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losing volume when slapping?
- Thread starter skaismyhero
- Start date
ill try out another bass this weekend and see if I get the same result. If not then its my technique haha thanks for the replies
also, I hit the top of the string, maybe i should try going and hitting the side?
also, I hit the top of the string, maybe i should try going and hitting the side?
I have had the same issue, until last practice. The thing that changed? I started using Bayou cables. I know this sounds odd, perhaps a sales pitch, but its not. I love to slap, always wish I could do more live, but I was always getting lost in the mix compared to pick and finger styles. With all other things completely equal, my slapping tone last practice was the BOMB and my finger and picking was the best I've heard as well. Something to think about, but I now feel liberated to slap more and my bandmates are calling for more of it too.
I think it's a common thing, a simple matter of physics/magnetism. The thumb naturally mutes the string when hitting it, so loss of volume should be expected. Unless of course you use your thumb more like a pick.
I've had a cable make it sound wicked BOOMY, so I wouldnt doubt a change with excellent Bayou cabling.
The only way I can move betwee the two without any volume issue is by having my setup really low, hardly any relief in that neck, which makes you play fingerstyle with a light touch, yet when you slap ( it sounds like you're referring to thumb thumpin only ), the volume isnt as much of an issue.
As DWBAss, I had that same issue with a 55-01 and I ran those strings down low. Odd. Same neck on the JO5, and no issue. Methinks those Barts compress the signal some.
The only way I can move betwee the two without any volume issue is by having my setup really low, hardly any relief in that neck, which makes you play fingerstyle with a light touch, yet when you slap ( it sounds like you're referring to thumb thumpin only ), the volume isnt as much of an issue.
As DWBAss, I had that same issue with a 55-01 and I ran those strings down low. Odd. Same neck on the JO5, and no issue. Methinks those Barts compress the signal some.
I have had the same issue, until last practice. The thing that changed? I started using Bayou cables. I know this sounds odd, perhaps a sales pitch, but its not. I love to slap, always wish I could do more live, but I was always getting lost in the mix compared to pick and finger styles. With all other things completely equal, my slapping tone last practice was the BOMB and my finger and picking was the best I've heard as well. Something to think about, but I now feel liberated to slap more and my bandmates are calling for more of it too.
Hilarious!do you have the bass on your eq cranked and mids cut? it could explain your issue if all your fingerstyle tone is in the low end when your slapping it naturally produces less bass.
Believe me, I know how it sounds, but I swear there was nothing else different except that. It may not work for everyone, but it sure as heck seemed to make a big difference with me.
Couldn't it be a placebo effect? Believing the cables sounding better (which they probably did), making you feel better, making you play better?
Mental Imaging man, mental imaging...
I'm just calling it as I (and my bandmates) heard it. Did I mention that Tony Robbins was our lead singer?
I find this to be the case when playing a passive jazz bass.
The tone I prefer while playing fingerstyle is completely flat on my amp it gives that nice vintage jazz bass growl. What it lacks is that low bottom end which is needed to get a nice percussive and sustaining open E and similar lower notes. You'll notice many slap players use active basses.
If I have the chance to disengage my EQ I may do that between songs, if I am playing a set that requires significant switching between the 2 styles I will opt for the EQ settings that suit slap style and adjust my finger style playing to keep things even, maybe a lighter touch or playing closer to the bridge.
In a perfect world I can not get a GREAT slap tone and fingerstyle tone without changing my EQ settings. There is certainly a middle ground or compromise that is very workable for both....
It could be in your technique as many suggest but with out watching you play I couldn't comment on that.
The tone I prefer while playing fingerstyle is completely flat on my amp it gives that nice vintage jazz bass growl. What it lacks is that low bottom end which is needed to get a nice percussive and sustaining open E and similar lower notes. You'll notice many slap players use active basses.
If I have the chance to disengage my EQ I may do that between songs, if I am playing a set that requires significant switching between the 2 styles I will opt for the EQ settings that suit slap style and adjust my finger style playing to keep things even, maybe a lighter touch or playing closer to the bridge.
In a perfect world I can not get a GREAT slap tone and fingerstyle tone without changing my EQ settings. There is certainly a middle ground or compromise that is very workable for both....
It could be in your technique as many suggest but with out watching you play I couldn't comment on that.
as far as my eq goes I have low bass and highs and a good amount of mids. I hope its not technique because I would have to change a ton 
What? Sounds like your just boosting everything.
What I've found works for me starting totally flat all EQ knobs at noon. Boost the bass to 1 or 2 PM and that's it. At least that works on most amps I've used.
If your familiar with a svt 3 pro... Bass and treble are about 9 PM (knobs are at 0 at about 7 Pm) mid is about 1 PM. Graphic Eq is set right in the middle
It could be my eq, but I had the same trouble before I switched to my current configuration. Before I had more bass and mids and less treble
It could be my eq, but I had the same trouble before I switched to my current configuration. Before I had more bass and mids and less treble
Hey man you really need to download that manual and figure out how to properly use that gear. Your Bass, Mid and treble knobs are flat when pointing to noon. Below that point you are cutting and past noon you are boosting. The way you describe it you are cutting a significant amount of high and low frequencies while boosting mids slightly and I don't think that is your intent. The 0 to 10 are misleading.
An exerpt from the Manual:
8. BASS: This is the primary low frequency control which allows for 12dB of cut or boost at 50Hz.
9. MIDRANGE: This is the primary midrange control which allows for 15dB of cut or boost at the center frequency selected by the Frequency control (see #10).
10. FREQUENCY: This control allows you to select the center frequency for the midrange control, giving you a choice of five “voices” for the midrange. The numbers correspond to the following center frequencies: 1=220Hz, 2=450Hz, 3=800Hz, 4=1.6kHz, 5=3kHz.
11. TREBLE: This is the primary high frequency control which allows for 19dB of cut or 14dB of boost at 5kHz.
When I first got the head I figured that noon would be 0. But I really like how it sounded when I adjusted from the very bottom. Having the bass and treble at noon was a bit too much. Right now Im getting killer tone with both slap and fingerstyle so im hesitant to change it but ill give it a try if it boosts the slap volume.
Also I have the old version, but the new version has 0-10 with 0 marked at about 7pm
Yea, it sounds like you might be eq'ing opposite of what is normal for slap. Normally you want to lows and highs to be more prominant while slapping. What kind of bass are you playing?
It shouldn't be the bass then. Like I said earlier, just try to play with a lighter touch toward the bridge while playing fingerstyle. Also, I find that it helps to slap away from the fretboard just a touch instead of right on top of the last frets. That gives a bit more "thump" and volume.
