5 String Slap Accuracy

[eddododo]

IMHO the instrument MUST FIT or be adapted for YOUR playing style, not the player to get adapted to the instrument.

I don’t know about that, I find there are way more players practicing and adapting than there are Basses being customized based on individuals anthropometry and technique


Tongue-in-cheek aside, there’s some give and take to be had here, but it’s infinitely more practical an approach to refine your technique to something that is inherently adaptable, and to work to get to know your instruments, as well as having a ‘type’ that isn’t too exotic and rare- I’m always scratching my head at guys who insist that they must have a 16mm spacing or 20 mm spacing, and can’t function otherwise.

at the end of the day, there’s an amount of experience and expertise that has to be achieved before I’m very interested in hearing someone out about what they need an instrument to be

 

[Alessandro Cruz]

I’m always scratching my head at guys who insist that they must have a 16mm spacing or 20 mm spacing, and can’t function otherwise.

I think it's mainly because some guys who come from 4-string basses struggle with reduced spacing, after spending a lot of time, months or years, trying to improve their techniques.

Quite frankly: There's no need for anyone to change their learning and techniques, and especially comfort and confidence on what you're playing due to an instrument with different setup, spacing, or whatever other reason.

I can play a lot of different stuff, I can perform several techniques with any bass, regardless of the string type, neck profile or spacing.

But let's face it: This is NOT the ideal. And there comes the question of the instrument that suits you best in ALL of these aspects.

I.E. i really LOVE the Warwick bass tone. But i really dislike the thick neck profile and tight string spacing mostly of their models. Spector follows the same line, but at least they can offer you wide string spacing models like the Forte 5 and NS-5.

Solution? Look for a bass that has much of the same tonal characteristics, with a neck profile and spacing that suits my taste. There'a a lot of options, and you can even customize some of them, or build one with your own specs with some luthiers.

I don't need to adapt to the instrument, but I can make the instrument adapt to me, my sound, my style.

Same can be applied by anyone. It's just a matter of willing to do it your way.

 

[Samatza]

My Tune 5 has very narrow spacing so I find that I slap with my thumb parallel to the string.
The up side is muting is easier on tighter spacing.

 

[Les Fret]

Easy: Trade or modify your current bass or buy another one with string spacing that fits your taste

IMHO the instrument MUST FIT or be adapted for YOUR playing style, not the player to get adapted to the instrument.

Yes maybe so. Sometimes a certain spacing doesn't work for someone but sometimes it's just practice. I can play slap on a 14mm six string without a problem. Even on an electric guitar. I didn't need any time to adjust.

 

[Bassdirty]

Leave your 4 string in the case for a while. It takes a few at-bats for your hands and your mind to get comfortable with the location of the strings when it changes.

This Here^^

I'm not the best slap n' pop player, but I'm much better on my Ibanez SR 5 string than on my 4 string Squier Pbass (that I don't play much). And that's somethin, if you've ever played an Ibanez SR (as they have really narrow spacing.)
But I like the narrow spacing, and I'm used to it, so I'm better at it. (the Pbass has a better slap sound though ).

Gotta practice yo.

T$

 

[Lagado]

Get a 5 with full width spacing. Swapping between string spacing isn't going to help your consistency. I've owned a few StingRay 5's and I would have like to have kept some, but myself and that narrower spacing will never get along.

 

[Geri O]

Get a 5 with full width spacing. Swapping between string spacing isn't going to help your consistency. I've owned a few StingRay 5's and I would have like to have kept some, but myself and that narrower spacing will never get along.

I can’t agree with that as I usually kept a Fender Jazz 5-string and a Stingray SR5 and the SR5 is noticeably more narrow. It took a few days of working at going back and forth, but it finally became no big deal at all to switch between them.

I simply got used to making the change between the two string spacings because I wanted to.