Double Bass SBW string and fast playing

[sonthebass]

So I got the SBW Dirty guts strings on my bass. I use the 4 thinnest ones.

I think my E and A string are very easy to play and do slaps on.

I primarily do single slap or what you call it. I just pull the string and release. No hand slap. playing fast rockabilly.

But the D and G string are way to stiff for my playing. I dont get the click sound very easy.

My string height is around 6mm on the G string. And if I raise it to get a better grip i just think it gets even harder to get the right sound.

Any tips or tricks? what am i doing wrong here?

 

[41 Hz]

This may not be your issue, but what was a big 'a-ha!' moment for me getting a click was the video from the international slap station guy here:

around 5:20 he mentions the angle you pull the string out. It should change because of the fingerboard radius. That really made a difference to what I was doing.

 

[sonthebass]

This may not be your issue, but what was a big 'a-ha!' moment for me getting a click was the video from the international slap station guy here:

around 5:20 he mentions the angle you pull the string out. It should change because of the fingerboard radius. That really made a difference to what I was doing.

Yeah thats one of the problems for sure. But it just feels theres alot more effort to play on the G and D string. Especially the G string when the action is so low.

 

[Ben Noblit]

You have pretty much the floppiest strings possible, at very low action. It's most likely a you problem. Got a video of you playing?

 

[Don Hergert]

Transparency: I use the thickest 4 SBW Dirty Guts which produce closer to medium tension on my 3/4 DB, and I do a literal slap, not a pull-and-release.

Given that, it sounds to me like your action is too low to get under the strings with your fingers. Pull-and-release requires the fingers to really get under the strings quickly for a strong pull.

Best of luck with this!