Bass Slapping Preferred Wood/Build/Pups

[Diminished Triad]

I'm ordering a bass guitar from Warmoth and leaning towards brighter sounding wood like a maple body and ebony fretboard to help produce an articulate slap bass sound. Also going to add hot P bass and hot stack for j bass pickups. Anyone have a recommendation or preferred wood and related makeup for best enhancing slap and the overall sound desired for some great funk songs/players? Thanks!

 

[trevorus]

Re: Bass Slapping Preferred Wood/Build/Pups

If you look at the funk players, they were playing a lot of jazz basses. I think you cannot go wrong with an ash body, and a maple neck, unless you really have need of going more outside the classic realm.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bass Slapping Preferred Wood/Build/Pups

+1

This is why I have both '62 and '75 Fender AVRI Jazz Bass models. Sonically speaking, they are almost two different instruments. I even installed a BadAss II bridge on the '75 for the full Marcus/Geddy effect.

To be honest, I would not go with a PJ pickup combination for funk. Two Js, one P or one MM Stingray (plus active EQ).

In my opinion, funk is in the timing and feel, not the tone. Look no further than James Jamerson. High action, cruddy old flatwounds, one index finger. Funky as.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Bass Slapping Preferred Wood/Build/Pups

Ash and maple for me too.
Mr. Wooten does just fine using PJs for funk.