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A good slap sound?

C

CrapBass

Mar 11, 2004
70
0
41
Mckinney TX
#1
Ok, I have an Ibanez SRX-500. And lately I have not been very happy with it, mainly because it has a slap sound like crap. Althought it sounds awesome when I am trying to play rock songs.
Mainly the thing about it that I hate it the way it feels when I am trying to pop the D or G strings. It is really difficult. Plus when I slap the bottom two it just plain sounds wrong.
So what I am trying to say is, do you think it is my strings? :(
 
#4
CrapBass said:
Ok, I have an Ibanez SRX-500. And lately I have not been very happy with it, mainly because it has a slap sound like crap. Althought it sounds awesome when I am trying to play rock songs.
Mainly the thing about it that I hate it the way it feels when I am trying to pop the D or G strings. It is really difficult. Plus when I slap the bottom two it just plain sounds wrong.
So what I am trying to say is, do you think it is my strings? :(
Click to expand...

I had a SR400 for 6 weeks and traded it in. The pups on that bass basically sucked big time! that is most likely why you can't get a good slap sound. I found the pups lacking in tone and not sounding like anything particular. Different basses bring different things to the table and I wouldn't put Ibanez together with a good slap sound!
Just my .02
 
#8
hmmm I like Ibanez for slap quite a bit actually. With the split P/J combo, I've been able to get some very good slap tones out of a lowly SR300DX. I use it for slap more than my Czech Spector, mostly because the ibanez is my only 4-string and has a faster/easier neck for slapping. I'm no Ibanez fanboy, but I think their stuff is an overall good value.
 
#10
Ok, I have been searching around on these forums about other basses and one that seems like it might be good for me is like a MIM Fender Jazz Bass. I have played a Fender Standard Jazz before. Is there a real difference between the two? And also, where can I buy one on-line?
 
#12
JamesM said:
i found it difficult to make an ibanez sound good when slapping, but now i've got a Stingray so it doesn't matter anymore.
Click to expand...
ahem..The ATK's?..they were a serious competition for the stingrays..personally i think the soundgears give a good slap sound....but to me a good slap sound you always have to pan to the next pickup about 60-40...but i played one of those SRX500's the other day...i had treb rolled back a little off max, bass up max, and had the neck pickup up a little louder than the bridge and it sounded great
 
#13
heath_the_great said:
ahem..The ATK's?..they were a serious competition for the stingrays..personally i think the soundgears give a good slap sound....but to me a good slap sound you always have to pan to the next pickup about 60-40...but i played one of those SRX500's the other day...i had treb rolled back a little off max, bass up max, and had the neck pickup up a little louder than the bridge and it sounded great
Click to expand...


Can you GET ATKs in Australia anymore? Heath, dude, if you come across an ATK in Oz and don't grab it yourself, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know about it. I would LOVE an ATK :)
 
#14
PilbaraBass said:
Can you GET ATKs in Australia anymore? Heath, dude, if you come across an ATK in Oz and don't grab it yourself, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know about it. I would LOVE an ATK :)
Click to expand...
eeerrrrmmm..i had one...a black atk300...but i sold it about 12 months ago now :D ..they might still have it actually..contact musicheadquarters here in newcastle...they might still have it..they had my kubicki for 6 years :hmm:
 
#15
heath_the_great said:
eeerrrrmmm..i had one...a black atk300...but i sold it about 12 months ago now :D ..they might still have it actually..contact musicheadquarters here in newcastle...they might still have it..they had my kubicki for 6 years :hmm:
Click to expand...

Have you checked out the Ibanez SRX series stuff yet? These are equipped with two MM style pups (a la the G&L's). I was wondering how these were for slappin' and poppin'.... :hmm:

I live clean out in whoop-whoop and I can't get to any reasonable music stores (unless I take a 2 hour flight to Perth, that is) :(
 
#16
pyrohr said:
I had a SR400 for 6 weeks and traded it in. The pups on that bass basically sucked big time! that is most likely why you can't get a good slap sound. I found the pups lacking in tone and not sounding like anything particular. Different basses bring different things to the table and I wouldn't put Ibanez together with a good slap sound!
Just my .02
Click to expand...
A friend of (a friend of) mine gets a perfectly useful slap tone with his Soundgear (not sure of the model, 300 or 400). His fingerstyle tone is pretty kickin' as well. Not saying it's got the same mojo as my Cirrus, but it cost him less than half.
And SR's worked fine for Fieldy! :bassist:

Just making a point that there is no truth in this, only opinions. :)
 
#17
Oysterman said:
A friend of (a friend of) mine gets a perfectly useful slap tone with his Soundgear (not sure of the model, 300 or 400). His fingerstyle tone is pretty kickin' as well. Not saying it's got the same mojo as my Cirrus, but it cost him less than half.
And SR's worked fine for Fieldy! :bassist:

Just making a point that there is no truth in this, only opinions. :)
Click to expand...

fIeLdY has the greatest slap sound ever! fIeLdY RuLeS!
:help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help:
 
#18
PilbaraBass said:
Have you checked out the Ibanez SRX series stuff yet? These are equipped with two MM style pups (a la the G&L's). I was wondering how these were for slappin' and poppin'.... :hmm:

I live clean out in whoop-whoop and I can't get to any reasonable music stores (unless I take a 2 hour flight to Perth, that is) :(
Click to expand...
if you read my first post in this thread it said i tried the srx500 the other day :D ..but i shold be going in store soon...ill check out sum stuff for ya....persoanlly i reccomend the BTB300 :D
 
#20
Dodgy Ian is right. It's not only about the tone, its about a good neck and low (non-buzzing) action. I had an Ibanez SR800 which I learned to play slap on. Unfortunately I felt like I was fighting the bass to slap (I didn't know it at the time because I never played anything else).

I picked up a used Alembic Epic for $600 and it DOMINATED!!!! Lower action means greater efficiency. The Ibanez sounds good but it's built for rock (in every aspect). For good tone, new strings is the best thing. Then, a good pre-amp (I'm using a BBE BMAX-T) to shape your tone. Also, a good compression unit to balance out the volume levels of the slapping and popping so you don't blow out the ears of the person sitting in front of your amp.
 

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