Boss EQ for Slap

Hello,

Quick answer is yes. Most people will keep a graphic or semi-parametric eq on their board so they can make quick changes between settings. I would probably keep one to cut some mids (500hz - 800hz). Some guys bump a little low-end and boost some highs for the percussive edge, but I generally just prefer cuts. A good compressor could go a long way in taming some of the volume spikes you might get from the increased attack. Good luck!

 

^^^Yep. Boss EQ would be fine for this, it's a nice EQ pedal, particularly for the price. Either follow the hz settings mentioned above or simply make a little "smile" out of the sliders for your scooped slap setting. Dropping the mid frequencies will take out a lot of the noise you get from smacking the strings and fretboard.

 

I'd recommend the EWS BMC over the Boss EQ. It's a fantastic little pedal that is amazingly versatile, easy peasy to adjust and really great sounding. I can't say enough good things about this pedal.

 

Then my very strong advice is get hold of a decent compression pedal. As well as being able to fatten out your sound it will help level out the big differences between different types of percussive slap techniques. You may find once you look into it that it isn't actually an EQ issue. Even if you do end up needing to do something with the EQ you will also need to get into some compression so it won't be wasted effort/money. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford the Dunlop MXR M87 compression pedal which is fantastic but see which one fits your pocket/needs best.

All of the guys you will have heard playing slap well will be using decent compression of one kind or another. I hear that Marcus Miller's compression unit costs something like $12,000 so that should give you a sense of how important it is when you are trying to get great sounding slap bass.

Read this on your way if you haven't already: http://www.ovnilab.com/

 

The Boss LMB-3 Limiter / Enhancer is perfect for slap - use it for a a touch of limiting / compression, and the "Enhance" knob is really just a mid-frequency scoop, ideal for slapping frequencies.

 

I'll have to -1 on LMB-3. Although Bongo reviewed it and recommends it as a good value compressor/limiter, I found it wasn't transparent enough and it sapped a bit of my high-mids. The enhance knob brought back some high-mids but also some noise with it. YMMV.

 

I have to -1 your -1. I find it acceptably transparent. But, yes, YMMV. It's cheap enough, esp. used, that it's probably worth the OP trying out, though.

 

you could also just lower the volume knob (on the bass) a hair when you slap

 

Make your eq happy, make it smiley.

 

I would have to agree, LMB-3 is not transparent. But, if you don't mind some hiss with enhance knob, it's eq is a bit smile-ish, so could work for slap.
For best slap sound, I suggest multi-band compressor. Separate frequency processing keeps those highs from being overcompressed and balances-out sound.

 

The only problem with this is that it will lower everything equally. What you need to be able to do is reduce the gap between something as 'soft' as a ghost note (muted string)and something as 'hard' as a thumb slap. Lowering the volume won't do that. You need compression to level it all out.

The slap style is unique in that there is such variety across the different notes your play when it comes to volume and signal and you need to level that out.

 

Really matters the tone you want. There are a lot of cool slap tones. The Marcus miller tone is boosted at 50hz and 5k.

A compressor can help for sure, but you really need to know how to use one. If the attack is too fast you will choke the note and lose definition.

What you can do is initially crank the threshold and then adjust the attack and release. It will help you hear what the compressor is doing better. I like the compressor to clamp down a little after the initial transient with a fast release.

 

yes it lowers everything equally, but when you slap, you get transient spikes, so lowering the volume a hair can tame them.
lowering the volume can also change the midrange response of the bass slightly, depending on what type of bass you play.
everyone plays differently, so what works for one player might not work for the next.
compression is definitely a great tool for slapping, not necessarily essential though.

 

I just think that by taking out those transient spikes you will lose some of the more subtle percussive techniques. I think we are basically agreeing though!

At the end of the day, if it works for you then it works full stop.