Stupid question about Slap/Pop.

[JamcoPasamerson]

Well I was thinking about Mark King - who is a famous slapper and he worked since the late 80s with Status to produce custom basses that suited his style.

So - the first thing is that they have woven graphite necks with a hardened phenolic fingerboard. But they also have a nut with hardened steel ball-bearings for greater durability and the fingerboard has a "slap-ramp" between the 24th fret and the end of the board for this purpose.

sheesh! talk about overkill!

Ya, and don't forget the LED lights in the neck. You will definitely need the LED lights in the neck. ;-)

 

[JimmyM]

you know, looking at the upper bout on that bass, it's right up in his pit. i wonder what it smells like after a 90 minute gig. can't be pretty.

 

[artdrtr]

"What the hell you need ball bearings for?"

"Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. [leans arm on hot engine part, then jumps away] Heyya! It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads, and I'm gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State."

Well I was thinking about Mark King - who is a famous slapper and he worked since the late 80s with Status to produce custom basses that suited his style.

So - the first thing is that they have woven graphite necks with a hardened phenolic fingerboard. But they also have a nut with hardened steel ball-bearings for greater durability and the fingerboard has a "slap-ramp" between the 24th fret and the end of the board for this purpose.

 

[JamcoPasamerson]

"What the hell you need ball bearings for?"

"Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. [leans arm on hot engine part, then jumps away] Heyya! It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads, and I'm gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State."

Well I was thinking about Mark King - who is a famous slapper and he worked since the late 80s with Status to produce custom basses that suited his style.

So - the first thing is that they have woven graphite necks with a hardened phenolic fingerboard. But they also have a nut with hardened steel ball-bearings for greater durability and the fingerboard has a "slap-ramp" between the 24th fret and the end of the board for this purpose.

Awe man, this one sooooo wins!!!

 

[Cristo]

Depends on what you mean by damage. I caused some wear on the body of one bass in front of the neck pickup from countless impacts from my fingers during slapping and popping. I wouldn't call it damage so much as wear and tear from usage.

 

[bassist343]

I can't count how much G strings I've broken popping 16th notes, until I got some DR strings. Slapping and popping won't damage your bass. If your going to do it often, DR Hi-Beams are the ideal strings I think.

 

[Muaguana]

Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science? ;-)

There are some who call me... Tim?

 

[boomtisk]

Indeed, you should never slap a fretless because it indeed sounds like crap, as evidenced by this video clip.

 

[JimK]

Depends on what you mean by damage. I caused some wear on the body of one bass in front of the neck pickup from countless impacts from my fingers during slapping and popping. I wouldn't call it damage so much as wear and tear from usage.

I agree with you. The heel of my bass' neck was also showing some wear.

I think I did "damage" an amp once, though. My pre-CBS Bassman blew a circuit...a friend/amp-meister looked at it & remarked that this amp was not meant to be pounded with active electronics combined with a bunch of thumb/slap/pop BS.

 

[kayakbass]

Fear not young Jedi! Have faith!

 

[Ewo]

OP--I've played slap for a long time, on cheap instruments and on pricey ones.

If you're beating it like...um...it owes you money...(gotta keep it family-friendly here) you'll wear the highest couple frets and maybe scar the fingerboard a bit.

But you don't need to beat it that hard. <rimshot> It feels much better with a lighter touch. <rimshot #2> Check out Ed Friedland's DVD. Watch his hands. Imitate. And watch Bakithi Khumalo (I think that's who it was...) in the Paul Simon clip, above.

You'll prolly get a swirl mark in the finish under the G string from the nails of your little fingers. Put a good coat of wax on it, and renew the wax often.