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I hate that it is automatically associated with funk. Slap is not funk. Funk is about space. Slap is, unfortunately, used by many as an opportunity to play more notes than they should and, therefore, is the opposite of real funk. Used sparingly, slap is fine. Abused as it is by seemingly 95% of those with twitchy thumbs, it is an aural abomination.

I think it is nice as an accent, or in a song, but it is harsh and tiring to listen to when used all the time. Pretty much like talking in capitals would be! I would also say it isn't the hardest technique to master, it is just another techniqie.

I don't hate it. What I do find, personally, is that I recognise it is an 'important tool' and should be explored but, when I will have spent a million hours perfecting it, I will be left with the ability to impress other bass players and play music I dislike. Like most bass players, I am impressed with the 'juggling' aspect of the technique but, unlike some of you, I have no real use for it. I respect players who can do it but see no need to spend time with it myself.

I wanted to draw people's attention to this as it took me 'kin ages and I am not altogether sure who looks at my Transcription Archive page. I have completed a FULL transcription of Chris Squire's bass part to Close To The Edge. I have been meaning to do this for years and, now we have these 'Isolated Bass' things on YouTube, it's a no brainer. A labour of love, this one. Close To The Edge Bass Part.pdf

This a bit better, @Si600 ? And now you should be able to see the tiny angle of the bridge towards the stoptail at the bass side. Tiny, but it gives me a couple of mm safety factor for different string gauges, etc Other jobs today, I epoxied a couple of carbon rod stiffeners across the grain on the hatch to make sure it stays completely flat: Then copper-foiled the chamber and hatch and added the bottom magnets: Next job is fitting the hatch magnets and then that's down to just 4 things still to do

Again, nothing. I won't speak for all bass players but it's the way slapping is used to 'test' a bass in a shop or at a guitar show. The whole look at me, I can slap really fast. It's not an accurate demonstration of what the bass can really do.

An absolute 1st class pr!ck. He likes to shoot anything with a face. Hunters are so brave, aren't they

My Status selection. I'd really like a headless 5-string.

Well, here you go Hatch magnets fixed:

Hi Guys, it looks like I have been judged, then hung drawn and quartered! The bass came into us a couple of days ago and I detailed the bass as we found it, it is a commission sale and the price is a guide from the owner. I think the comment about it being worth £1,000 is mildly humorous, I would love to buy 1966 Fenders for that kind of money too! At the end of the day it is a 54 year old instrument with a history, it is non original that has been made clear, we are not trying to con anyone or pass it off as something it isn't. It is a beautiful players instrument with great age and mojo, that cannot be faked, nor is a modern re-issue the same thing. We are a small family independent who are very upset at being judged blind, maybe some communication would have been a nicer way to discuss the instrument? As you know if you are looking for that holy grail, mint condition 1966 Fender to hang on the wall you will pay a premium, this is from the current blue book, the official price guide - 1966 N/A $6,000 $4,800 $3,900 This is broken down as year, price new (NA) Mint condition $6,000 then declining condition. Here is a link to a very nice example - https://www.andybaxterbass.com/products/1966-fender-precision-bass-sunburst So please can we keep things in context and not bad mouth the remaining independent shops as we are loosing music shops by the week, and as I said earlier i feel making contact and discussing sensibly is better than speculation. Kind regards Graham, Suzy and Ed Badlands Guitars, Brighton

Not really a build, but it was suggested I start a thread here so that those with actual knowledge can chip in and explain where I went wrong. Or congratulate me on my previously unsuspected skill. Pics and story to follow.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life- MP

In an attempt to inspire myself to pick up a bass and start playing again after a long (very long) break, I set myself the rather ambitious target of learning Vlufpeck's Conscious Club, during lockdown... First realisation - that after 8 years away, I definitely can't play at the level I used too! Second realisation - OK, that's probably a bit too ambitious for a first track to tackle. Settled on Frank Wilson's Do I Love You instead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV_Bql7Pugw Got all the parts together, just need to work on the consistency at full speed. Thankfully it's only 2.25...

I think part of it may be that it's an easy technique to do badly, yet it retains this aura of "wow, amazing" around it for those who don't play. So it can grate a bit, both the mediocre playing and the undeserved "adulation". Another thing I've noticed is that it looks as though the most vociferous anti-slap opinions, in forums, come from people who can't or won't slap, so there may be an element of subliminal envy (not that there's anything to be envious at all, if you wanted to you would be able to slap, no question...) But perhaps, the biggest factor is that it's a technique that's prone to be abused. There's a tendency to shoehorn slap patterns at speed when -to me- it doesn't really fit the song. There are times for fast and furious slap, and times for slow and tasteful slap. If all you do is repeat fast slap patterns from the beginning till the end it's all very yawn-inducing. A bit like 'guitar shredding' in the 80-90s. When guitar gymnastics take precedence over *music* then it's going to get a bit tedious after a while. When Yngwie Malmsteen released his first album I loved it. I still do. Very tasteful even when he goes into a million notes per second mode. Fast forward a few albums later and it just seems a compilation of cliches, with a few great tracks interspersed with derivative filler.

And there’s a good reason not to drink and Dremel! No idea sorry! Other than someone’s done a right number on it!

I would never like Kiss in a zillion years but I have a pathological dislike of them largely because of Gene Simmons who's a sexist, materialistic, greedy, Trump supporting, arrogant tool. If it wasn't for him I'd just have a neutral attitude towards the band.

The 'sound in my head' is the sound of bass as played while I was growing up, which encompasses everything from Elvis to Yes and incorporates LOTS of Beatles and Stones, Motown and glam. So that's double bass, Hofner Violin and Rickenbacker, and loads of Fender. Keyboard bass doesn't work for me, synth bass is an abomination, and slap bass is pretty much a joke, a party trick that got out of hand. To my ears, slap isn't bass playing and never will be. It's part of the rhythm section, yes, but it's a part that I try to avoid. It's in the same category as too much cowbell or obsessive use of claves. Hey ... you asked me, OK? If I'd been borm in 1966 rather than 1956 then who knows, maybe I'd see (and hear) things differently.

I can't do it.

Nothing. It's all part of the tool box. Same as using a plectrum if the song needs it.

That’s amazing. It’s inspired me to do a full bass transcription of Madrigal, Mood For A Day and The Clap. Shouldn’t take too long!

Always annoys me how rock and pop stars can pull off wearing a vest and ripped Jean's and look cool, no matter what age they are. When I do it I look like Rab C Nesbitts fatter, less successful brother.

The Band was Prefab Sprout who I had met in Scarborough in 77. They were a couple of lads from Durham who were brothers Paddy and Martin Mcaloon.

Yeah, but you wouldn’t have to turn down the treble on the amp because the compressor is pretty subtle, these are the settings I use for reggae and dub , the dark does boost the bass and it’s a clear sound, if I turn the light up full it’s only just noticeable

Geez, will you change your profile picture already, I keep thinking Andy's posted an update

I make no excuses, I do it way too much, I’ve used it in bands and it’s unfortunately like a default setting at times. I absolutely can play other styles, and I do lots of that too. I completely agree it’s done to death. But to me it’s just the same as a pick, finger style or using an ebow...a sound/style/technique. There are quite a few YouTube/Instagram players who do it to an extent I find moderately offensive - only because it’s thrown at every song and is their “thing”. It’s like chocolate. Nice to have every now and then, but will make you sick eventually if you binge on it. I certainly don’t get the “slap is crap” mentality - just like I would never Deride a pick style player (Bobby Vega/Cody Wright?). And so on.

I’m a carpenter and joiner/cabinet maker by trade, if I can assist I will stew 👍

You've just quoted my complete slap repertoire. Banging slap tracks aren't they?

Because like any popularity contest, the "greatest" basslines are, in the eyes of the public, the ones they most easily recognise, or the ones that feature at the forefront of their respective songs.

'Fess up: which of us weren't impressed by our fellow BC'er playing AND singing on this video a couple of months back? In fact that YT clip is one of the most liked posts on BC we've had in ages and was only marginally beaten by the picture of a bass lying in its case...

I'll happily listen to most music.... except computer programmed modern pop, rap, grime, or KISS FM type stuff which I can't stand and find no redeeming quality, musical or otherwise, in. If there is a well written melody, a good singer and/or real musicians playing it I'm generally fine with it - no matter if it's jazz, blues, rock, metal, soul, funk, disco, reggae, classical etc

A bit of Deke Leonard writing on John's audition for Man. He usurped their original choice, a Finn called Matti. The following day about lunchtime there was a knock on the door. I answered it. ‘Hi, I’m John McKenzie. I’ve come to audition for the band.’ The first thing I noticed about him was that he was black – I don’t miss much. I took him to the kitchen where Dominique made a fuss of him. He was well-spoken, well-mannered with an easy laugh. Another civilised man in the midst of barbarians. Over a cup of tea and a joint or two, he gave us a bit of biog. His last band had been the Global Village Trucking Company, his father was Mike McKenzie, a jazz pianist of some repute, and his auntie was Annie Ross. He was a thoroughbred and a real charmer. It was such a pity we had to string him along. ‘Now, why couldn’t he have been a shithead?’ I remember thinking. About two we adjourned to the lounge, making going-through-the-motions gestures to Matti who followed us in. We dispensed with the warm-up and went straight into ‘Born With A Future.’ I think we told him what key it was in. Jones kicked it in. McKenzie listened to a couple of bars then began to play. It was some of the most beautiful bass-playing I had ever heard. It rippled, it bounced, it soared. The ascending run he played over the bridge into the end solo was breathtaking and I found myself standing on tip-toe. When he hit an accent you could see the note travel up his arm, over his shoulder, down his spine and into his leg. Terry’s elbows went up and we were all grinning furiously. Terry always raises his elbows when he’s flying. We played for about an hour then we reluctantly stopped. ‘You’ve got the gig,’ we chorused. There was much welcome-to-the-fold back-slapping. Suddenly, we remembered Matti. We looked around for him but he’d gone. ‘Oh Gawd,’ I said, ‘I’d better go and tell him.’ He was sitting at the kitchen table, playing the guitar. Dominique stood quietly by the Aga, holding her breath. ‘Matti…’ I said. ‘I know. I know,’ he said, smiling, ‘He’s terrific. You must take him. It’s OK. I understand.’ I began to apologise but he waved it aside. We briefed McKenzie on our plans for the future and he was driven back to London to pack his bags and return forthwith.

What have we told you about spending too much time on Talkbass!

Nice! What a band!

I've got that one and very good it is too. I'm a big slap fan but I get exasperated with all these 'professional' bedroom slappers on their YT channels who seem more focused on showing off their machine gun thumbing and fitting in as many ghost notes as possible. Problem is they don't seem to know how to create a groove.

When you're going through their back catalogue, don't forget the first class The War Room EP. Yep, live they always deliver. Very good at festivals.

Slap is often the quickest way to display your lack of musicality. The difference between those who can play slap musically and those who can't is a lot bigger than finger style or pick playing

And what a great song it is too.

This pretty much sums it for me - Slap bass makes up a tiny percentage of actual bass use in music, yet it's almost always the first thing I hear/see when I see someone demoing a bass and that tinny, percussive sound isn't something that sits well with my ears. Fair enough it's a tough technique to master and respect to those putting the hours in, but it's not something I choose to listen to music wise much at all, I actually want to hear some bass frequencies! A lot of the time for me it's the bass equivalent of some technique obsessed guitar player showing off their licks and saying look how much faster I can play than you, rather than serving the song.

There are places where slap is just right, but in the music I enjoy most they're quite infrequent. The funk styles that I feel most strongly are largely fingerstyle. So I guess I just think of it as a strong flavour that some people badly overuse; sometimes nothing else will do, but more often I hear people cramming it in where it didn't need to be.

Started roughing the neck shape. I’ll do most of the shaping before glueing the wings to the neck. No quick way to do a single cut!

I waited 18months. Don’t regret it for a second. I bought a very cool Bluetooth footswitch which allows you to essentially have a 3rd preset channel. The new software BFT (Big Fat Tube) sounds really great. I had an email yesterday from @Bergantino Audio with a new software update and a separate cabinet feature “vintage”. I’ll be trying that this week. 😃 @Dood has done a great online demo, on you tube. If you are close to Essex you are welcome to come and have a blast through mine, post lockdown

Its all about individual songs, not genre. Music I like and music I dont like. Simple. Anything from the 20s to yesterday, if I like it I like it.

The Smiths for me. Marr is a great songwriter and guitarist, but Morrissey? Can't stand the guy, and it's completely irrational, but just seeing him pisses me off. Very bizarre!