Do you use a compressor when you’re slapping? Would this help to even out the volume differences when thumping and pulling? If you do use a compressor, which one? What settings?
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Compression used for slapping
- Thread starter PapaBearBass
- Start date
Nope. Instead I worked quite hard on making everything I do fairly even, from fingers to pick to slap.
I use a compressor all the time but it’s a very low ratio and my preferred comp has some added tonal “flavour” that I enjoy and has become a part of my sound.
That said, compression is often a part of the tone that many modern slappers enjoy. You should try a few and see if it gives you want you’re looking for. Both MXR and Boss make relatively cheap and easily accessible bass compressors that you can likely find at your local shop or on Amazon.
That said, compression is often a part of the tone that many modern slappers enjoy. You should try a few and see if it gives you want you’re looking for. Both MXR and Boss make relatively cheap and easily accessible bass compressors that you can likely find at your local shop or on Amazon.
I don't use a compressor for live performance, as I feel it makes it harder for me to hear the desired nuance in my playing without being too loud. I am sure the audio tech applies compression as a means of dialing in the mix.
For slap, compression can definitely be useful, but it depends somewhat on your strings and the type of sound you want. In general, the deader the strings and the higher the setup, the more I could see compression helping. If I have fresh round wounds and a fairly low setup on the bass, I see little benefit.
For slap, compression can definitely be useful, but it depends somewhat on your strings and the type of sound you want. In general, the deader the strings and the higher the setup, the more I could see compression helping. If I have fresh round wounds and a fairly low setup on the bass, I see little benefit.
I used the Boss CS-3 for a bit of compression on bass slapping to good effect in a band I was in during college that did a lot of RHCP. It's been a while, but I think I set the sustain and attack knobs around 10 o'clock, tone around 1, level wherever it needed to be. It had a pleasing, punchy sound.
