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Best bass for slap


Snakey Lane
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[quote name='mathewsanchez' post='409454' date='Feb 14 2009, 03:04 PM']Some sort of Jazz Bass ...possibly Jap Fender or Squier.[/quote]


Squire do a vintage modified jazz that has a nice slap tone, or they also do a delux active again very good. There is also the little cort that has been built for slap. Rock basses are ok and the yammys are ok too. I would look in the 2nd hand market and go for an active bass.

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[quote name='Gwilym' post='409674' date='Feb 14 2009, 09:07 PM']you can slap on any bass - so it boils down to what kind of tone you like. i would suggest just getting a decent bass for your money, and then worry about the technique[/quote]
+1 on that. You can get a decent slap sound out of a precision if you spend a bit of time adjusting your tone controls and working on your technique. As for me I'd go for a Jazz or decent J clone. It's the bass slap was invented on (alledgedly) and for three hundred you could probably get a decent copy and have some change for better pickups, hardware or at the least new strings and a good set up.

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Damn - read the headline of this post and was about to say an NYC Spector or Sadowsky.

Unfortunately both are going to 5 times your budget ;)

With £300 you're in decent Fender Jazz territory (not USA but certainly Mex & Jap) - that would give you a great standard bass with easy re-sale value if you want to go for something more expensive later :P

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If you have the feel for slap you can play it on a plank, i dont think anyone can show you how to be a slap bass player just as no bass can be specific to the art. Good slap players either have it or they dont.(No instant slap basses). You have to be a loose funky type of person to play it,i always thought it was a bit like drumming,but your snares,toms and high hats have notes. I love slap and i was playing it in my head years befor i even picked up a bass guitar,the licks i play on my bass have always been my signature tune as i am walking along the street.

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[quote name='YouMa' post='409867' date='Feb 15 2009, 04:05 AM']If you have the feel for slap you can play it on a plank, i dont think anyone can show you how to be a slap bass player just as no bass can be specific to the art. Good slap players either have it or they dont.(No instant slap basses). You have to be a loose funky type of person to play it,i always thought it was a bit like drumming,but your snares,toms and high hats have notes. I love slap and i was playing it in my head years befor i even picked up a bass guitar,the licks i play on my bass have always been my signature tune as i am walking along the street.[/quote]

Thanks for everyone's comments. I take the point that it comes down to technique and feel rather than a specific bass. But the suggestions on what to look for are really helpful, too.

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Basically, anything will slap within reason. Just avoid cheaper Precision copies (too much bang when you slap with the split coil pickup) and basses with a pickup right against the base of the neck (eg., Epiphone EB's and violin basses). Jazz basses & instruments with soapbars are good for slap. Active ciruitry is preferable but not neccessary. Also, make sure you have clean zingy strings & more treble than bass set on your amp. Slap heaven!

Thinking about your price range, try the new Ibanez SR300. [url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/options.php?id=75470"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/options.php?id=75470[/url]

Rich.

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I agree with everything said above, basically a nice Jazz or MM style bass seem to be favourites, active basses seem to be preferred although I like a passive bass with an EQ pedal. Also very important is the setup, you want a nice low action, I find people that predominantly play slap like the action so low that you get quite a lot of fret buzz unless you play very lightly, and they also tend to prefer light gauge strings often Stainless Steel for a really bright tone. So my advice would be what ever bass you buy budget for a new set of strings and a decent setup it will make all the difference.

Dave.

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[quote name='Snakey Lane' post='409896' date='Feb 15 2009, 09:18 AM']Thanks for everyone's comments. I take the point that it comes down to technique and feel rather than a specific bass. But the suggestions on what to look for are really helpful, too.[/quote]

my first reply was a bit terse - and I'd had a few beers at the time - come on Wales!!! ;)

So, what I'd look for in a bass:

i) It's got to be able to be set up with a decent low action - (although I'd argue the case for that whatever style you wanted to play).
ii) IMO, 21 frets rather than 24. I find with 24, there is less space between the neck pick-up and the end of the finger board. Also the (slapping) arm gets pushed back toward the bridge because of the longer finger board, which I think (especially if you're learning slap) might be a bit of a hinderance.
iii) And strings that are medium/light gauge.
iv) Maple neck and finger board.
v) probably worth starting of on a 4 stringer too.

You're tastes might differ of course, but thats my 2 pennies worth. Good luck!

G

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[quote name='Randy_Marsh' post='409866' date='Feb 15 2009, 03:53 AM']for £300? are you kidding? if you can find one, link me! id be well up for buying one[/quote]


I've seen a few go on ebay last year for under £350, one went for £320. Remember they could be bought new around 2002 (IIRC) for £530. I paid £580 for mine and as it's got a few knocks i'd expect it to fetch no more than £350 second hand
Remember the new Rockbasses look gorgeous and the $$ Corvettes go for around £500

Keep an eye out on the bay. I saw the passive fretless version go for just over £300 as well and that was mint

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[quote]I've seen a few go on ebay last year for under £350, one went for £320. Remember they could be bought new around 2002 (IIRC) for £530. I paid £580 for mine and as it's got a few knocks i'd expect it to fetch no more than £350 second hand
Remember the new Rockbasses look gorgeous and the $$ Corvettes go for around £500

Keep an eye out on the bay. I saw the passive fretless version go for just over £300 as well and that was mint[/quote]

sh*t the bed! i want a warwick corvette ash badly! cheers for the advice man, if see one PM me for sure

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Basically anything with a decent set of jazz or humbucker pups. generally precisions sound a little too chunky with not enough mids or highs for a decent slap that cuts through the mix. An active will give your tone a little more clarity in most cases. See if you can score a secondhand musicman sub or a nice mexican or japanese jazz, If im right there was a modded mim jazz in the for sale thread on this site.

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I think its actually in the strings -I got a jazz that had 40-95s, and it slapped much better than my ray with 40-105s. Then I replaced the strings on the Ray and made them the same as the jazz to make life easier for myself and foudn that the Ray it slapped just as well.

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