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John
18-02-2010, 08:41
I was at a gig last night watching a rock band and the bass player was very slap happy to me slap bass sounds like a wet fart and no matter how talented the musician is; the over use of this should be banned!!!!
I actually wish the techinique was never invented ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Themis
18-02-2010, 08:44
:lolsign:
Haselsh1
18-02-2010, 09:08
How very eighties...!!!
Stratmangler
18-02-2010, 10:45
I was at a gig last night watching a rock band and the bass player was very slap happy to me slap bass sounds like a wet fart and no matter how talented the musician is; the over use of this should be banned!!!!
I actually wish the techinique was never invented ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I agree that it can be a very tiresome bass playing technique to listen to when when it's overused.

Chuck Rainey used slap technique during the sessions for Steely Dan's "Aja" album, on the song "Peg".
Now the boys from The Dan thought that slap was passé back in '77, and expressly forbade any of the bass players involved with the project from using slap technique.
However Peg is a very funky song - Chuck couldn't help himself and started slapping in the choruses - the boys from The Dan felt that just this once they liked the way it worked out, and the rest is history.

Chris:)
Nick
18-02-2010, 11:00
Speaking as someone who plays a bit of bass, I think slap got a bad rep when it was overused in the 70s. It really depends on the context and the musician IMO. Someone like Marcus Miller for instance is, to my ears, consistently interesting and musical and uses the technique quite frequently. The same could be said for a number of other players, for example Alain Caron.

Having said that my favourite electric player, Anthony Jackson, is reportedly a bit anti slap. Albeit I think because he saw it's overuse as a technique. I don't do it so much myself these days. ;)
DanJennings
18-02-2010, 11:16
I must say, I occasionally like a bit of slap!

cXYJUcaivoo
Filterlab
18-02-2010, 12:29
Don't dis the slap bass man, Howard Moon will be on to you!

http://s.bebo.com/app-image/7927895971/5411656627/PROFILE/i.quizzaz.com/img/q/u/08/03/21/300px-TheMightyBooshHowardMoon.jpg

:)
Spectral Morn
18-02-2010, 12:58
I take it John, you don't like Mark King of Level 42 then.


Regards D S D L
Barry
18-02-2010, 14:57
I must say, I occasionally like a bit of slap!

cXYJUcaivoo

Stanley Clarke's 'School Days' is one of my favourite albums.

Incidently, why is it called 'slap bass'? The player does not seem to slap the strings at all. I'm puzzled.

Regards
Stratmangler
18-02-2010, 15:04
Stanley Clarke's 'School Days' is one of my favourite albums.

Incidently, why is it called 'slap bass'? The player does not seem to slap the strings at all. I'm puzzled.

Regards

It's 'cos the player frequently uses the thumb to slap a string down against the higher frets creating a percussive note.


Chris:)
Haselsh1
18-02-2010, 15:07
Take a look at Peter Gabriel live with Tony Levin on the Chapman Stick. He has a very percussive way of playing.
John
18-02-2010, 15:57
Tony Levin is an amazing bass player, what he does on the stick can put a lot of good guitar players to shame.
I guess for me the use of slap bass is in about keeping within context; it has it place in music but its not something I enjoy.
Last night I had to endure 2 bass slap bass solos ahhhhhhhhhh!
Beechwoods
18-02-2010, 19:48
Don't dis the slap bass man, Howard Moon will be on to you!

http://s.bebo.com/app-image/7927895971/5411656627/PROFILE/i.quizzaz.com/img/q/u/08/03/21/300px-TheMightyBooshHowardMoon.jpg

:)

I love a bit of Jazztercise too!

I'm with John. The world would definitely be a better place without slap-bass. I just cannot abide it. It can ruin perfectly good music and I don't think I've heard a good variation on the technique yet. Even Gil-Scott Geron's live stuff (which I love) is spoilt by slap through the late 80's and early 90's :(
The Grand Wazoo
19-02-2010, 00:23
I'm with you guys:
Slap Bass should mean slapped face as far as I'm concerned. I'll not mention what I'd like to slap Mark King's face with.
Stratmangler
19-02-2010, 00:34
I'm with you guys:
Slap Bass should mean slapped face as far as I'm concerned. I'll not mention what I'd like to slap Mark King's face with.

Something like this perhaps ?

i9SSOWORzw4

Chris:)
The Grand Wazoo
19-02-2010, 00:37
That's the kind of thing!
Filterlab
19-02-2010, 11:44
Ooooh, feel the slap! :D

J4dHOh1FeC0
Themis
19-02-2010, 13:37
:lolsign:

It's coming.... hear now... ready for this ?.... it's coming up !
Filterlab
19-02-2010, 13:57
It's a quality scene. :)
Haselsh1
19-02-2010, 14:06
Oh Christ...!!! I've just remembered. Kajagoogoo...!!! Nick Beggs and slap bass galore. AAAAArrrrgggghhhh...!!!
John
19-02-2010, 16:15
Some great posts guys
Alex_UK
19-02-2010, 20:18
I take it John, you don't like Mark King of Level 42 then.


Regards D S D L

That was exactly my thoughts Neil, Mark King must be rolling in his grave... oh, he's not dead, is he? ;)

Level 42 were fantastic live, but always too loud wherever I stood at their gigs probably so the slap could flap everyone's trousers!

But I for one LOVE a bit of slap, 80's dude that I am, I suppose though it can be over done. Everything in moderation I guess!
Beechwoods
19-02-2010, 21:30
I wonder if his thumb is still insured to the tune of £3m :scratch:

http://archive.worcesternews.co.uk/2001/11/15/298576.html
Gazjam
25-02-2010, 16:03
Gotta mention Les Claypool...who TECHNICALLY does slap bass....
but like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5XeVLJeMdE

and someone else...from another planet from Claypool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw8ytGHTbNc&NR=1&feature=fvwp
DanJennings
25-02-2010, 16:13
beat me to it Gaz, was going to bring him up myself at some point.

Love Primus, Frog Brigade, Oysterhead, and the stuff he did with Tom Waits
Gazjam
25-02-2010, 17:50
Hey Dan,
big Tom Waits man here.."portrait of a dead man" one of my favourites..not much slap bass in there though... :)

primus sucks!
amigarobbo
14-07-2015, 20:08
I've been checking out Youtube for some reviews of bass guitars, and I was amazed to see that slap bass was still a thing!

And for some people the ONLY thing, Speed, playing 'flash' no rhythm, no funk, no power, no melody, no nothing of any worth, just the ability to play a poor version of the flight of the bumblebee, far too fast.

2NyWT3jHvtk
(too be fair, I think he's taking the micky a bit on that one, well, just a bit)

But then you go back to someone who know what they're doing...

3e7EF7rRA9M

The sheer power of the Funk... :eek:
Anthony K
14-07-2015, 22:02
Being a die hard of Bootsy and Mark Adams I have to say I do love a good slap
Roy S
14-07-2015, 22:12
nz8uzuJxufo
Tarzan
15-07-2015, 04:29
Somebody say slap bassers?:eek:
amigarobbo
15-07-2015, 16:48
Being a die hard of Bootsy and Mark Adams I have to say I do love a good slap

Did Bootsy play that much slap?

IHE6hZU72A4

Hang on, excuse me for a moment....

kVYwZ1hgNiU

:dance:
amigarobbo
15-07-2015, 16:52
But I'll tell you what I really can't stand is bass with more than 4 strings on it.

Apart from 8 strings (doubled 4), they're alright, but as much as I can't stand him but Noel Gallagher was right on that point...
Stratmangler
16-07-2015, 20:00
But I'll tell you what I really can't stand is bass with more than 4 strings on it.

Apart from 8 strings (doubled 4), they're alright, but as much as I can't stand him but Noel Gallagher was right on that point...

Play do we?
amigarobbo
18-07-2015, 14:06
Liddle bit.
Stratmangler
18-07-2015, 14:51
You really wouldn't like this guy then.
Which is a real shame.
He plays a lot, and is one of the best in the business.
I first heard of him back in '77

Qmi733Qnpnw

You probably wouldn't like this guy either, and again he's a top of the tree player.
I first heard of him in '77 or '78

fj64zPU-aek
amigarobbo
01-08-2015, 17:54
You really wouldn't like this guy then.
Which is a real shame.
He plays a lot, and is one of the best in the business.
I first heard of him back in '77

Qmi733Qnpnw

You probably wouldn't like this guy either, and again he's a top of the tree player.
I first heard of him in '77 or '78

fj64zPU-aek

Right, I've probably given it long enough for the 'If you can't think of anything nice to say' Joke.



Play do we?

You've just reminded me, here's a picture of the bass, I'm building constructing, still waiting on the body from Warmoth, but here's the headstock:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/94C6EDB2-BEB6-4D23-BA12-1658A3F1DBB8_zpssobe8o8e.jpg~original

Sorry the pictures too big.


Note the complete hypocrisy of disliking slap/ 5 string basses as they're too 80s and Muso, while building a fretless bass :AlanPartrigeAirBass:
Stratmangler
01-08-2015, 18:28
What timber is the neck made from?
Looks like mahogany in the pics.
amigarobbo
02-08-2015, 17:08
Purple Heart neck with an Ebony fretboard fingerboard.

The Purpleheart is a hard and heavy as maple, Actually after drilling it, it seemed harder! Apparently it'll slowly fade to a rather drab brown (10 yearsish), so I'm enjoying the colour as much as possible while it lasts!
amigarobbo
02-08-2015, 17:14
Actually, has this forum had the Tonewood debate that's been raging like a very boring thing over on Youtube?
Stratmangler
02-08-2015, 20:43
The tonewood debate is tedious at best.
One side says that the wood has an effect on the sound of an electric guitar.
The other side says it doesn't and that the only thing that has an effect on the sound of an electric guitar is the pickups and electrics.

I tend to ignore the debate - it's a massive circular argument, and it's not worth the bandwidth wasted on it!
amigarobbo
10-10-2015, 11:27
I saw this, and though of this thread:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvf4hPVPaSk
Us-&-Them
17-10-2015, 21:50
I would just love to know why there is so much pigeon-holing used!! Why does everything have to be labelled and boxed?? What the hell is wrong with slap bass and for that matter why is everyone so down on the 80's??? Just take a good fat look at todays so called mainstream music, the so-called "quality" of it and the whole music industry today!!!!!! I dont hear hardly anything worthy of listening to on normal mainstream radio and/or TV. Have a good look at the X-Factor - the mass production of conveyor belt crap with the majority of the people on it who cant even demonstrate any ability when it comes to a musical instrument!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I'LL TAKE SLAP BASS, FINGER TAPPIN HAMMER-ONS, MARK KING, BERNARD EDWARDS, BILLY SHEEHAN, MICK KARN, CLIFF BURTON, BOOTSY COLLINS, FLEA, JOHN TAYLOR, GLENN HUGHES, PAUL McCARTNEY, ROBERT TRUJILLO, JOHN ENTWISTLE, JOHN PAUL JONES, GEDDY LEE, DOUG WIMBISH AND EVEN LEMMY KILMINSTER ANY TIME OVER WHAT I SEE/HEAR TODAY!!!

Long live real music played by musicians who can play instruments, be it slap, pop, tap or anything else !!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!