Quick Question About Bass Amps

**unknownkp23** · 05-13-2009, 05:43 PM

I was going to purchase a new amp for slap bass. Currently i have a 100 watt Acoustic bass amp, but i was told (from many sources a while back) that a 17' amp was terrible for slap. what kind of size is best ? silly question, because im sure most of you pro players will say that any amp size will be fine as long as the player is good, but i dunno. i wanted to buy an amp specifically for some slap practice n such :P thanks

**unknownkp23** · 05-13-2009, 05:44 PM

or was it 15' i dont really remember. haha

**oddjob** · 05-13-2009, 06:48 PM

you are thinking 15... and seriously more matters with your bass and playing technique than the size of the speaker. I have know phenom slap players who play 15s and the same goes for 10s and 12s. 15s tend to have slower response but can dish some nice lows... 10s are much tighter but don't seem to have the umph unless you have them in numbers. My favorite slap rig was an 18 and 4 10s... but I found with the right eq-ing and technique I can mimic it on my 2x12 set up.

Try it and see if you like it - if you do, who cares what everyone else thinks.

**universe777** · 05-13-2009, 06:55 PM

15's are great for filling the room with the low end that people can feel-they are good for slapping and thumping as well I think. It's all up to your ear, but I think a smaller speaker, maybe a 10 is more ideal for that sound (they seem to respond quicker and sound a bit tighter, to my ear of course).

Before you invest in a new amp, maybe you can find some less expensive ways to get some more milage out of your current set up. I would suggest going to your local guitar center and checking out some of the bass multi effect processers. I think line 6 has one and I'm sure all the other major manufactuer's have something as well. These might be nice because they have all the presets (pre-set eq curves, modulation effects, etc) in there for whatever kind of music and grooves you'd like to explore. Just make sure that whatever amp you demo them through has it's eq set flat.

Whether it's a new amp or processer let us know how it goes!

**unknownkp23** · 05-13-2009, 10:25 PM

Thanks Universe and Oddjob. You guys really helped. And yea, I think with the right technique and skill, you could turn a 15' into something incredible, so i will reconsider. If i do decide to buy an amp sometime in the future, I'll definitely look into all the different amps and demo them on flat EQs. The acoustic amp i have is the amp i got before i started getting into slapping. Hopefully things will work out! u guys are awesome :P

**Aussie Mark** · 05-13-2009, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by unknownkp23

with the right technique and skill, you could turn a 15' into something incredible

Most of the time I gig with 10" speakers, but I agree that 15' would be something incredible

**kirkm24** · 05-14-2009, 06:10 AM

I've heard plenty of 15" that are punchy and articulate. It really just matters on who the manufacturer is IMO. I've played through Peavey 15" combos that have a slower attack and are more muddy so slap doesn't sound as good. I think with EBMM basses, any 15" would probably sound decent because of the bright, punchy attack of these basses.

The Acoustic 15" combo you are talking about is pretty decent and should be fine for slap unless that is your primary technique like say Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten, than 10" might be more appropriate.

With all of these questions, it comes down to you the listener and player and what you like. I like my slap tone to have some mids and not be super bright and prickly but that is my preference.