Sadowsky Metro 24 Fret, Hard To Slap?

john nam · #1 03-30-2011, 03:51 PM

Are the new metros with 24 frets difficult to slap on because of the small space between the neck pickup and the fretboard? I know that it's not a problem with the 24 fretters with the humbuckers because both pickups are placed closer to the bridge.

southpaw420 · #2 03-30-2011, 04:05 PM

Not sure if the 24 frets really makes a dofference, but every 24 fret bass Ive played has been a little uncomfortable to slap on.

Infidelity · #3 03-30-2011, 05:48 PM

Well the neck pups of Sadowsky Modern is closer to the bridge too..

chadhargis · #4 03-30-2011, 08:01 PM

No, they aren't hard to slap. My bass teacher has one and he slaps it quite well. Even let me have a shot at it, but when I play slap bass it sounds like a bunch of pots and pans banging together.

Chasarms · #5 03-30-2011, 08:46 PM

Are you talking about this bass? If so, no, there's no issues with slapping.

john nam · #6 03-30-2011, 11:47 PM

Ahhh, there we go, nice. Thanks for the visual. The action looks loooow on that beauty.

bassteban · #7 03-30-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southpaw420

Not sure if the 24 frets really makes a dofference, but every 24 fret bass Ive played has been a little uncomfortable to slap on.

I firmly believe that a 20-fret neck allows for optimum right-hand placement, relative to the mid-section of the speaking length of a bass' strings, at least when played at or about the 5-7th frets. 24 fret necks just seem less *encouraging* to slap. I'd love a nice TBer to buy me several drinks & try to talk me out of this belief.

Nino Valenti · #8 03-31-2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

That's a Metro? I didn't realize they offered 24 fret metros Vintage style w/JJ p/u's. Cool.

BassMorpheus · #9 03-31-2011, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nino Valenti

That's a Metro? I didn't realize they offered 24 fret metros Vintage style w/JJ p/u's. Cool.

Yeah. This must be a one off! I'm not an expert, however, I have never seen a 24 fretted with JJs either in the Metro series.

Musicfreak1988 · #10 03-31-2011, 07:36 AM

Not a one-off... Scroll to a little past half this page - http://www.sadowsky.com/new/index.html - to see the announcement of the 24-fret Metro J-basses (as well as three new finishes).

KJung · #11 03-31-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infidelity

Well the neck pups of Sadowsky Modern is closer to the bridge too..

Actually, the neck pickup of the Modern is positioned further toward the bridge, and is not an issue when slapping. Some slappers don't dig the large space between the strings and body on the Modern though.

Regarding the 24 fret Sadowsky J, that design is not a good thing for slapping, and quite frankly, makes little sense to me anyway. I guess there are guys who play J basses that actually play way up on the neck like that, but never really got the 24 fret thing on a J. I guess if you do a lot of upper register solo'ing, it would be a good option.

Chasarms · #12 03-31-2011, 08:05 AM

The modern has the neck PU really far from the bridge. It's a different animal altogether.

Chasarms · #13 03-31-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMorpheus

Yeah. This must be a one off! I'm not an expert, however, I have never seen a 24 fretted with JJs either in the Metro series.

This is a metro. But, they are pretty rare. I have only seen one other one for sale used ever. It has been a LONG time since there has been one at the Sadowsky site.

Not to belittle Ken's opinion, but I don't see how there are any slap issues whatsoever with this bass. It sounds great and is not really any different that slapping any other five string.

As for the overall design, I guess to each his own. I don't see how a 24 fret neck has any more or less value on a J bass verses anything else.

I never play that high on it or my modern, but there is something about the way that combination of neck, neck pocket and body cut that really speaks to me. Both of these basses hang, and thus play, SIGNIFICANTLY more comfortably on my body than any of the three vintage style Sadowskys I owned.

Fuzzbass · #14 03-31-2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

I firmly believe that a 20-fret neck allows for optimum right-hand placement, relative to the mid-section of the speaking length of a bass' strings, at least when played at or about the 5-7th frets. 24 fret necks just seem less *encouraging* to slap. I'd love a nice TBer to buy me several drinks & try to talk me out of this belief.

Heh!

Seriously, it's all about:

What you're used to
How versatile you are

As Charles said, his teacher slaps the JJ 24F just fine. But many players have difficulty outside their comfort zone, e.g. "Playing a Stingray is weird, I'm used to anchoring my thumb on the neck pickup of my J-bass".

SteveC · #15 03-31-2011, 09:42 AM

I slapped my M5-24 just fine.

JeffplaysBass · #16 03-31-2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nino Valenti

That's a Metro? I didn't realize they offered 24 fret metros Vintage style w/JJ p/u's. Cool.

Look at this pic...how the yell you going to slap with that??...unless you only use your thumb and dont pluck the high strings, no space what so ever!!

southpaw420 · #17 03-31-2011, 10:43 AM

I dont think the pup placement has anything to do with it. I have an MTD kingston with a humbucker at the bridge and it still has a different feel than my other basses. Same deal with my 24 fret Yamaha that has a P pickup. Maybe these two basses are just low quality and its a coinidence that they both have the same kind of feel going on. Ive never felt uncomfortable on a 20,21, or 22 fret bass but the 24 fretters ive played just feel different when slapped. And dont get me wrong, I dont mean to say these basses cant be slapped or that it sounds like crap when they are. I can slap the hell out of both of these and it will still sound great, They just have a different feel and I prefer the feel of my other basses that have less frets.

osuok88 · #18 03-31-2011, 11:19 AM

Marcus Miller can slap any bass. Just learn how to do it

KJung · #19 03-31-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osuok88

Marcus Miller can slap any bass. Just learn how to do it

That is a totally different issue. Of course, anyone who can really play can make anything work.

Again, for those who use slap as a main part of their technique arsenal, the very tight spacing of the neck pickup and the end of the Sadowsky 24 fret fretboard is not what I would recommend. Of course, it doesn't mean that it can't be done, but it will limit the range of your plucking and thumping quite a bit more than the standard models. Since most players would never venture up past the standard 20 or 21 frets, I would choose one of the more standard spec's myself. However, if the few more frets are important, slapping is of course totally 'doable', just not optimal.

And again, with the Modern model, which also has 24 frets, as you can see from the picture above, zero issue.

IMO!

Musicfreak1988 · #20 03-31-2011, 11:42 AM

And then there's the Metro Will Lee, which fits nice inbetween with its 22 frets... (and a narrower nut width)