NJE Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Does anyone else out there struggle slapping on a StingRay 5? I have never been a massive fan of, or very good at slapping but I know a bit and can do the odd phrase or riff and my technique is not terrible. Recently I have been required to do a bit more for the covers band and am struggling to slap the stingray. I have big hands and whenever I pluck I catch my cuticle on the string below to the point where It was bleeding the other night after 45 mins practicing a slap line. Is this really bad technique or just a product of fat fingers, big hands and narrow string spacing? Interesting to see how other Ray owners get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Sounds like you need to practice. I wouldn't ever say that the Stingray 5 had narrow string spacing. Start off slowly and you might be able to see what you are doing wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumbo Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Practice, practice, practice I don't think Ray 5's are the easiest to slap on, but with practice you'll get the angles just right with your right hand. If you learn to slap well on your 5 string, going back to a 4 will feel so easy in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 I admit its not easy, but then again im switching (well learning) on 5s right now. I think its just a case of practicing. I havent had any injuries though! The string spacing for me is 'normal', for others its narrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 if you have problems, you must have big hands. I don't recall MM being small string spacings..at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 my hands are not small and I slap comfartably (now) on my ray5, initially I had a similar problem but after a while my playing sorted itself out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJE Posted September 2, 2011 Author Share Posted September 2, 2011 I do have big hands and fat fingers unfortunately which certainly doesnt help, but I think your right, its just getting the angles right and adjusting. I find the stingray very narrow after very broad necked basses with 19mm spacing so I think I am going to have to adjust to the Ray. I am trying to learn Tell me baby by the Chillis which is slapped all the way through and to be fair I have only been at it for a few hours over the past four days. Its getting better and I am not getting sore fingers like I was on day one but compared to slapping on my Squier deluxe V its hard. As you say practice practice practice.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 It'll sound good once its done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_bass Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 I've got very small hands so isn't a problem. I've now just discovered the strings need replacing on mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJE Posted September 2, 2011 Author Share Posted September 2, 2011 [quote name='joe_bass' post='1359912' date='Sep 2 2011, 02:30 PM']I've got very small hands so isn't a problem. I've now just discovered the strings need replacing on mine! [/quote] I have also been playing with very dead Slinkys and have some Elixirs on the way, so at least my bad out of time slapping will have a better tone I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 I slap on mine and it's always been fine, never bothered me. I used to use Sandbergs and a Warwick before that and I never found the change a struggle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_bass Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 [quote name='NJE' post='1359918' date='Sep 2 2011, 02:34 PM']I have also been playing with very dead Slinkys and have some Elixirs on the way, so at least my bad out of time slapping will have a better tone I guess.[/quote] I think Slinkys sound the best on a 'Ray, but then I'm a big fan of the strings anyway. I've currently got some cheap as chips Dean Markleys on mine, the price is reflected in the life of them though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 This and .....[quote name='thumbo' post='1359847' date='Sep 2 2011, 01:37 PM']Practice, practice, practice I don't think Ray 5's are the easiest to slap on, but with practice you'll get the angles just right with your right hand. If you learn to slap well on your 5 string, going back to a 4 will feel so easy in comparison.[/quote] This. [quote name='NJE' post='1359898' date='Sep 2 2011, 02:17 PM']I do have big hands and fat fingers unfortunately which certainly doesnt help, but I think your right, its just getting the angles right and adjusting. I find the stingray very narrow after very broad necked basses with 19mm spacing so I think I am going to have to adjust to the Ray. I am trying to learn Tell me baby by the Chillis which is slapped all the way through and to be fair I have only been at it for a few hours over the past four days. Its getting better and I am not getting sore fingers like I was on day one but compared to slapping on my Squier deluxe V its hard. As you say practice practice practice.... [/quote] As a very recent convert from 10 years on a Ray 4 to less than a year on a Ray 5 Im just getting the hang of it, You need to spin your right hand round anti clockwise a bit to compensate for the B being in the way but as others have said once you nail the 5 the 4 will be even easier, if anything its tidied my slap technique up a bit. Im now just a crap on 5 as 4 If anything its more of a 5 compared to 4 string slapping issue than a Ray 5 slapping issue as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Just practice. My Streamline only has 16.5mm spacing - that is narrow! Took a while to adjust to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 i did have the problem with the skin at the top of the nail bleeding however, after lots of hours practising iv become more accurate with my technique and theres no longer a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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