Best Amps for Slapping

SWR or EBS

 

My vote is Sansamp RBI with any decent power amp.

 

I second EBS

 

any "higher-end" solid state amp will do the trick. I like EBS.....

 

I have to say EBS first. And as much as I'm not a big fan of their stuff anymore, SWR still makes good stuff for slapping. I'd have to say they are second.

Myron

 

Heard Victor Bailey with his sig. Fender, a Fafner and a 410 by EBS. Well.... I was really disappointe by the tone and sound... The highs were there and smooth or harsh, but the lows broke up too easily, and sounded distorted in a bad way.

IMO slap goes better with Hi-fi SS amps. Like GK. Or the solid states from EBS, HD 350 or rather 650, or their preamps with a good SS power amp. Also, there are a lot of not-so-mainstream amps that do that very well, too.

As for slapping with tube amps, well, the tone you get is distorted, not clean, nowhere near that Hi-fi lows and highs, and uneven sometimes. Go to www.basstasters.com for some of TB member vanselus's clips and compare the tones.

 

I thought Fafner was hybrid.

 

For a slightly cheaper and still excellent slap amp you could try the GK RB series, 400,700, 1001 or 2001RB's. Excellent sounding, fast reacting amplifiers. I bought mine based on its reputation as a good slapping amp which had a ton of growl.

 

+1

 

i dunno - slapping, kicking or punching, all amps feel the same. usually you end up hurting your hand.

 

"You always hurt the one you love."

BTW, my Demeter VTBP-201S + PLX1602 + Schro 410 sound dang fine for slapping.

 

EBS, definitely

 

Another vote for EBS here. Although I´m no good at slap, my thumb just can not resist the call of my EBS rig. Delicious!

 

From what I've heard about the all-tube Trace Elliot V4, V6, & V8 heads, they would probably sound great for slapping.

 

I know the V8 definitely sounds great for slap.

 

I think SS is better for slapping than Tubes. My Aggie DB 680/ Demeter VTHM 300 tube power just not right for slapping and popping

 

I get a great slap tone with my GK's, but I have to put a vote in for the older SWR's.

 

How about a Walter Woods?

The qualities I look for in a good slapping amp are:

1. excellent dynamics (SS amps tend to be better in this area)
2. clear highs (usually some kind of parametric EQ is helpful)
3. solid lows without mud ("lower midrange" is more important than "extreme lows" in this regard)

One of the most important things in slapping is the "attack" of the sound, when you're thumping with your thumb or popping the G string. I look for an amp and speakers that can deliver the attack without compromise.

 

Anything GK in my opinion....the 800rb bi-amped is a pretty sick combo for slap.