Enhancing slap tone

GizmoTheOne · #1 09-26-2009, 09:20 AM

Hi effects guys,

I need your advice, as I'm almost completely ignorant when it comes down to effects. I own a Tech 21 VT-Bass, and that's about it.

My problem is, I plan on stringing my bass with flats, but a few parts of our songs require slapping. I want to know if there is a good pedal out there to enhance my attack for those few parts where slapping is ABSOULETELY NEEDED.

I currently run through : Ibanez SR500 with active Barts (stock) -> tuner -> VT-Bass -> "Ampeg SVT3-Pro" (effects lovers will kill me

lol)...

So, do you have a suggestion? I don't really have a maximum budget for now, just want to know if it exists and which one is "the best" (very subjective).

Thanks for your advice!

J. Crawford · #2 09-26-2009, 09:23 AM

Filters make slapping sound amazing, IMO.

christw · #3 09-26-2009, 09:23 AM

Try an EQ pedal-That's where I'd begin.

Smurf-o-Deth · #4 09-26-2009, 09:43 AM

Another suggestion would be an expander, like the EHX Steel Leather--a touch of that can add a lot of attack.

line6bassist · #5 09-26-2009, 09:50 AM

try the boss limiter enhancer pedal.....the enhance knob achieves a great slap tone

RickenBoogie · #6 09-26-2009, 10:06 AM

Flats are a horrible idea if you want a good slap tone. They'll kill all your sparkly, snappy highs, no matter what effects you use to counter it. Stick with stainless rounds for a good slap tone.

Happynoj · #7 09-26-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Flats are a horrible idea if you want a good slap tone. They'll kill all your sparkly, snappy highs, no matter what effects you use to counter it. Stick with stainless rounds for a good slap tone.

+1

If there are no snappy highs in your tone to being with, there is nothing you can do which will add them in, because they don't exist (if that makes sense - an EQ boosts certain frequencies, but if they aren't there to boost then you can't boost them).

Either use a second bass with rounds for slapping, or use rounds all the time with an EQ pedal to make it sound like you've got flats when you want to.

GizmoTheOne · #8 09-26-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Flats are a horrible idea if you want a good slap tone. They'll kill all your sparkly, snappy highs, no matter what effects you use to counter it. Stick with stainless rounds for a good slap tone.

Yeah, I know... but I love their tone so much...

My problem is, I don't slap very often (let's say, "average" of 5-6 bars per song, though in many songs I don't even use slapping technique).
Do you think I should go for Half-Rounds with an EQ pedal?

If so, which one do you suggest?

cybersnyder · #9 09-26-2009, 11:22 AM

You're not going to get that high end sizzle out of flats. But the flats sound great for 98% of what you're doing, so just keep the slap sound old school and don't worry about it.

fivestringgecko · #10 09-26-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

Another suggestion would be an expander, like the EHX Steel Leather--a touch of that can add a lot of attack.

I don't know if it's an expander, but what about the Aphex Bass Xciter? I've heard some good things about it and the demo sure makes it sound good. I almost bought one, but my G.A.S. for a Sansamp BDDI (which sounds fantastic with flats, BTW!) won at the time. lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

You're not going to get that high end sizzle out of flats. But the flats sound great for 98% of what you're doing, so just keep the slap sound old school and don't worry about it.

I definitely prefer the sound of nickels for slap (I use D'Addario EXL's), but I've got flats (D'Addario Chromes) on my P-bass V and I think slap still sounds pretty good. They certainly don't have that high-end sparkle of the nickels, but I've heard that Chromes do have more highs than most flats. They're my first set of flats though, so that's all I have to go on.

5sg.

Way Off Bass · #11 09-26-2009, 06:33 PM

Just crank up the highs and slap away. New fender flats sound decent slapped, btw

RCCollins · #12 09-26-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Flats are a horrible idea if you want a good slap tone. They'll kill all your sparkly, snappy highs, no matter what effects you use to counter it. Stick with stainless rounds for a good slap tone.

depends what kind of slap tone sounds good to you.

Mudfuzz · #13 09-26-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Flats are a horrible idea if you want a good slap tone. They'll kill all your sparkly, snappy highs, no matter what effects you use to counter it. Stick with stainless rounds for a good slap tone.

- 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

depends what kind of slap tone sounds good to you.

+1
A filter is nice but you can get a good slap sound with flats as long as they arn't totally dead.

kesslari · #14 09-26-2009, 07:48 PM

Do you *need* to slap on that 5-6 bars per song?
and if so, do you *need* that bright slap sound?

Ghost notes fungerstyle can be your friend... just a thought.

Stampy · #15 09-26-2009, 08:56 PM

I really don't like slapping it's not my style but when I would mess around with it I had a Boss GEB-7 which on the slap setting sounded killer.

GizmoTheOne · #16 09-27-2009, 08:24 AM

Wow, thanks a lot guys!

Just ordered Ernie Ball Flatwounds (which seem to sound similar to D'addario Chromes (btw, I didn't order Chromes because I think gauges are too small))

I'm going to give it a try, and if I really don't like the sound, I might try an expander or a filter.

Thanks again!

Gizmo

Mudfuzz · #17 09-27-2009, 08:34 AM

If they are at all like chromes then you wont have a problem slapping.

cybersnyder · #18 09-27-2009, 09:22 AM

Let me break out the pedal board and see what I can do for an enhanced slap tone with flats. I currently have Chromes on my P-bass. What kind of bass are you using?

LanEvo · #19 09-27-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

Filters make slapping sound amazing, IMO.

That's what I was thinking. A good envelope-controlled filter (auto-wah) can really bring out the "bounciness" of a slap line.

See if you can find a used Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron for a reasonable price. That's pretty much the best you can get unless you're willing to pay big $$$ for the boutique stuff (e.g., Lovetone Meatball, Moog MF-101, vintage Mu-Tron III).

GizmoTheOne · #20 09-27-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

Let me break out the pedal board and see what I can do for an enhanced slap tone with flats. I currently have Chromes on my P-bass. What kind of bass are you using?

1)Active Ibanez SR500 (Bartolini electronics)
2)Custom passive bass with dimarzio dp126 pups

I use mainly the Ibanez, but also like playing on my custom bass