Slap harder and concentrate on getting a good solid hit with your thumb that makes the note ring out, and give the strings a good yank when you pop.

[narbinit]

Thanks!

[DudeistMonk]

I've been messing around with slap the past couple days and i can get a great pop sound. But whenever i slap it sounds really weak and quiet, i can barley hear it, i do it on my friends ibanez and it sounds good but on my MIM Fender Jazz it sound super weak. I have even messed around with the amp settings but can't get a good sound for it. Anyone know what im doing wrong or would care to give me advice?

If you can slap on one bass but not on another it might be the bass not your technique...Is your Jazz setup properly (Ibanez basses usually come off the wall with a real tight action and fenders with a high action)? Also is there something silly going on like you having flats on the Jazz? Also which pick-up are you panning toward / whats the EQ on your amp/bass?

[schismpunk]

Another thing to consider would be the direction of your slap. You get a lot more volume slapping "through" the string towards the floor than you do slapping "into" the string towards the fret board. I know, slapping into is much easier and natural, but try going down at an angle and see if that helps.

[FunkMetalBass]

Is your pickup angled awkwardly? Are your bass strings normally quieter than the treble strings?

Other than that, I'm thinking you and your friend have different action and strings and that's what's doing it.

[RTL]

Use the back of your hand.. Like a real pimp

[Axtman]

I have the same problem. I usually pluck with my fingers but when I slap the volume goes down. I would think it would be the opposite.

[sundaybender]

Originally Posted by schismpunk

Another thing to consider would be the direction of your slap. You get a lot more volume slapping "through" the string towards the floor than you do slapping "into" the string towards the fret board.

+1

I have the "slap into" problem myself, and when I remember to slap through, the volume problem fixes itself.

As a nice side bonus, when you slap through, you are already positioned for a thumb upstroke, and well on your way to double thumbing (if that's your thing).

For me, any time I slap, I am just reminded that I suck at it, and I go back to fingerstyle.

Chris

[MF1018]

Originally Posted by RTL

Use the back of your hand.. Like a real pimp

Haha, nice!

[MNAirHead]

Low action.. properly set height.. quality strings.. a good relaxed stance

[bass12]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Slap harder and concentrate on getting a good solid hit with your thumb that makes the note ring out, and give the strings a good yank when you pop.

You shouldn't have to slap really hard to get a good sound - a good, solid slap should do the trick (of course, Louis Johnson might disagree...). Sounds like it's probably the bass (I've heard non-bass players get a decent slap sound out of a good Fender).