But I don't see the physical issue... well, unless it's an old 4001 with the 1/2" neck pickup spacing or a 4004 with the pickup right up against the fretboard. That 1" on my 4003 between the fretboard and neck pickup is where I slap and pop.Thumb slappers
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
I slap on mine. I've never really understood why that "you can't slap on a Rick" notion persists; I have no problems at all. Tonewise, yeah it sounds a little different from a "normal" slapped bass, but that's why we like our Ricks. But I don't see the physical issue... well, unless it's an old 4001 with the 1/2" neck pickup spacing or a 4004 with the pickup right up against the fretboard. That 1" on my 4003 between the fretboard and neck pickup is where I slap and pop.
But I don't see the physical issue... well, unless it's an old 4001 with the 1/2" neck pickup spacing or a 4004 with the pickup right up against the fretboard. That 1" on my 4003 between the fretboard and neck pickup is where I slap and pop.
Different strokes for different folks...but, as Mr. Natural sez: "Get the right tool for the job." I think with years of practice and just the right touch, one could slap effectively on a ukelele, but it's not what that axe is made for. I tried to slap on a 4001 for years; finally one day, whilst attempting funk grooves with an extremely skilled black guitarist, I was advised to purchase a Fender Precision...overnight, I became funkadelic. (I traded my first Rick, a white '74 4001, for that P to Jinx Jones when he ran Cadillac Guitars in Denver...I've never felt bad about the deal. Five Ricks seemed excessive at the time...hmm...)
For all the same reasons, "Heart of the Sunrise" can't be made to sound 'right' on a Fender. A Journeyman provides him(or her)self with a variety of tools...
Thankyoufalettinme Be Mice Elf Agin
For all the same reasons, "Heart of the Sunrise" can't be made to sound 'right' on a Fender. A Journeyman provides him(or her)self with a variety of tools...
Thankyoufalettinme Be Mice Elf Agin
I didn't get where I am today by being on time...
"If you want to hear awesome Slap bass listen to MARK KING of Level 42. Alot of their early music is progressive rock--listen to LEVEL 42 (1980 to 1985 stuff) before they went pop. Their fist album from 1981 "level 42" and their live album from 1985 "A Physical Presence" Are a must for any serious bass player IMO. "
here's a url to a page with lots of slap videos impersonating Mark King
http://www.gazzbass.com/Features/bass_videos.htm
here's a url to a page with lots of slap videos impersonating Mark King
http://www.gazzbass.com/Features/bass_videos.htm
I saw Level 42 a lot in the early years 80-83. Still love the first two albums. MK was cutting a trail back then and it wasn't long before everyone was trying to imitate him.
I remember being in the Bass Centre in Wapping back around 1990 and of the 20 or so people there playing away, everyone except myself was slapping and popping away.
Slap has always looked better than it sounds to me. Great in the appropriate place without a doubt, but over the years it has become far too ubiquitous and diluted to these ears.
I remember being in the Bass Centre in Wapping back around 1990 and of the 20 or so people there playing away, everyone except myself was slapping and popping away.
Slap has always looked better than it sounds to me. Great in the appropriate place without a doubt, but over the years it has become far too ubiquitous and diluted to these ears.
I taught bass for a year somewhere during the early 1990's when it was really popular and 9 out of ten kids that came in wanted to learn how to slap, I couldn't stand it and quit. I liked the sound that Chuck Rainey and Larry Graham got back in the 70's but when it is too trebly like everyone does nowadays it's one of the most obnoxious sounds you can make on a bass IMHO. I subscribe to Anythony Jacksons belief and statement:
"Slapping is an abberation" I believe that was his last column for bass player, haha!
I will wack a string once in a while with my thumb or pull one, but that wacka wacka stuff gotta go, it's not even bass it's just one more thing to annoy the other musicians in the band.
"Slapping is an abberation" I believe that was his last column for bass player, haha!
I will wack a string once in a while with my thumb or pull one, but that wacka wacka stuff gotta go, it's not even bass it's just one more thing to annoy the other musicians in the band.
Have not Henny. Will have to check it out. Missed him at the Jazz Cafe a couple of summers ago when I was back in the U.K. which was a shame because I wanted to see where he is today. No slap sounds good to me...
Anthony Jackson has stood his ground with his groove against slap for many years and is without doubt one of the finest low end guys (to my personal ears) in the last generation.
Anthony Jackson has stood his ground with his groove against slap for many years and is without doubt one of the finest low end guys (to my personal ears) in the last generation.
Wow I missed that, thanks Henny. One of my tirades too. I guess there's a place for everything. Actually there are a couple of slappers that I like though I never remember their names. The guy with the natural jazz named after him I think is one, Marcus Miller, he gets a nice sound when he slaps, he's tasteful, I've never heard Level 42 although I've heard of them for years. I think I've heard kids in music stores wacking away one too many times.
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madscotsman
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Get their live album "A Physical Prescence", that's all you need for starters, IMO.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004WKFS/qid=1113258435/sr=8-5/ref=pd_csp_5/104-7840346-7503950?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
I don't like to put down slap, as it is great when done in good taste. There was a trend at one time in the 80's and 90's, when a few bands hit it big with funk stuff, like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, Level 42, Primus ect.. And Yes I remember walking into music stores and hearing a bunch of Les Claypool and Flea wannabe's,(several also wanted to be Billy Sheehan too with finger tapping.) But even if it was a trend at least it promoted the neccesity of having some talent and musical knowlege, in order to do it. You don't find any emphasis on talent or well crafted music in todays music biz at all. Most of it is well packaged **** these days...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004WKFS/qid=1113258435/sr=8-5/ref=pd_csp_5/104-7840346-7503950?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
I don't like to put down slap, as it is great when done in good taste. There was a trend at one time in the 80's and 90's, when a few bands hit it big with funk stuff, like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, Level 42, Primus ect.. And Yes I remember walking into music stores and hearing a bunch of Les Claypool and Flea wannabe's,(several also wanted to be Billy Sheehan too with finger tapping.) But even if it was a trend at least it promoted the neccesity of having some talent and musical knowlege, in order to do it. You don't find any emphasis on talent or well crafted music in todays music biz at all. Most of it is well packaged **** these days...
Aye Landon, agreed....
I can still remember the first time I saw Level 42 in Canterbury...or was it Margate, (the pre gig lig was always good) and seeing MK's playing first hand.
No pun intended...Talk about coming out inspired.
Stanley Clarke had the same effect just a couple of years ago when I ended up standing right next to him at a gig. I came home and whipped out the bass for the next 3 hours...
I can still remember the first time I saw Level 42 in Canterbury...or was it Margate, (the pre gig lig was always good) and seeing MK's playing first hand.
No pun intended...Talk about coming out inspired.
Stanley Clarke had the same effect just a couple of years ago when I ended up standing right next to him at a gig. I came home and whipped out the bass for the next 3 hours...