Cant slap a bass?

[seanbenkoh]

I recently gotten a washburn wb44 and it seems that the slapping sound doesnt come out when i slap my bass.I thought i couldnt slap the bass, but when i tried it on a friends bass, there was the slapping sound. Anyone know why? 0.o

 

[b33r]

your string action might be too high, try lowering it.

while you're at it, i recommend that you send it for a full setup, since you just got it recently.

 

[seanbenkoh]

What happens in a full setup? nv heard of it before..

 

[b33r]

you take your bass to a professional, who sets up your bass to play well. this website has some info on what a set up is and how it will benefit your bass.

as for the slapping issue, my guess is that your strings are too high above the fretboard. as the sound of slapping comes from the strings hitting the frets, having high action (height of strings) might make slapping difficult.

i assume that you're new to bass, so i recommend that you take it to a professional, who can set it up so that you can play it more easily. a full setup can cost about $40, excluding the cost of new strings that you have to get, because the setup requires the current strings to be taken off.

 

[seanbenkoh]

Oh thanks. Any guitar shop can do the tuning right? Like davis?

 

[thunderbird1984]

hi

you can send to standardvalue for bass set-up or change string. set-up cost abt 50 too *)

 

[seanbenkoh]

OK guys. Thanks for your help.

 

[seanbenkoh]

I recently lowered the action, i even tried lowering it down all the way. But still cant get the slapping sound. Now some sound comes out when i slap it. But not sure what sound is it. And that sound doesnt change even if i press a different part of the string.

 

[shinobi]

you need a good mid scoop for a good slap tone. some basses sound better at this than others. fresh rounds are also very useful. stainless steel gives you more brightness over nickel.

i don't think the setup is the problem.

 

[seanbenkoh]

Er i Don't really get it.. If its not setup then wad is?

 

[benjso28]

Bring ur bass and show a fren who knows more and get him explain to u lo.
Can b type of strings.. roundwound more easy to get the slap sound than flat wound.
New strings also brighter.
See if ur pickups is working or not lo. Any issue with ur bass amp or not.

 

[lordie]

checklist

1 - set-up bass properly by a pro
2 - have u change to a newer brighter strings
3 - tone, have u check the eq on slap tons? scoop mids? on the amps
4 - did u check if your batteries are fresh for active pre's?

if all else fails buy a new bass

 

[seanbenkoh]

I dont understand part 3...
And There are batteries in the bass or amp? 0.o
Sorry for not knowning.. just my bass awhile ago only.

 

[Clay]

slap sound

i think normally to achieve that 'crispy' sound you need ...

1) low string action

2) bright strings

3) adjust the bass guitar's tone/treble/mid/bass/other eqs

4) your bass amp preferably has a tweeter

 

[seanbenkoh]

My amp is kustom kma30.. Not sure whether it is a bass amp. But it definitely sounds better then then bass amp that came with my bass package. So basically i tweak around with the 4 eq? mine has low, low-mid, high-mid and high. Should i set all to max to achieve that sound?

 

[aquanaut]

if you can't 'slap' your bass...perhaps you can try....punching it, kicking it or just hurl hokkien vulgarities at it....

it should work....at least one of them...

 

[shinobi]

My amp is kustom kma30.. Not sure whether it is a bass amp. But it definitely sounds better then then bass amp that came with my bass package. So basically i tweak around with the 4 eq? mine has low, low-mid, high-mid and high. Should i set all to max to achieve that sound?

max out 4 is basically the same as cranking the gain. learn how to use your eq. cut everything to zero. boost each band and see how that sounds like. set everything to flat. roll off each band and see how it sounds like.

you need a good mid scoop for a nice slap tone. highs and high mids are important to get the snap. you need brightness in your strings. get a set of stainless steel rounds. wait didn't i just say all this earlier