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Getting A Great Slap/Pop From Your P-Bass? HOW?!?!?!?!?

electracoyote

electracoyote

Jan 2, 2009
16,390
13,852
Purple Mountain Majesties
#1
Okay, I realize there are perhaps more obvious choices for slap and pop, and I own a few of them, but I would really like to get a decent slap/pop tone from my Precision when and if I feel so inclined. It's a Japanese P, Fotoflame vintage burst finish, alder body with rosewood fretboard, Quarter Pounder split P-Bass pickups. I know that may not be the ideal configuration, but I love this bass for it's awesome P-Bass tone. I would like to retain the P-Bass qualities, but have it open up and get a little spanky when needed, without having to switch basses. Anyone getting that from their P-Bass? I know it will never sound like a Jazz. I want to stick with the split P only, would prefer NOT to add a J pickup, so, if your P-Bass gets bright and spanky when you need it, with only the split P pickup, please tell me how you're doing it? (No technique or amp comments, I've got it covered, trust me.)
 
#2
New sounding roundwound strings, wide open tone control on the bass, and a Sadowsky outboard preamp work well for me. Some compression and/or limiting may help things along, but I never use it live, myself.

These clips are some good examples of a slapped P, the oldest of which was always good tone model:

 
#5
Add a Series/Paralell switch - this will give you the choice of the Standard P sound and a brighter one with a slightly lower output - both useful when going from finger picking to slapping. You could use a push/pull pot instead of the switch if you don't want to drill any holes.

Here's a sheet from the DiMarzio website with the instructions...:

Invalid Link Removed
 
#9
RCCollins said:
ok: tone knob all the way (or mostly) open. you might want to (gasp) cut the mids on your amp a bit. Next: practice. And you are on your way to cucumber slumber
Click to expand...

Good stuff. Open up treble, create a mid scoop with amplifier or outboard processing. Also, I would imagine a lighter gauge string would help, around 45-100 or so (don't want to lose all my lows, as I still want to retain a good P-Bass tone). Plenty of practice, I've got it seriously going on with my J and Cirrus, but the tone gulf between those and the Precision is just too great, and I'm trying to narrow it as much as possible (without turning my P into a hybrid).

In addition to a pre-amp, are there certain split P pickups that would do better than others? I don't know about these Quarter Pounders...anything that would do slap/pop better?
 
#10
an EQ pedal might be what you're after... set your amp and bass to your normal tone and the pedal to a more slap friendly EQ...

tone AND volume all the way open.... or volume half way down and crank the amp
 
#11
I really like the sound of a slapped P-Bass. It's different, and maybe you'll never get used to it, but it is what it is, and I think it is good. I don't currently have a P-Bass, but I will roll the bridge pickup off on my Jazz basses if I want that vibe.

It reminds me of a more vintage slap type sound than a modern slap that I get from my J-Basses with both pickups on.

As far as getting a good slap tone from a P; like others have said, somewhat fresh strings and make sure the tone knob is up, and that should be it. If you feel like you need to mess with your amp's EQ, then a P-bass probably isn't what you should be slapping on.
 
#12
jebersole said:
If you feel like you need to mess with your amp's EQ, then a P-bass probably isn't what you should be slapping on.
Click to expand...

Let me elaborate: I think I'm getting about the best slap/pop tone I can get from this bass in it's current configuration. It's close, recognizable, but just a little subdued. Similar to those youtube clips posted above, but not quite there.

Anyone getting a truly good slap pop from your P care to share what pickup you're using?
 
#13
I find a maple board is a big plus for slapping on a P-bass, but of course your requirements preclude that.

As far as other advice, light gauge strings and *low* action.

Re pickups, the obvious choice is active EMGs. Back in prehistoric times, people slapped themselves silly on these, with excellent results. I believe (hope) they still make a straight split-P model.

/rick
 
#14
My main bass is an MIA P Bass standard and I slap somewhat regularly. A +1 to using a pre-amp and scooping the mids (but only a little). If you're looking for the traditional bright slap tone, then fresh strings and a pre-amp are a must.

I disagree with rolling the tone knob completely open. I think the highs on a P bass, especially with fresh strings, are too "clanky" and not "zingy, glassy, or shimmering." I actually keep my tone knob rolled back 30-50% when slapping to help control some of that high-mid clankyness. But admittedly, I don't normally use an external pre-amp, either.

The one thing I find when slapping on a P bass is you really need to focus on your technique and get a really solid, quick attack. Pay close attention to your muting and keep those notes staccato. Keep your slaps quick and sharp; make sure you're really snapping the pops. Sloppy muting and fret-hand technique is more forgiving on a P than say an active MTD because of the muted high end of the P, but the slap tone of the P tends to suffer from muddiness if you aren't conscious of your technique.
 
#15
Good stuff superjesus.
Good stuff RickC.

I'll bet an ash body/maple board would change things a lot, and that would involve an exhausting hunt or a custom build.

EMG does make an active split P (the EMG-P). Anyone have first-hand experience with this?

And a P Bass is less forgiving when slapping. I find that I have to focus and be more precise.
 
#16
electracoyote said:
Good stuff. Open up treble, create a mid scoop with amplifier or outboard processing. Also, I would imagine a lighter gauge string would help, around 45-100 or so (don't want to lose all my lows, as I still want to retain a good P-Bass tone). Plenty of practice, I've got it seriously going on with my J and Cirrus, but the tone gulf between those and the Precision is just too great, and I'm trying to narrow it as much as possible (without turning my P into a hybrid).

In addition to a pre-amp, are there certain split P pickups that would do better than others? I don't know about these Quarter Pounders...anything that would do slap/pop better?
Click to expand...

Well, the tone gulf is always going to be different. Keep in mind that because of pickup placement (I assume you've got a straight P and not a P/J), you're gonna need to adapt your technique somewhat - superjesus's tips are on the money. But at the end of the day, all the midscoop in the world isn't gonna make a P sound like a J - nor should it! (what would the point be?)

You might want to check out some players' slapped P tones. I'm thinking of 70s Alphonso Johnson... and didn't Bootsy slap a P in the JBs? These may or may not appeal to you, depending what you're going for. A P will always be a P
 
#18
superjesus said:
The one thing I find when slapping on a P bass is you really need to focus on your technique and get a really solid, quick attack. Pay close attention to your muting and keep those notes staccato. Keep your slaps quick and sharp; make sure you're really snapping the pops. Sloppy muting and fret-hand technique is more forgiving on a P than say an active MTD because of the muted high end of the P, but the slap tone of the P tends to suffer from muddiness if you aren't conscious of your technique.
Click to expand...

I'd agree, and I think this is why my experience with light strings and low action works - it facilitates quick, sharp slaps and reduces mud.

I keep talking about it every chance I get :rolleyes:, but my recently acquired 50's Roadworn P is an excellent example. It was set up in the store with super low action and light strings - the thing slaps like crazy. The other RW they had, set up a little higher and with a heavier set of strings, wasn't nearly as good.

/rick
 
#19


Oh yeah! Freddy Washington laying down the FUNK on that P-Bass! I certainly don't hear anything wrong with that sound. How could anybody think that doesn't sound good? P-Bass, a fresh set of rounds and he's good to go! I read about this recording and his setup in an old issue of Bass Player.
 
#20
All the talk about string gauge is rather interesting to me. I played lighter D'addario 40-100's for years. But about a year ago, I tried DR Low Riders 45-105's. The DR's really made the tone of the P come alive. Its like they were made specifically for my P bass.

YMMV.
 

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