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Four-string suited for tapping?

M

Misanthropic

Dec 23, 2005
128
2
Turku, Finland
#1
Hey TB, I've been getting more and more into two-handed tapping lately (á la Stu Hamm and George Smed etc).

I've now got an Ibanez SR506 and a Music Man SUB... While I think the Ibanez is fairly well tappable, I'd like to do it on a four string too.

Anyway, I think the SUB isn't the best for tapping, especially not since I use it to play punk with a pick (i.e. the setup isn't as you'd like it when tapping).

So I guess I'll use this as an excuse to get another bass - what would you suggest? Also, what general features makes a bass good for tapping (like pickups etc)? And what type of strings (light gauge, of course, and I like the elixirs on my Ibanez, but they're quite expensive) are good for tapping?
 
#2
From my personal experiences, the Peavey Cirrus is the unknown tapping machine. Strung 110, 85,65,40, it's wicked. Straighten the neck to minimal 3rd fret buzz from the open position, lower 'em and you're good to go. They're pretty cheap used and can hold their own against the big dogs. I know this because I tested 'em against a few.

The Fender Urge (discontinued) isn't bad and I haven't tried the current Urge II yet.

I'd assume the Yamaha Attitude should tap well since it's made fot Billy Sheehan.
 
#4
Kubicki Ex-Factor. The absolute #1 imo. I keep mine strung with Stainless Steel Fodera strings, 40. gauge. I'm a bit of a Stuart Hamm fan, I'm the mod on his forum!

And I should mention, Spade, that for a Stuart Hamm fan, the Attitude won't have enough frets!
 
#5
i love tapping on my 4 string boly-on thumb. i use medium guage strings dr high-beams(great for everything, imo), because im primarily a finger style player. now if i was primarily a tapper, i'd use light strings. i also think good active electronics helps. i also like to favor the bridge pup a bit when tapping.
 
#8
I find my SR500 to be pretty well suited for it. I haven't tried anything THAT insane though, just Clapton's guitar part on "Tears in Heaven," the intro to "Sweet Child of Mine," and some exercises I picked up from Vic Wooten. I'd love to get my hands on a fretted 6 and try some contrapuntal stuff, classical guitar and violin etudes, etc.
 
#10
I have a Kramer bass that's essentially a Spector NS-2. It taps ok, but the Cirrus eats almost everything for breakfast. Why? Not sure, but that's why I own a bunch. The only thing I know that taps a little better is the Stick, but you can't exactly play those like a bass. I haven't had a chance to compare it to the NS Stick, though.
 
#11
For me it's more about set up.
med or med/light round wounds, adjust neck so action can be just high enough to bounce with out buzz. drop pups out of the way so no contact w/strings. Body/neck joint that allows comfy access to upper frets.
jmho mind you
 
#13
Machines said:
Surely any bass is good to tap on with the right setup ?
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but somethings you can't always change. If the bass is neckthrough, you can't change the pitch of the neck. Certain basses with a combo of a good fret job, the right strings, the right pitch, the right scale, etc.......become good for tapping. If EVERY bass could tap well, I wouldn't need Peavey or other custom companies. Fortunately, the Peavey is great for tapping AND isn't particularly expensive. Why can't I get anything lower than the Cirrus? I don't know and since it gets the job done, I don't care. I'm pretty sure it is all a result of the right neck pitch, the right fret job, the 35" scale, and the right strings.

I have tested mine to many basses. I'd name 'em, but there would be too much :crying:. I'm pretty reasonable when testing things out, but if they can't hang with my Cirrus basses, they go buh-bye. Even though Stu used the Urge, I have yet to be able to get it as low as my Cirrus. The action is a little higher, but there is less tension.

Before someone attacks my ability to set up my basses, I needed to learn how to do it on my own because nobody in town knows how or cares how to set up a bass with low action. I had to become proficient because if I didn't learn how to do it, it wouldn't get done.

This isn't to say there isn't anything out there that can tap like my Cirrus basses, but I haven't personally tested them against mine. I have tried out a few Curbow basses that were killer and I'm pretty sure Jean Baudin's beasts have action as good as my basses or better. I have simply tested my gear against stuff that was available. I don't live in an area that regularly stocks Zon, Ken Lawerence, Conklin, Jerzey Drozd, etc.
 

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