Slapping on flatwounds

[Falloffthebonetone]

Ok so I know the standard slap feel and sound comes from roundwound strings BUT I know it can be done on flatwounds even though they have a reputation of being not good for it.

Anyone have any tips or experience? I'm pretty sure Larry Graham used flats and he pretty much pioneered slap electric bass. Should slapping flats have a different technique than with rounds? Should eq be dialed in differently to emphasize or dampen certain frequencies? Anything? Just looking for pointers.

I'm not much of a slapper at ALL by the way, but hoping to get better at it, maybe it'll be useful later on.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Slapping on flatwounds

While Larry Graham may have used flats back then, he uses GHS Boomers right now, and has for quite some time.

EQ definitely has to be dialed in differently, as flats have a completely different character. You need to get that brightness and attack of the slap sound, so however your rig is set up, it needs to accentuate that.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Slapping on flatwounds

Didn't Chuck Rainey slap with flatwounds in the 70's and early 80's?

 

[ginormous]

Re: Slapping on flatwounds

Didn't Chuck Rainey slap with flatwounds in the 70's and early 80's?

He did indeed, although not many producers were hip enough to deal with it.


From the book Steely Dan: Reelin' In The Years, by Brian Sweet (c) 1994 Omnibus Press:



This early mix of Aretha's hit allows us to hear Chuck more clearly than the final version.
This is typical of his sound at the time -- flats on a stock Precision, popping with his thumb.


Later on, he switches to rounds, although the P is still his weapon of choice:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Slapping on flatwounds

In my opinion, flat versus round wound is a red herring. Many users of round wound strings leave a set on for so long that it might as well be flat wound.

James Jamerson, arguably the funkiest bassist of them all, used the oldest flatwound strings you've ever seen. He played between the pickup and the fingerboard. He was aiming to sound something like his main instrument - upright bass. His trademark sound features virtually no treble and no fret impact noise. Yet, da funk is still there.

Timing.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Slapping on flatwounds

I do not understand where the notion "flats sound like really old, dead rounds" comes from either. I played with old rounds for ages and when switched to flats it was a completely different world.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Re: Slapping on flatwounds

I slap on flats and love the sound. Granted, I'm only playing slap in two of my current band's songs, but have no issues slapping on Chromes. Of course, they are a lot brighter than most flats.

You DO have to adjust your technique to get the best sound, but it works just fine.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Slapping on flatwounds

I slap on flats and love the sound. Granted, I'm only playing slap in two of my current band's songs, but have no issues slapping on Chromes. Of course, they are a lot brighter than most flats.

You DO have to adjust your technique to get the best sound, but it works just fine.

Any tips on how to adjust the technique? I'm a chromes guy too, just put a fresh set on and the tone is perfect for slap.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Re: Slapping on flatwounds

It's all in the EQ, and also a light touch when slapping. Don't try to yank them too hard, let the amp do the heavy lifting.