juggernaut
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2009
- Messages
- 5
and a Bongo.
- Thread starter juggernaut
- Start date
syciprider
Well-known member
Slap with HH Configuration
I was running through some threads on this forum and realized that those two Youtube Vids were mine - The "Slap Music Man Bass" (1&2) I read the posts about this bass being hard to slap on. I will admit that it was awkward the very first time, but I adjusted within playing the bass only a few times. If anything it has made my slap much better since it requires more precision. I have no complaints about this guitar.
I was running through some threads on this forum and realized that those two Youtube Vids were mine - The "Slap Music Man Bass" (1&2) I read the posts about this bass being hard to slap on. I will admit that it was awkward the very first time, but I adjusted within playing the bass only a few times. If anything it has made my slap much better since it requires more precision. I have no complaints about this guitar.
eastcoasteddie
Active member
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewr8cEQEbfs"]YouTube- Louis Johnson Slapbass[/ame]
S
sitonmybass
That excerpt is from Louis Johnson's video which I recall renting years ago. I think the series was called either "Hot Licks" or "Star Licks." Thanks for posting, I'm looking forward to showing that to the wife, affectionately known as Mrs. Sitonmybass.
I also remember renting Brian May's "Hot Licks" video as well.
Last edited:
keko
Well-known member
Yeah right, but after some thinking I must say that finally dual pickup models (HH, or HS) have slight advantage for the slap tone over the single H models!
And my final answer would be that Bongo HHp is supreme slap killer!
Why?
Because if you set it up like this:
Pan pot of magnetic pups in the center, so both HH are in parallel mode + pan pot of piezo in center too, so now is even a piezo in kinda parallel mode with those 2 humbackers, ...and now we have practically covered whole tonal character of the bass from bridge to the neck in the mix!
Here's one more advantage of Bongo, you can cut High-Mids off and "kill" disturbing frequencies for slap tone!
That's my personal opinion, but you guys must agree that my theory also have "scientific"
background too!P.S. ... I'm not much a slap guy, it past me for about 10 years ago, but someone mentioned that neck pickups disturb players for free slapping with thumb, or pick a G & D strings from down under..., that's not true, 'cause really slap tone player should produce somewhere around last fret with thumb and pick strings near neck end, so there's a plenty of space before neck pickup...etc.
oli@bass
Well-known member
adouglas
Well-known member
Here's the thing:
The Bongo has a 24-fret neck, unlike the Stingray. So the end of the fretboard is very close to the neck pickup. There's maybe an inch or so (perhaps 3 cm) of space there.
There's more space on dual-pickup Ray because of the shorter fretboard (same scale length, of course), which puts the end much farther away from the pickup.
Look at that video of Louis Johnson. His plucking hand is all over the place. If he were to play like that on a dual-pickup Bongo, his forefinger would be whacking into the neck pickup pretty much constantly.
Can you pop on a dual-pickup Bongo? Of course you can. But there really isn't all that much space to get your finger in there.
Unless of course you retrofit it with a sliding pickup....
Sonnyonbass
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 31, 2006
- Messages
- 481
Slap technique, you either have it or you don't and it really doesn't matter what pickup configuration you use, single or double humbucker,
Ask the great Ed Friedland and he would tell you. Also have a look at this guy with a Bongo 5HH, you think that 2 humbuckers restrict you from slapping? watch these videos and think again...
YouTube- Slap Music Man Bongo Bass
YouTube- Slap Music Man Bongo Bass 2
YouTube- MUSIC MAN BONGO. orangefunk by FENKBASS
I consider myself to be a reasonable slap player and I still do feel that it matters what pickup config one uses.
Although I must say that for some reason my Bongo HS is (far) more comfortable to slap on than the SR5 HH. (considering pickup location.
Let's face it people have different techniques and playing styles.
Yes you can slap on a HS/HH/H. etc.
My personal favourite is still the single H for that. It just freaks me out to touch the second pickup with my fingers when switching between tap/slap or fingerstyle slap. And no. My technique is not so sloppy.
Hey it's MY opinion right. ;-)
keko
Well-known member
Here's the thing:
The Bongo has a 24-fret neck, unlike the Stingray. So the end of the fretboard is very close to the neck pickup. There's maybe an inch or so (perhaps 3 cm) of space there.
There's more space on dual-pickup Ray because of the shorter fretboard (same scale length, of course), which puts the end much farther away from the pickup.
Look at that video of Louis Johnson. His plucking hand is all over the place. If he were to play like that on a dual-pickup Bongo, his forefinger would be whacking into the neck pickup pretty much constantly.
Can you pop on a dual-pickup Bongo? Of course you can. But there really isn't all that much space to get your finger in there.
Unless of course you retrofit it with a sliding pickup....
Well, good info anyway!
I must admit that I was more focused to the pickup and preamp setup, but I must believe You about that "only 1 inch" free space.
You are the Bongo expert, I was playing just HSp 5 model, but I remember very well that had no problem with slapping!
Anyway, with fresh rounds every Music Man should be a slap killer in right hands of course!
adouglas
Well-known member
No expert here, and I can't even slap my way out of a wet paper bag.
Just look at the photos of any dual-pickup Bongo.
Just look at the photos of any dual-pickup Bongo.
eastcoasteddie
Active member
When I tried out a Sterling 5HH, I thought I's be hitting the pickup, but in actuality, I didn't even come close. The pickup was pretty low in the cavity, and sounded fine as it was, no volume difference between the pickups.
this pic stolen from The Perfect Bass, shows that the neck pickup is indeed very close tot he neck, and when set this low isn't a problem:
On top of having an amazing sound, it had an amazing playablity about it, which is why a Sterling 5 HH is my dream bass at this time....in Stealth/Rosewood, no less.
Edit...or a Bongo 6 of course...
Perhaps on the HH models, you can get away with a low neck height and you should be OK. On my dual pickup basses, I do keep the neck pickup at around half the height of the bridge pickup.
If you pay close attention to the #2 bongo video on the first page, towards the end, I hear what I think is his strings touching pole pieces due to his wrist pressing on them.
this pic stolen from The Perfect Bass, shows that the neck pickup is indeed very close tot he neck, and when set this low isn't a problem:
On top of having an amazing sound, it had an amazing playablity about it, which is why a Sterling 5 HH is my dream bass at this time....in Stealth/Rosewood, no less.
Edit...or a Bongo 6 of course...
Perhaps on the HH models, you can get away with a low neck height and you should be OK. On my dual pickup basses, I do keep the neck pickup at around half the height of the bridge pickup.
If you pay close attention to the #2 bongo video on the first page, towards the end, I hear what I think is his strings touching pole pieces due to his wrist pressing on them.
Last edited:
