Slap and Pop

[GGK]

Greetings, kind of a newbie question.
For all you slap & popers out there, is there any truth to the fact that wider string spacing (19 MM vs 17.5MM in this case) help or is it all technique? Not that I aspire to excell in this area, but would appreciate any opinions ? I would classify my hands as average but have a wide palm and somewhat short fingers.
Tks

 

[Russel]

It's a question of technique and preference.

generally, you can slap and pop any bass, and excel. You just have to practice with the instrument.

I find that the thumb-through the string method works best on instruments with a more narrow spacing; but I prefer a very contained, controlled slap style. And I have huge hands.

 

[mynan]

It's a question of technique and preference.

generally, you can slap and pop any bass, and excel. You just have to practice with the instrument.

+1

I've always had 2-pickup basses until I got my 20th SR5 and I actually have a hard time popping with that bass because of all the empty space between the pickup and the neck. A lot of people say they have a hard time with the HH Bongos because the pickup gets in the way, but for me it works better.

 

[five7]

It helps quite abit!

 

[Duarte]

I actually have a hard time popping with that bass because of all the empty space between the pickup and the neck.

+1, at first the stingray felt very weird for me.

 

[Smakbass]

Its all in the technique....I have played some of the HH models and I could slap on them no problem. If you have sloppy technique or your just really used to something else it may be an adjustment.

 

[RobertB]

Guys, he asked about string spacing. GGK, this is one of those things that's subjective. All I can say is that for me, there *is* truth to it. But at the same time, I know that if I consistently played a bass with more narrow string spacing, eventually I'd get used to it, and it wouldn't be an issue. With practice, the "muscle memory" would adapt, in terms of slapping cleanly on any string, even with the more narrow spacing. Not much help I know, but I don't think there's a "right" answer.

 

[patobrujo]

With practice, the "muscle memory" would adapt, in terms of slapping cleanly on any string, even with the more narrow spacing. Not much help I know, but I don't think there's a "right" answer.

+1 Totally agree

 

[Alvabass]

In my case, narrow string spacing has been an annoyance only when popping the D string. Fortunately I can say that the Bongo's string spacing at the bridge is the absolute minimum for me. No problem at all.

 

[UniTap]

I learned to slap on a single pu bass with a wide string spacing. It was quite a change when I got my bongo 6 HH, but I adapted. Now I am able to slap any bass with just a little adaptation. It's just a question of practice.