cybersnyder said:
I concur........
I do my finger pickin scale work with the my Pbass and turn to my Marcus when it's time to slap-z-funkin chit out of tings.......
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Best Slap bass?
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I concur........
I do my finger pickin scale work with the my Pbass and turn to my Marcus when it's time to slap-z-funkin chit out of tings.......
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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Basshole said:
Just goes to show how varied opinions can be- I think the Thumb is terrible for funk and the slap sound isn't too great.
I often find that the wood has a great impact on slap bass tones. To get the classic "scooped" slap sound that bounces between deep bass and powerful treble, I've always liked the ash body/maple neck and fretboard sound. A bolt on neck also helps.
If you can find a second hand Ibanez ATK, I've always been impressed with their slap tone. They string through the body and are not at all expensive. Ibanez is one of those brands that will release a series of basses where one might be amazing and the other quite ordinary even though they are made to the same specification. On a budget, it's worth the effort to look out for one.
For more money, you need to think about your ideal tone. Warwicks are quite dark sounding but very punchy. Fenders are awesome but are more potent in the midrange. Musicmans are closer to my preferred sound. After all, if it is good enough for Flea, when he used his slap chops, it's good enough for me! If you are thinking of spending more than $1200, I'd start looking around for something secondhand and boutique or custom. I'd also make sure you have a 4x10 or 2x10 cab to do it justice on stage.
If you can find a second hand Ibanez ATK, I've always been impressed with their slap tone. They string through the body and are not at all expensive. Ibanez is one of those brands that will release a series of basses where one might be amazing and the other quite ordinary even though they are made to the same specification. On a budget, it's worth the effort to look out for one.
For more money, you need to think about your ideal tone. Warwicks are quite dark sounding but very punchy. Fenders are awesome but are more potent in the midrange. Musicmans are closer to my preferred sound. After all, if it is good enough for Flea, when he used his slap chops, it's good enough for me! If you are thinking of spending more than $1200, I'd start looking around for something secondhand and boutique or custom. I'd also make sure you have a 4x10 or 2x10 cab to do it justice on stage.
If I were in your situation and looking for one good Funk Bass I think I could be happy with just about any bolt-on 5er that felt good to me, Fender-like Jazzes, Lakes, EB's and G&L's, all with maple boards about in that order. As for now I have yet to slap a bass that likes it as much as my Dingwall likes it, she's really naughty like that!!
Being a realtive novice myself, I've gotta relate a very educational experience I had recently on this same theme. I've been craving a flea-like slap tone, haven't been getting it, and was convinced my jazz deluxe/swr 350 combo was the problem. Then I spent an afternoon with my bass guru buddy, and he took my jazz, plugged into his swr, set all the bass's eqs to dead-center, and proceeded to slap the hell out of it. I was stunned. Definitely not the same tone I thought I wanted, but I lost track of that almost immediately. The natural tone of that bass (that is, with no EQ adjustments or other effects) was much better than I'd ever realized, and I realized how good of a slap bass it really is. The "problem" is my technique -- my playing is not bringing out the tones the bass is capable of delivering (my slap technique is still very raw). So it was a good lesson/reminder on how important technique is. So I stick with basses that feel good to play, and know the tone will come -- now I've still got that jazz, and I recently got a cirrus (which I love!).
The other thing folks here gently reminded me about was how important the pickups are -- rather than trying bass after bass, sometimes the thing to try is a new set of higher-end pickups. If you've got a bass that feels good to play, odds are good that between technique and the many pickups out there, you can find a setup that will give you the slap tone you want.
Rock!
ltt
The other thing folks here gently reminded me about was how important the pickups are -- rather than trying bass after bass, sometimes the thing to try is a new set of higher-end pickups. If you've got a bass that feels good to play, odds are good that between technique and the many pickups out there, you can find a setup that will give you the slap tone you want.
Rock!
ltt
The best slap machine I've played has to be my Peavey Cirrus. Very playable and such a great slap tone. The fact that its tone to begin with is somewhat compressed sounding (a bit lacking in dynamics) actually helps an imperfect slap technique.
I think the best slap tone I've ever heard has come from F basses.
But there are a lot of basses that work just fine for slap/pop technique. And the funk is in you, not in the bass!
I think the best slap tone I've ever heard has come from F basses.
But there are a lot of basses that work just fine for slap/pop technique. And the funk is in you, not in the bass!
My preference is any bass with a nut width of 1.5". I can slap on a 5 or 6, but I prefer to slap a 4.
A good slap tone is as subjective as ash vs. alder, maple vs. rosewood, etc. If you are using an amp with any tonal controls (find one that doesn't have any...), you can dial in a good slap tone. If you are talking about the mechanics involved, start with a comfy neck that suits your hand and practice until you dial in the sound that is in your head.
Start with the wood, passive basses can sound as good as active ones.
Good luck with your search.
A good slap tone is as subjective as ash vs. alder, maple vs. rosewood, etc. If you are using an amp with any tonal controls (find one that doesn't have any...), you can dial in a good slap tone. If you are talking about the mechanics involved, start with a comfy neck that suits your hand and practice until you dial in the sound that is in your head.
Start with the wood, passive basses can sound as good as active ones.
Good luck with your search.
I had no idea there were so many players with such great insight! You guys really are the best. thank you all for your time and ideas. Very impressed indeed. I have played a P-bass (1977) since 1977. I can get some funk but I admit I am not schooled in this style I felt perhaps I should explore the many different basses before hitting my old P-bass like it owed me money. I have some great basses now to go check out in the stores until I find the right fit. Perhaps a bass that makes playing this style just a little more simple. I live in So.Cal. any suggestions of some locations that carry these basses? I have been to Guitar Center, there okay. Thanks again for helping me.
I would honestly recomend the Geddy Lee Jazz 
Alder so it will have a nice fat midrange response when slapped compared to an Ash.
Plus it has the 70's pup placement and Satin Maple Neck.
thats just my thoughts though.
Alder so it will have a nice fat midrange response when slapped compared to an Ash.
Plus it has the 70's pup placement and Satin Maple Neck.
thats just my thoughts though.
A bolt-on ash body and maple fingerboard. Any pick-up combination would work. Preferably active electronics.
