Musicman Tone

[DJBuck]

Hi there
I've been looking for a bass to develop my slapping on. Recently I tried a Westfield B5000, a Musicman copy, and found that its a delight to slap on. It even sounded great unamplified, neither of my current basses come close.

This got me thinking; what makes a bass good for slap?

I used to think it was all to do with the electronics, but the unamplified tone has made be rethink this.
Any help would be greatly appriciated, thanks

[Britbonic]

You can slap on any bass and make it sound good (assuming you have good technique of course). You haven't mentioned what your other 2 basses are but if they are half decent with good strings and up should work fine.

Lot's of early slap bass was recorded on PBasses but the Jazz and Stingray eventually became more popular. Original Stingrays (and classic reissues) have boost only 2 band eq which scoped the mids when used. Jazz basses have 2 pickups so there's more top end which people like for popping.

[DJBuck]

I currently have a Tanglewood Rebel 4K and a modified AXL Badwater. I can slap on these, but it doesn't sound as good as the Stingray copy. Could it be the action of the neck? Or the strings perhaps? Even with new strings I can't achieve the same sound.

[carvinbassplyr]

Originally Posted by DJBuck

I currently have a Tanglewood Rebel 4K and a modified AXL Badwater. I can slap on these, but it doesn't sound as good as the Stingray copy. Could it be the action of the neck? Or the strings perhaps? Even with new strings I can't achieve the same sound.

What woods is your bass comprised of? That will have a major effect on the tone. True you can slap on any bass, but it may not sound as precise/clear on a darker voiced instrument. Harder woods like Maple or ebony fretboards, maple necks and Alder or maple bodies have a brighter, punchy tone because of there density and that is what MOST (not all) slap players prefer and how most musicmans come with the exception of some with rosewood boards.

[Britbonic]

Not familiar with these basses but yes could be setup and strings.

[P. Aaron]

After doing a side by side with a borrowed MM Stingray from the mid-80's and my 2002 Precision this is what I have found:

The plucking is fairly easy on both to get a refined and noticeable result HOWEVER, I have to alter my thumb technique on the P-Bass and glance the string in order to get a tone that cuts through.

On the MM, a light tap on top near or at the neck & that POP is there. The P-Bass more work to get it just right.

Both Basses are stock.

[DJBuck]

My Rebel has a Basswood body with a Rosewood fretboard and Maple neck, and the Badwater has an Alder body with a Rosewood fretboard and Rock Maple neck. They are not expensive instruments, after all I am a student