Shockwave Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 (edited) Hey guys. I am a big fan of speed slappers like Mark King. He uses a metal ring on his thumb to get a more percussive tone out of his slapping. I decided to convert a metal thumb plectrum to become a slapring. I started using it and i loved it! The best thing about it is that slapping on the A string is far far more defined then if i used my bare thumb. Its louder and sits in the mix better. Does anyone else here use Slap rings and would you fork out money for a decent one? I was thinking of getting a gerald reece one from here. [url="http://www.slapring.de/en/productinfo/slapring/index.php"]http://www.slapring.de/en/productinfo/slapring/index.php[/url] Have they been a gimmick to you or an invaluable tool? Cheers! Rob. Edit: Its also handy for fingerstyle only users such as myself to get a nice near plectrum like tone. I may be using this technique in my goth rock band. Edited May 21, 2008 by Shockwave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 They look like a bit of fun - I might get one for a laugh! If it works for you, then I guess gimmick it is not!! ped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire5 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I like the way it looks "extraordinary and noble".But seriously,looks like it could be OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Its all about the [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gulqD14vcMI"]Funk Finger[/url]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmanbish Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Shockwave' post='203831' date='May 21 2008, 06:56 PM']Hey guys. I am a big fan of speed slappers like Mark King. He uses a metal ring on his thumb to get a more percussive tone out of his slapping. I decided to convert a metal thumb plectrum to become a slapring. I started using it and i loved it! The best thing about it is that slapping on the A string is far far more defined then if i used my bare thumb. Its louder and sits in the mix better. Does anyone else here use Slap rings and would you fork out money for a decent one? I was thinking of getting a gerald reece one from here. [url="http://www.slapring.de/en/productinfo/slapring/index.php"]http://www.slapring.de/en/productinfo/slapring/index.php[/url] Have they been a gimmick to you or an invaluable tool? Cheers! Rob. Edit: Its also handy for fingerstyle only users such as myself to get a nice near plectrum like tone. I may be using this technique in my goth rock band.[/quote] Hi Rob Actually, Mark King does not use a metal ring on his thumb - it's just tape. He started wrapping it around his thumb in the early days as he used to split his thumb open by hitting the strings so hard. Obviously it then became a bit of a trademark. I've not tried the slapring myself, but if it works for you and sounds good, I say use it. Cheers Matt Edited May 21, 2008 by bassmanbish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Amongst the "famous users" cited as having one of these is Hui-Chieh Chien ... wonderfully described as an [i]Over Top Musican[/i]. That's what I want to be when I grow up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='204261' date='May 22 2008, 01:29 PM']Amongst the "famous users" cited as having one of these is Hui-Chieh Chien ... wonderfully described as an [i]Over Top Musican[/i]. That's what I want to be when I grow up.[/quote] Fantastic! Who wouldn't want that next to their name on the album credits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Hmmm, I was expecting something far more "adult" and well, rude when I opened this thread. I was even going to buy one for the wife... Very disappointing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='203882' date='May 21 2008, 08:11 PM']Its all about the [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gulqD14vcMI"]Funk Finger[/url].[/quote] Ohhhh. Yes. No rings for Mr. Levin!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I Have one of Gerald's SlapStraps.. an awesome 4" wide leather comfy strap ;o) When I ordered i got a nice letter and free album CD of his solo bass playing too! [url="http://www.slapring.de/en/productinfo/slapstrap/index.php"]http://www.slapring.de/en/productinfo/slapstrap/index.php[/url] [quote]Gerald Reese, inventor of the SLAPRING®, has come up with the idea of the SLAPSTRAP®, which is made out of finest leather and is well cushioned just at the right spot. Moreover, it offers a link piece to the end pin, which can be fixed tightly by Velcro. A great idea, which proves to be useful for guitars and non-slapped basses as well. The high-quality straps are available with both an 8 cm (about 3.1 inches) and a 10 cm (about 3.9 inches) width! - handmade from Germany - looks pretty cool - infinitely adjustable length from minimal 32 inches to maximal 63 inches in one step in only 5 seconds by hook and loop; patented - feels nice because of 8 or 10 cm width, it spreads weight very well - no metal or plastic parts - real Napal-Leather double-stitched - available colors: black - no more shortening - with cushioning[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbass Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Big gimmick if you ask me, none of the great bass slappers have used one in the past as far as I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mokl Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 My wife bought me a set of slap rings as a kind of "jokey" wedding present! Actually, I can see them being quite fun, but I find they don't work well with my set up ie very low action and light-ish strings. It's just too much weight on your thumb and you get horrible overtones from the strings "bottoming out" at the end of the fingerboard. Probably doesn't help that I already have large thumbs (?!!?). Perhaps I just need to spend more time fiddling about, but I couldn't be bothered to raise the action on any of my basses just so the slap ring would work better. If I did, or switched to heavier strings (I use 40-95), then it would probably work quite well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 That is what I was wondering - with super low action and light strings I don't think it would suit me either which is a shame, because it seems a perfectly good thing to waste money on... ped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Looks like an interesting tool and I can imagine it giving you more power and possibly a slightly metallic twang? I'd probably give it a go if I could buy one locally. On a related note...have you seen the "Gerald Reese Signature Bass" on that site? It should make it into the 'Weird and Wonderful' thread I reckon, very interesting looking bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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