The slapping in product demos got to me a long time ago. Every time I went to find a demo of something, ALL SLAP! Sure, there are some out there that showcase what I look for, but those seem pretty few and far in between. I'd look at demos for everything. Basses, strings, amps and cabs, some pickups...the basics. Eventually, I did what I figured any sensible person would do. I started looking for SONGS that showcased or tagged whatever I was searching for. It's not exact by any means, but if someone's slapping their way around rock or metal songs...or even country for that matter (Disclaimer: I don't care for country, but I'll play it if the gig pays well), I feel that I may as well hit them over the head with their bass.
Sometimes, finding a video with slap is helpful...maybe if you're in some kind of funk band or play slap-heavy. But the general public of bass players are not.
That very predicament came up with me quite a few times and for multiple instruments. It didn't matter if I tried out the instruments myself in a store, or if I was watching videos. I thought I had sworn off a particular bass that I had tried out until I stumbled on a video of said product. Surprisingly one where slapping was nowhere to be found, no less, where the guy had changed the strings to what I was using at the time. It sounded AMAZING! Up until then, it never occurred to me that the variable that I didn't like were the strings. I had known for a long time that I didn't care for particular brands, but one instrument specifically listed that it was strung with a string I didn't like. That made all the difference! Ever since then, I've been revisiting certain basses from time to time, most of it finding used, of course, and trying it out again. Some I liked, some, not so much.
Mid-90's QP's...I love those pickups. Those brought the thunder! A far cry from some of the variants we have now.
Sometimes, finding a video with slap is helpful...maybe if you're in some kind of funk band or play slap-heavy. But the general public of bass players are not.
That very predicament came up with me quite a few times and for multiple instruments. It didn't matter if I tried out the instruments myself in a store, or if I was watching videos. I thought I had sworn off a particular bass that I had tried out until I stumbled on a video of said product. Surprisingly one where slapping was nowhere to be found, no less, where the guy had changed the strings to what I was using at the time. It sounded AMAZING! Up until then, it never occurred to me that the variable that I didn't like were the strings. I had known for a long time that I didn't care for particular brands, but one instrument specifically listed that it was strung with a string I didn't like. That made all the difference! Ever since then, I've been revisiting certain basses from time to time, most of it finding used, of course, and trying it out again. Some I liked, some, not so much.
Mid-90's QP's...I love those pickups. Those brought the thunder! A far cry from some of the variants we have now.
