Why Slap When Demonstrating Gear?

[Jefenator]

Because, while very highly unlikely (I'm guesstimating 1 in 100 trillion), it does exist within the realm of metaphysical possibility for them to do a Seinfeld reunion series and hire me to record the theme song.

... and if that were to happen, I'd sure hate to be caught not having the perfect gear.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Thump and pop to one's hearts desire if you do not like it don't watch

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

I’m all for the slap bits, as long as the finger and pick bits are in abundance. Mostly I wish more people doing reviews would play actual bass line type grooves instead of noodling and wanking.

...AND play loud enough, as if in a real setting! That bugs me the most.

 

[amper]

I've noticed too many reviews of gear using slap only or the majority of the time, when the majority of the time it's not used, thus not getting a good representation of use in the real world.

So you are saying that "real" bassists don't slap?

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Not sure, sure its fun & impressive but 75%+ of the time you cant slap on a song

 

[ga_edwards]

One of the best people for bass demos, IMO, has been Ed Friedland (The Bass Whisperer). He gives a thorough overview and demo of each bass, with all styles of playing.
His review of the G&L LB100 bass convinced me and my bass buddy to order them sight unseen. We were not disappointed.

I similarly love @LowEndLobster and Dan Veall (aka 'Dood on Bass') reviews for the same reason. Fingerstyle, pick and slap, through all pickup, volume and tone control variations About as close to a full comprehensive review as you can get.

 

[YourGuitarist]

I've noticed too many reviews of gear using slap only or the majority of the time, when the majority of the time it's not used, thus not getting a good representation of use in the real world.

I'm deeply frustrated with the quality of demo videos. There are number of things I think could be done differently. Yes, auditioning a limited selection of styles i.e. slap is one. To add to that list, we have:

Not showing the dry tone such as an unaffected DI for amps or the amp clean sound for pedals.
Using highly colored microphones for amps such as D6s, D112s and SM57s.
Switching basses constantly.
Not showing the flat EQ.
Not giving an EQ isolated range such as sweeping the treble knob.
Changing the phrase constantly between takes.
Having post processing.
Only ever dialing in a mid-scoop.

In terms of who does great demos, I like Bass Bonedo. Its been a minute but I recall liking guitar interactive and premier guitar.

 

[burpgun]

There aren't many tasteful real world uses of slap bass and reviews that feature it are wasting time, at least in my neck of the woods.

 

[YourGuitarist]

While this is the best way of course, and your comments on videos is spot on, trying out gear yourself is not that easy for a lot of folks. I live in a mid-sized city with two large music stores. They rarely have the things I want to try. Folks in smaller areas have it even worse. You can get it from Sweetwater or other place and return it, but that is a hassle and you often get hit with paying the shipping back. Amazon is the best source to get, try, return, but they don't always have everything you want to try.

Yeah I read a thread from someone in Australia and its like half of all brands don't make it out there without exorbitant shipping.

 

[sheesh]

Here's an idea: Try the gear yourself instead of watching youtube videos.

A lot of the gear is not available locally. Shipping and returning is a tough way to test gear.

I like to have a clear idea of what I want when I order. That's why the videos can be helpful to narrow things down.

It can be tough to find decent videos of gear I am interested in, for instance there is not a lot of videos on the Quilter of the Phil Jones. But there are a lot of Mesa videos. But some of the Mesa videos are not so helpful either.

I agree that Ed Friedland tends to do good videos. When was the last time he did a video?

I like the demos where they dial the controls for you on the videos to get a sense of the range of the amp or pedal or bass.

I have not learned how to slap well yet, so the slapping is not that helpful to me either.

Also I rely on TalkBass guidance.

 

[salmon256]

I seen this too, I notice ZZounds demos are filled with slappers. I partly though think it is a guitarist or even drummer given a bass and is told to play. Of course slap to new bassist is attractive, especially I see them on mostly basses that aren't exactly in the field of a super expensive one, the Yamaha-TRBX one I remember was a slap happy one. But it was old, some newer ones tend to show off those styles and trust me those comment sections usually are filled with "Why just slap?" because it is true as evidence of this forum post!

 

[Captain Chaos]

For me it’s slap or trying to sound like Jaco.

 

[fhm555]

I gave up in video reviews unless they are describing the control layouts and other features of the bass as they invariably are running through some form of signal processor and I just want to hear the bass through an amp.

 

[J Posega]

Because they’re cool and you are not.

 

[LowendG]

That's why Ed Friedland is still the best at bass demos in my book. Some fingerstyle, some pickstyle, and yes, some "slaparoonie". And he plays meaningful stuff so you can really hear the instrument (you need some legato notes too, y'know!).

 

[Killing Floor]

Same reason someone shreds on a guitar pedal review. There are 2 types of reviews; analysis of the device and its usefulness and showcasing the play of the reviewer. Even great players can open a jam and then dial it back so the viewer can hear the differences in settings. No problem with slap but an all slap showcase gear “review” of someone wanking relentlessly without slowing down to demonstrate the gear basically becomes a song I don’t like enough to finish listening.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

I've noticed too many reviews of gear using slap only or the majority of the time, when the majority of the time it's not used, thus not getting a good representation of use in the real world.

"Majority of the time...." I don't think that's accurate. There's at least one too many majorities of the time in the post. But to the point of slap: The sound of the metal string bouncing off the metal fret has a certain AND OFTEN USED frequency range and character that helps demonstrate the frequency range, tone and character of a pickup, or pickups, or a bass in a way that playing solely fingerstyle won't. This is ALSO TRUE for demonstration of bass amplifiers, and helps demonstrate the frequency range, tone and character of an amp. For me, a pickup, bass or bass amp demo without at least a little bit of slap to demonstrate how those high-end transients and frequencies are captured, handled, produced is a woefully incomplete demo of whatever the item. A video that has ONLY slap is also not particularly useful. I don't follow, subscribe or spend time watching bass people who don't demonstrate the bass gear with the full range of techniques and styles that are commonly used regarding electric bass. Maybe it's because I use the full range of techniques and styles that are commonly used regarding electric bass at home and gigs, and I need that kind of thoroughness if I'm going to spend time watching or considering whatever item is demoed.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

The best demo videos ever for me would include no or almost no talking, and no or almost no slapping.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Slapping only is not good demonstration, but when I play with the knobs I do slap even though I won't in the set. I'm used to adjusting amps that way, as I can hear what the amp does to the very low and high frequencies better.