Slap Happy

[Bradley Young]

I like slap bass, I just don't care for the 4x10 with a poorly designed crossover, horn tweet that sounds like an icepick being forcibly inserted into your brainstem, bass lacking, giant I'M LOUD IN THE MUSIC STORE midbass hump sort of sound.
 
Like I could see rocking straight up 15s for a rolled off high end if that's your thing, but if you're aiming for a full range sound, that SWR design* is about as dated as the mullet.
 
Bradley
* I had a mullet in the 80s. I've moved on, but those cabs haven't-- they were a step in the right direction, but why not take several more steps?

[terryc]

On the 80's note, the reason Trace Elliot came on the scene was that they were a PA company
and bass players were hiring/buying there stuff because 70's bass gear was absolute crap - guitar amps with the treble rolled off, no mid and 4 x 12 cabs.
Although old hat now it was a god send as the 12 band graphic on the AH series tailored for bass players.  
The 4x10's produced that mid to top end sound that at that time sounded so modern,  
You could hear the bass as opposed to some 'thud' which was prominent in the 70's.  
Although I ain't a rock fan, thank God for Chris Squire's treble Ricky.
I believe it has moved on but maybe some players haven't and prefer the 'sound of 80's' bass slapped and popped.

[terryc]

Anyway what is wrong with this???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yioVmqlt2Fk

[Bradley Young]

Chris Squire pretty much runs Ampeg 8x10s according to the internets. I have heard tell that when he wants more top end, he actually runs a *guitar* rig in addition.
 
Not arguing against treble-y bass-- just less than cabs and the sound they produce.

[piotr_c]

Hi terryc, Nothing is wrong with this.... I love it...! But have to admit that in the constant slapped pieces i've developed a taste for Alain Caron (slam the clown, Donna Lee,....). You guys know him? I just don't know how well he's known in the US (him being Canadian and all ;-)).

[terryc]

Oh yes Alains version of 'Donna Lee' is just amazing, bad enought trying to play it fingerstyle let alone slapped, just as bloody hard as Marcus Miller's slapped version of 'Teen Town'
My fav of Alain's is 'Slam The Clown' incredible unison sax and bass with that solo as well.

[piotr_c]

I saw him once in concert in the Fribourg Jazz Festival (when jazz stars didn't yet know it was a crappy festival). We were 8 people listening ( no joke...!) and the guy played 2 full hours for us... That's exactly what i like about the approach of life of bassists in particular...!

[funkyjazzjunky]

Let me clarify, I am not against popping the  strings and I love a good bass solo.  But do you have to pop every note on every song?

[tubeperson]

Same thing applies to the overuse of harmonics.

[piotr_c]

For me, case closed, I agree with both of you...!

[terryc]

Jaco didn't slap and he was the king of grooves, incidentally I was at the last night of a local music festival(Stockton Weekender - now been running for over 20 years) and I left the girlfriend watching James who was headlining and watched a band called 'The Funk Regulators', they did Tower of Power covers and yes the bassist played like Rocco, I ain't joking, he pulsed those notes like no tomorrow and he was only in his early 20's but not just him, the whole band were right in the pocket. 'What is Hip', 'Don't Change Horses', 'So I Got To Groove' and a nice rendition of 'Mrs Jones'  A damn sight better  than watching that guy from James dancing like he's having a fit