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Do I buy a new bass for slap...?

kln_bc

kln_bc

Aug 24, 2011
207
493
Canada
#1
I've always preferred the sound of dead strings...for both guitar, and now bass (don't try and change my mind). Both my basses are pretty dead sounding and I'm really happy with where they're at...but I'm also trying to learn slap and of course this makes it super challenging.

Thinking maybe the easiest thing would be to grab another bass just for slap that I can keep fresh strings on. It might actually be more economical in the end as it won't get played nearly as much; I won't have to change strings as often. (Yes I am trying to justify it to myself lol)

What do you guys think?

What would be a good option?

Love my J; P is a close second. Couple bad experiences with Ray's and I'm over them; might have been perfect but they're returned and off the table. Also wonder if I should go active...but another passive jazz might also be the way to go.
 
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#5
RicoTheBassMan said:
I slap whatever I'm holding. I have a JB-2 with flats. It works! A PJ with round wounds. Sounds great! A home-built 5-string. It thumps! I slap on a fretless P! Turn the tone all the way up and use your hands to make the sound. Don't get stuck thinking you need a new bass to slap. You need a new one anyway...all the time.
Click to expand...

I've REALLY been trying...but I just can't get it. And the longer I go the worse it seems to get, which to me seems like strings dying. I mean it pops no problem, but the thumb sounds kinda lifeless.
 
#11
kln_bc said:
I've always preferred the sound of dead strings...for both guitar, and now bass (don't try and change my mind). Both my basses are pretty dead sounding and I'm really happy with where they're at...but I'm also trying to learn slap and of course this makes it super challenging.

Thinking maybe the easiest thing would be to grab another bass just for slap that I can keep fresh strings on. It might actually be more economical in the end as it won't get played nearly as much; I won't have to change strings as often. (Yes I am trying to justify it to myself lol)

What do you guys think?

What would be a good option?

Love my J; P is a close second. Couple bad experiences with Ray's and I'm over them; might have been perfect but they're returned and off the table. Also wonder if I should go active...but another passive jazz might also be the way to go.
Click to expand...
You need another passive J, no doubt about it. Of my 5 electric basses, I have one P, one PJ, and 3 Jazz basses cause well, one has to have rounds, one has to have half rounds, and the third is a CIJ GL sig with raised pickup polls and is just a different beast of a Jazz than the other two.

My next bass will be a Jazz, as will the one after that, and after that, and after that... unless I go with something custom built, then it will be a split P pup with a humbucker that can be switched to "single" mode ala Jazz pup.

You need a Jazz of different origins, one each American, MIM, CIJ, & MIJ
You need Jazz basses of different colors and finishes.
You need a Jazz with matching headstock
You need a Jazz with 60s spacing
You need a Jazz with 70s spacing
You need a Jazz with VVT controls
You need a Jazz with concentric V/T V/T controls
You need a Jazz with dot inlays
You need a Jazz with block inlays
You need a Jazz with a maple fretboard
You need a Jazz with a rosewood fretboard
You need a Jazz cause Musician's Friend has some on sale through the 23rd, don't ask how I know this. I swear I haven't been looking.
 
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#14
Clark W said:
You need another passive J, no doubt about it. Of my 5 electric basses, I have one P, one PJ, and 3 Jazz basses cause well, one has to have rounds, one has to have half rounds, and the third is a CIJ GL sig with raised pickup polls and is just a different beast of a Jazz than the other two.

My next bass will be a Jazz, as will the one after that, and after that, and after that... unless I go with something custom built, then it will be a split P pup with a humbucker that can be switched to "single" mode ala Jazz pup.

You need a Jazz of different origins, one each American, MIM, CIJ, & MIJ
You need Jazz basses of different colors and finishes.
You need a Jazz with matching headstock
You need a Jazz with 60s spacing
You need a Jazz with 70s spacing
You need a Jazz with VVT controls
You need a Jazz with concentric V/T V/T controls
You need a Jazz with dot inlays
You need a Jazz with block inlays
You need a Jazz with a maple fretboard
You need a Jazz with a rosewood fretboard
You need a Jazz cause Musician's Friend has some on sale through the 23rd, don't ask how I know this. I swear I haven't been looking.
Click to expand...

How did my broken ass brain get its own TB account...lol

I like the way you think sir!
 
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#16
Are we supposed to assume that you think the extra brightness of new strings is a must for a slap tone you like? If yes, then maybe you could look into other ways of making it sound brighter. If not, then why bother at all? Old strings sound a bit dampened, but old rounds are still closer sounding to fresh rounds, than to let's say flats.

I personally like lots of different types of slap tones, but I wouldn't mind playing slap on a bass with old rounds at all. I would probably prefer it to the sound of fresh rounds even.

On another note, many people might disagree, but EQ is a powerful tool, that will easily get you 99% of the way there if you want a "new strings" type of sound. Just boost the highs. The old strings don't just magically remove those high frequencies, but instead they dampen them ever so slightly. In a mix potentially even indistinguishable. I also don't think the change in attack and decay would be noticable either.
Meaning, I would probably just add some highs via an EQ pedal, if my strings weren't fresh sounding enough
 
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#18
kln_bc said:
I've always preferred the sound of dead strings...for both guitar, and now bass (don't try and change my mind). Both my basses are pretty dead sounding and I'm really happy with where they're at...but I'm also trying to learn slap and of course this makes it super challenging.

Thinking maybe the easiest thing would be to grab another bass just for slap that I can keep fresh strings on. It might actually be more economical in the end as it won't get played nearly as much; I won't have to change strings as often. (Yes I am trying to justify it to myself lol)

What do you guys think?

What would be a good option?

Love my J; P is a close second. Couple bad experiences with Ray's and I'm over them; might have been perfect but they're returned and off the table. Also wonder if I should go active...but another passive jazz might also be the way to go.
Click to expand...
If I were to have a EB set up and dedicated to slap, I think I'd give this a go (in lieu of finding, and paying three times as much for, a 70's Fender) :

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage Swamp Ash 4-string Bass Guitar - Tobacco Sunburst
 
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