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Best slap bass under $1000

Groove7

Groove7

Feb 27, 2011
39
18
#1
What would you recommend to get something like marcus miller type slap tone that he had on Rio Funk?

I have a Modulus Quantum 6 that I love, and want a 4 string to compliment it, that has a great slap tone and can also do a nice growly fingerstyle tone with more if a classic look.

What would you recommend getting with a budget of just under $1,000?

Some thoughts have been used MM Stingray, Fender Jazz (American Standard , Getty Lee, roadworn jazz with different pups, or a 90-93 Jazz plus with kubicki electronics), lakland skyline.

Another option would be a new Sterling Ray 34 or G&L tribute.

I would appreciate your perspective if you have lived with these babies. Also, I am leaning towards a maple finger board.

I appreciate any thoughts.
 
#4
I think it would really depend on the player. If your good enough you wouldnt need to spend near 1K

Here is a MIM cheap jazz with some mods to it....its kinda crappy audio but the bass sounds very nice. I think he said he paid $125 before mods...you can find out about the bass and mods from a link in his video description.



YouTube - Pow!






:hyper:
 
#9
Toolmybass said:
I think it would really depend on the player. If your good enough you wouldnt need to spend near 1K

Here is a MIM cheap jazz with some mods to it....its kinda crappy audio but the bass sounds very nice. I think he said he paid $125 before mods...you can find out about the bass and mods from a link in his video description.



YouTube - Pow!
Click to expand...


Thanks Toolmy I enjoyed the heck out of that... .watched it twice actually! :bassist:
 
#11
I own a carvin sb series and must say they do rock for slap. I use my Yamaha TRB-1004 more for slap though. I like that modern tone for that style. Easily had for under 1k. Got mine for 325 on closeout somewhere. I would guess that's the used price on them as well.

Pretty sure if you did a barebones sb4000 you could have it for under a grand. 849 + the 29 shipping for a barebones one.
 
#12
Rio Funk - That was the very first slap tune I ever learned, right when it first came out. The bass playing on that album *blew me away* - completely changed me as a player.

I used to use that song, as well as "Big Time" from Mile's Davis "Amandla" to teach kids how to slap. Very Fonky.

To answer your question: A Jazz bass. Pretty much any J bass. If you really want to cop the whole Marcus tone, get you a used J bass with a maple fretboard and put some hot, sparkly p'ups in it. If it plays well, this will be the bass for you.
 
#14
Toolmybass said:
I think it would really depend on the player. If your good enough you wouldnt need to spend near 1K

Here is a MIM cheap jazz with some mods to it....its kinda crappy audio but the bass sounds very nice. I think he said he paid $125 before mods...you can find out about the bass and mods from a link in his video description.



YouTube - Pow!
Click to expand...


So let's add it up:

$125 for a MIM 60's Jazz (which is a major score, probably closer to $400 in the real world)
$300 for a J-retro pre
$100 for who know's what pickups are in there. (Any decent set would be $100+)
$$ for installation if you don't feel confident doing it yourself.

You're at $525, or $800 if you don't get a screaming deal on the bass. Even after that I'm no Uriah Duffy, and there's a lot of talent in those fingers.
 
#15
I would recommend a Marcus Miller Fender Jazz Bass. The list for over $1000 but are on eBay for less all the time.

I didn't think I would love my MM bass. I bought it used and the set up was awful. I had my guy set it up with DR strings and now it's the best slap bass I've owned. I don't use the preamp, just run it passive.
 
#17
kai_ski said:
So let's add it up:

$125 for a MIM 60's Jazz (which is a major score, probably closer to $400 in the real world)
$300 for a J-retro pre
$100 for who know's what pickups are in there. (Any decent set would be $100+)
$$ for installation if you don't feel confident doing it yourself.

You're at $525, or $800 if you don't get a screaming deal on the bass. Even after that I'm no Uriah Duffy, and there's a lot of talent in those fingers.
Click to expand...
If you're willing to "settle" for an SX, drop the $125 down to a $120 new and even less used.

Depends on whether you feel an SX can compare to an MIM Fender Jazz. They're obviously not everyone's cup of tea.
 
#18
LA Bass Guy04 said:
I would recommend a Marcus Miller Fender Jazz Bass. The list for over $1000 but are on eBay for less all the time.

I didn't think I would love my MM bass. I bought it used and the set up was awful. I had my guy set it up with DR strings and now it's the best slap bass I've owned. I don't use the preamp, just run it passive.
Click to expand...

Most of the Musicman basses I have played have had great slap tone. However, I have never played one passive without the pre-amp How did you do that? Do the tone controls work at all the way you have it set ip?
 
#19
As the owner of both a Sterling Ray 34 and a Marcus Miller Jazz Bass, believe me when I say that if you buy the Sterling Ray to try and get the "Rio Funk" slap tone, you will not even come close... Bought the Sterling Ray 34 first about a year ago. Bought the Marcus 1 month ago. I wanted the exact same sound you were going for. My Sterling Ray rarely gets touched now.

But back to basses, you need a Jazz for that sound. And it might be good to make sure you got a preamp in the bass or you run it through an outboard preamp. That will help you get that same tone too.... For a $1000, I would suggest an American Fender or you can get the Marcus Miller Signature for an extra $200. But any good J-Bass will do.

Here (IMO) is the best cover of Rio Funk I've heard... This guy uses a bass called Bottom Wave. Heard they're pretty good. Jaco's son was using one for awhile. But they run about $2000 and up I believe.... Plus this guy is using EBS. Hard to sound bad through EBS.

YouTube - Marcus Miller Rio Funk by Kinane
 

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