Slapping on a p bass

[Frank77]

Do people do it? How do you think it sounds? I have heard it and personally prefer a jazz for slap. Thoughts? Feelings?

I'm in the opposite camp. I have to admit I'm not a big fan of slap in general, but I prefer the sound of slap on a P-bass - there's something funkier and raw about it.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Do people do it? How do you think it sounds? I have heard it and personally prefer a jazz for slap. Thoughts? Feelings?

It sounds even better than on a jazz bass sometimes ...

 

[JZQuantum]

Patrice Rushen -"Forget Me Nots"

I was going to post the same! This is why you can slap on a p bass

 

[Jehos]

If it has strings, you can slap it.

 

[bassfreakah]

IMO i love the sound of a p bass, Slapped, plucked, picked, poked, scratched, whatever!!!!
P-bass is a wonderful thing. Such a distinctive sound it can be identified quickly.
This is my opinion.

 

[murphy]

 

[murphy]

 

[Altitude]

Jamiroquai albums are another place to go for the slapped P-bass sound. I'd recommend the "Return of the Space Cowboy" record in particular.

It's a thing, and for me a P-bass isn't the first thought I have as a slap machine. But when done well it sounds great.

 

[bobyoung53]

Not the ones I’ve heard but YMMV

I've got a 4001 but it sounds close to a Jazz when it's slapped but I'm not exactly the world's best slapper either.

 

[bobyoung53]

This thread and players and tunes like this have convinced me that P's are the best sounding slap machines. Good stuff. Although I already thought that.

 

[bearhart74]

Or you could just dig in like Paul Jackson

 

[dkelley]

I can't believe nobody has posted Aimee Mann yet!



Til Tuesday, back in the 80s. FYI the unfairly beautiful blond girl is the lead singer AND bassist - and yes she was that solid as a slap (and regular) bassist live while singing.

I love the precision slap sound in general - I learned to slap on a precision, and I never heard anything wrong with the tone.

More mids, not less!

 

[grrg63]

here, on the Jazz you can hear the entire range of sounds from the slap to the pop. On the P Bass the slap sounds compressed and muted until you get to the pop.

The P has that fat ass bottom though, it sounds great to me.

 

[cnltb]

fixed.

No, you haven't
And just for you, I'll say it again;
Ps produce my favourite slap sound...by FAR!

 

[Rib 13]

The Jazz sounds great but a little too clean and crisp for my taste. The P grunts and I like that about it. The MM sounds a little too thin and lacking in character but then it’s not prominent in the mix so it’s harder to hear well.

Im just opposite: I prefer the crispness and articulation on a Jazz -- i don't care for the 'burpy' quality of the pops on a p-bass (perhaps my ears are just used to J basses, as thats what i mostly play).......i do like the sound of the lower strings slapped on a bass with a mid-mounted P-sweetspot pickup soloed (like a P-bass, or most basses with a pickup in that position)....Maybe i can build a half-p/half-j bass for myself one day

 

[dkelley]

Im just opposite: I prefer the crispness and articulation on a Jazz -- i don't care for the 'burpy' quality of the pops on a p-bass.......i do like the sound of the lower strings slapped on a bass with a mid-mounted pickup soloed (like a P-bass)....Maybe i can build a half-p/half-j bass for myself one day

interesting thought!

I just thought of an interesting plan.

a double P bass, with bridge P in similar position to a bridge Jazz (70s) location, more or less.

Now wire it with the following "special" mode: you can turn on the bridge pickup but only the DG string side, with a toggle switch.

voila - EA is P, DG is dual pickup in a sort of Jazz style configuration.

 

[bdplaid]

It is kind of an old school late 70s thing, but it can be done. I would say it is better for slower lines. Fast slap and double thumping might get messy on a split single coil middle/neck pickup.

Tell that to wooten.

Redirect Notice

 

[Pedullist]

I slap anything, as long it's a bass.

 

[Old P Bass Guy]

Patrice Rushen -"Forget Me Nots"

This should answer the question...

 

[Altitude]

I can't believe nobody has posted Aimee Mann yet!



Til Tuesday, back in the 80s. FYI the unfairly beautiful blond girl is the lead singer AND bassist - and yes she was that solid as a slap (and regular) bassist live while singing.

Good one. I was and am a big fan. I do think that she played slap bass on those tunes at the time because it was fashionable, not necessarily because it's her way of expressing. She hasn't done anything in 20 years where slap bass would work. Nor has she played bass at all on the recordings, I don't think.

But I still like the post. I was a teenager when those 'Til Tuesday albums hit and I thought Aimee Mann was the bomb. Yet another singer playing bass right out front.