Snakey Lane Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Thanks in advance for any advice on choosing a bass for slap. Either specific models or general tips. Budget is up to £300 and I'm after a 4-string. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 You could pick up a 2nd hand Washburn Status for that sorta money.... great slap bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathewsanchez Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Some sort of Jazz Bass ...possibly Jap Fender or Squier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyparrot Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan_da_man Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I am selling a Dean Sledge Hammer in ash for £250 and it is a properly good bass for slap. Click the sig link for more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 For around that price you could get an active Warwick Corvette Standard. I've got one and it's a beast for slap. Also a very versatile bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwilym Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy_Marsh Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 [quote]For around that price you could get an active Warwick Corvette Standard. I've got one and it's a beast for slap. Also a very versatile bass[/quote] for £300? are you kidding? if you can find one, link me! id be well up for buying one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakey Lane Posted February 15, 2009 Author Share Posted February 15, 2009 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low Down Dave Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwilym Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 [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 $$ Corvettes go for around £500 Keep an eye out on the bay. I saw the passive fretless version go for just over £300 as well and that was mint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy_Marsh Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 [quote]I've seen a few go on ebay last year for under £350, one went for £320. Remember they could be bought new around 2002 (IIRC) for £530. I paid £580 for mine and as it's got a few knocks i'd expect it to fetch no more than £350 second hand Remember the new Rockbasses look gorgeous and the $$ 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I'd recommend buying a used OLP MM copy and replacing the pickup/circuit (maybe not both for under your budget though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbass Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 hiho,I would go for a musicman sub all the way. not just good for slap but a good versitile bass all round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_bass Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 A good Fender Mexi jazz should do the trick, if you go for that make sure to play a few though to try & find the best one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosts Over Japan Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Musicman Sub for sure! great sounding basses and I'm sure alot of people on here will agree with me when I say their really not that far off a real stingray tone! You can usually find them on here going between £3-400 second hand. Cai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdavid Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 (edited) A Jazz bass , either MIJ , Highway 1 or MIA are great for slap , both volumes up full , tone up full Edited February 24, 2009 by markdavid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Look for a Status energy 4 stringer. (it'll have a headstock) Classy, cheap slapper heaven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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