P-bass for slap?

[Fender32]

Yes, one advantage of living in the US over Europe is, lower levels of toxic synth-pop. Although we still got quite a lot of it in the '80s.

Yeah, erm ... sorry about that!

I feel "unclean", when I remember that I spent years selling that stuff to kids. I think I know how a crack dealer (with a conscience) must feel .

 

[JimmyM]

Call me crazy, but I dig all that gay disco stuff of the early 80's from England a lot more now than I did back then. It was good inane pop stuff. And no, I didn't have a Jim McGreevy type revelation, so just stop it!

 

[Fender32]

Call me crazy, but I dig all that gay disco stuff of the early 80's from England a lot more now than I did back then. It was good inane pop stuff. And no, I didn't have a Jim McGreevy type revelation, so just stop it!

 

[Jimoleon]

well yea I can slap both (well anything that isnt more than 6 strings lol), I'm just wondering which way it sounds best.

+1

You can slap a p, but it probably won't sound so good. Get a jazz!!

 

[Micolao]

this is a sample I made with my previously owned P, Magnetics alnico pu, D'Addario EXL nickel strings.
Sorry, I know I SUCKS at slapping

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[armybass]

IIRC "Car Wash" was a P bass too. Some slap better than others but it can be cool.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I love those audio samples as references, do you know the tone settings, all the way on for all, rolled off etc..?

Well, "best" is a matter of opinion. Check out these sound clips of Lakland's Jazz and P basses, created by TBer artiseasy, and decide for yourself.
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[trainyourhuman]

With the right EQ, and the right strings, I love the p bass slap tone.

My favorite slap tone ever, though was a P bass with EMGs, and an Aggie 2 band.

 

[Fuzzbass]

My favorite slap tone ever, though was a P bass with EMGs, and an Aggie 2 band.

This illustrates the versatility of P-basses. Like any other bass, you can play 'em pickstyle, slapstyle, fingerstyle, whatever. Even within slapstyle, you can get bright aggressive tone or traditional thumpy tone. P-basses are only "one trick ponies" to one-trick players.

And add me to the list of those who prefer P over J even for slap. It's why my Sadowsky P5 is just a P, not a PJ!

 

[trainyourhuman]

This illustrates the versatility of P-basses. Like any other bass, you can play 'em pickstyle, slapstyle, fingerstyle, whatever. Even within slapstyle, you can get bright aggressive tone or traditional thumpy tone. P-basses are only "one trick ponies" to one-trick players.

And add me to the list of those who prefer P over J even for slap. It's why my Sadowsky P5 is just a P, not a PJ!

Hear hear!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

A number of people have pointed out that many seventies/early eighties slap tracks were recorded on P-basses. The trend since has seen the Jazz bass, and to a lesser degree, Stingray slap tones become dominant. The bottom line is that there is nothing wrong with the P-bass slap tone, it is just different from the most popular tone at this time. Personally, I like the P-bass slap tone, especially with a nice, new set of roundwounds!

 

[metron]

Typically bassists use some form of a "scoop" EQ setting for slap sounds in order to accentuale highs and lows with less mids. Thump is in the lows and snap in the highs. IMO that is what a J does more naturally than a P and hence why many prefer J for slap.

I think the P pickup is all about midrange. I love to slap P bass with my sealed tweeterless Bergantino NV610 because the speaker is all about mids. Honestly I think some folks getting an unsatisfactory slap sound from a P may try cutting treble a bit. Dont fight the mids, bathe in them. Look at your tweeter with contempt!

I just randomly decided I dont care for the term "slap" anymore.

 

[black.rose1402]

Hi everybody!!!

To me, I think that the p bass is a great bass for slapping it the "old school" way, especially when you use it in a modern setting . if you want to have that 70's vibe the p is great when being slapped