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Are flats good for slap?

#21
I think it depends on a lot of factors. What strings do you want to use? How often are you slapping on songs? What bass/amp are you going to use?

I asked (kind of) the same question in a thread a few weeks ago, and took the plunge and put some Sadowsky flats on my P5. I play funk/R&B covers, and only slap on maybe 3 or 4 songs a night. IMO, the flats sound fantastic when slapped in that context.

I can tell you that I will not be going back to rounds anytime soon.
 
#23
It depends on a lot of factors. Flats are not all the same strings, and the TI Jazz flats are going to sound a LOT different when slapped/popped than a set of LaBella Old Originals. Second, there's a lot of variance in what people call "good" sound. Slapped flats? Of course, Larry Graham used flats (GHS Precision Flats) on the Sly & The Family Stone stuff, and that sounds pretty good to me. Plus, Chuck Rainey reported using Fender nickle rounds early on (an ancient Guitar Player Magazine interview around 1979 or so), so the reference to the Steely Dan song could be leading someone to a beautiful sounding set of rounds.

Now, the most common conception of a good slap sound (seemingly Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Louis Johnson, et. al.) is very much dependent on bright roundwound strings. In that case, no flats ain't gonna be good.

John
 
#26
groooooove said:
yeah, someone needs to give marcus miller a call and tell him that "flats beat the heck out of rounds." :p
Click to expand...
you do know marcus owns a couple basses with flats on them, right? yeah, he's not known for them but he's used them occasionally.

personally, i like the flats slap sound a million times better than the rounds slap sound. the flat slap sound sounds absolutely nothing like slapping an upright, either. however, i grew up on rounds, and though i try to get along with flats, i can't. so i grudgingly use rounds and just try to keep the treble down.
 
#33
Don´t know other flats but I just put some Sadowsky flats on my MIA jazz and for my surprize slap tone is better than the stock strings (8250 Super Bass).

My brother wich is very picky said that fanally he could hear a good bass tone (finger style and slap)

Sadowsky flats for ever....I love them!
 
#34
Ok, i bought a MIM jazz bass a few months ago, and the instrument was basically collecting dust until this morning. I bought it used with roundwounds (fresh), basslines pickups installed and the finish completely torn off...(the natural actually looks quite nice) for $200!! amazing deal....but it sounded terrible.
I took the chance and switched the d'addario flats and WOW. The slapping sounds great.

I use 2 basses, one warmer sounding bass with rounds and the other with flats, they both sound great for slap.
 
#35
Gearhead43 said:
+1 Apples and rocks.

If flats on Bass Guitar are not good for slap than I wish more basses would come standard with them. Then I wouldn't have to listen to that crap at guitar center every time I go into the bass area. Barf.
Click to expand...

This is an awesome post and was thinking the same thing.

The last thing i like to hear when walking into a music store is a 16 year old with a pension for slapping and popping, over and over and over playing the same eight beats over and over again! I might be the only person, but I think slapping and popping is good, but people need to learn to play their instrument. lol. Be versatile. Sorry, needed to vent.

BTW, I tried flats and realized that my sound wasn't cutting through the mix over two loud guitar players so I had to go back to rounds out of necessity.
 

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