A pedal to enhance that 'slap sound' ??

An EQ pedal will help you dial in the sound you want when slapping.

 

How about a chorus pedal? I use some chorus when I go to some slapping in a couple of my bands songs. It thickens up the tone and gives the pops a nice tone.

 

It may be overkill, but dialing in the slap tone on the SBDDI pedal works as a killer slap stomp box.

 

I would agree that it is the amp. Try to bring up the gain it you can and see how that sounds.

 

my guess is you would want more than just a 12 inch speaker. i used one inside of my college's ensamble, and it just sounded honky and didn't provide the depth that i usually could get from my own setup

 

If you come accross it, try the Boss LMB-3 Bass Limiter/Enhancer. I used to use one a couple of years ago (before I forgot it on stage after one gig..) and it nicely spiced up the slap sound even with 1x15 combo. http://www.bossus.com/index.asp?pg=1&tmp=27

 

My first suggestion is for you to try a different head and cab at the music store or a friend's rig. The problem that you're having may be due to your rig. Other TBers may have a different opinion, but I don't think that I could get a really good slap tone from a TE head. You may also need a bigger cab like a 2-10, 2-12, 4-10, etc.

If you'd like to try to work with what you have and use a pedal to improve your sound, I'd recommend any of these pedals: Aphex Bass Exciter, Sadowsky preamp, Nathan East semi parametric EQ, wtc., I might have missed a few. They will all do pretty much the same thing, cut specific mid frequencies, and boost certain attractive low and high frequencies.

 

depends what you want though

in my case

some reverb and minor delays would make my slapping sounds great

 

Does your amp have a horn with the 12" speaker? A 12" speaker can't do much for a killer slap tone and if there's no horn than you're REALLY screwed. I had an awesome Ampeg 15" 100W combo, but it didn't have a horn. It makes all the difference for slap.

My current rig wasn't the best for slap until I bought the Boss GEB-7 Bass EQ, but I only needed it because my amp head didn't have a graphic EQ. Since yours does, it's most likely the amp's features or lack thereof.

-Eric.

P.S. - You've got a Stingray...it's not your bass; that's for sure.

 

I like compression while slapping. It makes the dead notes more apparent making it more percussive.

 

Better thumb and fingers.

 

eq pedal for sure ...

 

*finds a hacksaw and a map to Marcus Miller's house*

 

Another vote to crucify the amp.

Trace is notoriously mid scooped. I used to hate running into their amps on tour. I couldn't hear squat on the stage, but people's hair in the fifth row would be blowing around. Soundmen would be casting sinister glances at me. Those things are wierd.

My worst nightmare? An acoustic symphony hall, and the geniuses who supplied the backline got me a Trace (despite our equipment rider). It was the worst gig horror of my life. I couldn't hear ANY bass on stage, but I was told (in great anger, by red faces, with popped veins during the break) that the whole hall sounded like there were stampeding elephants. The owners of the hall almost stopped the show. I put the Trace on a chair, faced it backwards, sat in front of it, and just about wore it like it was a set of F#$%ing headphones just to be able finish the set. They still said it was too loud afterwards!

I suppose there are just some serious holes in the frequency response of a Trace amp. I suspect what's missing is exactly what you need to make a good midrange funk tone. I'd probably sum it up as "too much fundamental, virtually no overtones".

Take your bass to a music store, and try some other amps out. You'll see we're right; it's the amp.

No stompbox in the world is gonna put back what's missing in that Trace (sorry).

 

I've got to second the Yamaha NE-1 parametric EQ. That thing is great. You can go from fingerstyle punch to slap-happiness just by changing the frequency. Very easy to use!

Good setting for a band situation - "Deep 4" (The box says this is Nathan's favorite setting and I can see why.)
Good setting for slap - "Deep 6.5"
Good setting for harmonics - "Deep 1"
Good setting for Geddy Lee tone - "Shallow 4"

They are cheap and awesome.
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA...0,6373,CNTID%3D2128%26CNTYP%3DPRODUCT,00.html

 

The amp first, but a compressor is also a great slap tool.

i would suggest light gauge roundwound strings too, preferably stainless steel...Smith 'slap bass' are good strings.

As far as the amp, get rid of the trace and get some combo that has a 2x10 set up. If you can afford it, the workingman SWR or a Galien Kreuger (ultimate 80's slapbass brand) 2x10 would definately fix your goose!!

 

I compressor more than anything else, without a doubt. I can prove it too, but not right now.

 

Simple solution use the Aphex Bass Exciter with aural enhancer, kick this pedal in to get theslap tone.