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Slap Bass Recommendations?

#21
I have had similar considerations, and now I have more or less decided on the same as you - bring along an extra bass specifically for slapping!

My main bass is a Celinder J-Update 5: ash/maple/maple/Greengrove pre/70's spacing - everything says great slap tone! And it does sound great fro slapping... BUT just not as good as my old Fender Jazz (ash/maple/maple/70's spacing).

Also, even though I don't find it that hard to slap on a 5-string, I never use the low B when slapping, so a 4-string is just as fine for that particular pupose IMHO.

Go Fender! (and if you like that Marcus sound, I think that the relatively cheap MM signature from Fender sounds really great!).
 
#22
Just wanted to throw a quick reminder to guys just getting started that they shouldn't get lost in this particular discussion -- for new players, technique, technique and technique are the difference between good slap tone and bad. Keep what ya got, and work on the technique. When you get to a good place, and start thinking your equipment is holding you back, go nuts, open the wallet and get yer GAS on :hyper:
 
#23
Ok lets talk openup wallets etc...:p
I am not much of a slap kinda guy really, I used to play almost exclusively on jb's and jb 5's like you, I don't consider a jb much of a slap machine except if you would crank lows and highs
(hence mr Miller has the Sadowsky pre amp I guess... tho I hate the sound of that too)
but then I dont like the fingerstyle sound much waaay too bitey and not warm in the way I like.
Actually I play almost everthing I have passive I like a more natural approuch (Jaco kinda warmth)....

Now to get the story somewhere... :smug: a few weeks back I played on a MTD 535 ash body, ash neck, ebony fingerboard and burl top and all MTD bartolini electronics/pickups. I gave it a little slap just for the hell of it to try the instrument out and....
OMG!!! I just instandly loved to slap in those moments I dug the sound so much... in a few minutes and I could do things I never would do on any of my jb's it was instant playing nicely and sounding rediculous, this had never happened to me before I swear... And the best thing was I didnt have to crank anything to have a nice slap sound AND have great fingerstyle sound what so ever!
Just left it flat and balanced it 50/50 and it rocked right away.
So I tell you this... if you like jb's and what something that is really different but doesn't sound really high fi but has character and warmth in my opinion the best/nicest slap sound I could make with my hands the MTD is something u should definitly check out.

I regret that the guy of the store was a bit weird about not letting me pay the instrument with my CC, and I eventually bought an Fodera NYC somewhere else, wich also performs very nicely with slapping I must say, but not in that way, tho do not regret buying the fodera that is also amazing and very different from a MTD altogether so:D
I make sure in a few years I'll put a MTD next to the fodera:D

just my 2 c's

Take care
 
#24
IMO , An Ash/Maple Jazz bas is pretty much the Shznit for slapping. A Music Man too. Or a Modulus, or a Status, Or a Sadowsky... See what I'm getting at?
I think the players techniqe has a lot do do with it. I've got many basses and can get an excellent slap from allo of them.
Naturally a Hofner Beatle bass is probably not the answer, but you know what I mean
 
#25
TXLawDawg said:
Personally, I'd bet with a lighter gage string and a few tweaks on your amp,pre, or the bass itself, and you could get a good slap tone out of what you have. The Jazz basses I've played on seemed to all be able to get a good slap tone out of them with the right settings.
Click to expand...
+1. Your bass should be Marcus city. However, the folks who say '4 strings' may have a point. I've generally found fours slap better, but I can't tell you why. Then again, I prefer fours, so, who knows- might just be me.

But if you want another bass, set up just for slap, I'd say any good single-coil J type bass will do it. Medium/light stainless roundwound strings, relatively low action, and you're there.
 
#26
Keep in mind, guys, that Marcus Miller never had a Sadowsky preamp in any of his Fenders. Roger just happened to be the tech responsible for making the modifications (with a Stars and then a Bartolini preamp).

Also, remember that you'll never get a proper Marcus tone from a 60's-styled jazz.

Still, as one of the posters above me have stated, if you're new to this technique, you may not be as anal or picky about a specific slap tone as I am.

I humbly suggest that you check out as many different styles of slap as you can before finally settling in on a holy-grail bass. Once you've decided on the style of music you want to play, we can help you out then!
 
#29
All depends on your technique preferences and tonal desires.

I do minimal slapping, so I'm probably not the best to ask. I tend to like soap bars, PJ, and J-MM for slapping, not so big on J-J. An advantage of active EQ might be to adjust tone to give you anything you might not get with your hands.

I've played 30, 32, 33, 34, and 35" scale and my hands seem to like 35" scale for slapping.
 
#30
zulujack said:
OK here is the deal. I need a new bass and I need one specifically for slapping. For years I have been throwing in the occasional bit of slapping in our live shows and its always been a compromise. The music I play ranges from funk rock to straight blues and I almost exclusively use 5 string Jazz Basses set up for that style of playing. I use fairly heavy strings (55-135) and either Basslines, or SD single coils with a more traditional, warm JB tone. The problem I have is that neither the action nor tone is ideal for a more percussive or slapping style of playing. So I've just decided you can always have another bass, so I'll just get one specifically for slapping. What I want to do is forget about what's available model, or brand wise, and just start with a blank sheet of paper. I thought it would be a good idea to get some opinions from TB, as you all seem to be a fairly knowledgeable bunch. So what I need is recommendations on the following attributes that would make the ideal Wooton/Miller sounding slapper:

- Body wood
- Neck/Fret board wood, frets, scale, etc.
- PUs and Electronics, including routing position
- Strings make, material, and gauge
- Hardware
- Any thing else I have missed

Lets leave the amp setup out of the equation for now.:bassist:
Click to expand...

There are allot of combinations that will work for a nice slap tone, I'd prefer the following:

- Ash

- Maple/Maple, medium frets, 34"

- Single Coils 70s position, 2 band Active electronics with treble and bass boost

- DR Hi Beams (SS 45-125)

- High mass bridge


And of course a bass that can accomodate fairly low action....
 
#31
I bought a used Peavey Fury 1989, maple neck and fretboard, about a month ago and it slaps the daylights out of my newer Fender Jazz. I agree with the other replies: a maple fretboard and bright-sounding strings is/are ESSENTIAL!!!! I lightly tap my maple Peavey(without effects or any sound adjustments) and it slaps and pops like a choir of angels.
 
#32
peterpalmieri said:
There are allot of combinations that will work for a nice slap tone, I'd prefer the following:

- Ash

- Maple/Maple, medium frets, 34"

- Single Coils 70s position, 2 band Active electronics with treble and bass boost

- DR Hi Beams (SS 45-125)

- High mass bridge


And of course a bass that can accomodate fairly low action....
Click to expand...

I think this is sort of the direction I'm going to head in bar the electronics. Maple/maple + ash sounds like sounds like a good platform.
 
#34
zulujack said:
Yea I know people like that too... freaks who can make anything sound good! IMO though I'm not a big fan of flea's work or his sound - too much aggression, and not enough finesse. Just not my taste though (I'm not saying he is crap either). I guess I'm more after the Wooton/Miller sound with crisp highs and plenty of color + a range of percussive sounds.
Click to expand...

As I'm sure you know, Marcus plays a J/J, and Victor plays a P/J. What do they have in common? J pickup near the bridge. I like slapping on 4 strings because there is less to mute, and I have more control over the neck with my fretting hand. Also not sure why, but I find it easier to slap on jumbo frets, and a fretboard radius 9.5" or lower.

Slapping on my Geddy was easier than my Stingray, just personal preference for me I guess.
 
#37
Thanks all for all your suggestions! Man this forum is a good thing! I have a plan. I have decided to do this in stages. To begin with I'm just going to fiddle with my existing Warmoth 5 String JB. The beauty with this bass is that I can interchange parts like the neck as needed. Sage 1 - will be changing the electronics and strings. Stage 2 (if it gets that far) - will be to replace the neck with a maple/maple neck (currently maple/rosewood). Stage 3 - will be to replace the body with a swamp ash body (currently alder). I may also replace the front pup with a split PB type pup just because it gives a bit more clearance for popping the high strings. I'm pretty happy with the Bartolini JB pups in it a the moment though... plenty punch, and full bodied lows. I have already started on stage 1. I put a set of light strings on it last night (45-130s OK they are mediums but still light for me), and fiddled with the action. I also place an order for one of these: Link Removed. Its a Sadowsky onboard preamp with vintage tone control. At $250 it was little expensive, but still way cheaper than buying an actual Sadowsky bass. Besides $250 is not that bad if you know you cant get much better?

Thanks again for all the tips!
 
#40
Where are you located?

I am pretty much a SW fly fishing fanatic, although my 1 month old son has kept me off the water since about the 7th month of my wife's pregnancy...

It was a pretty quiet year for me working on getting the house ready for the new addition and the fact that my wife couldn't get out on the boat...

Here is a small striper from the spring...

P6280001.jpg
 

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