Bass sounds thin (especially slap)

J

Jeverool

Apr 25, 2022
17
3
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#1
Hello, I'm currently playing a Yamaha BB234 and it's the only bass that i have. I've noticed that the slap sound of the bass is quite thin. It doesn't have that desired "clack" or "thump" sound. It sounds too thin in A, D, and G strings. Whenever I looked at youtube tutorials of slap it quite pretty different from what I have. I don't have that low end or "bassiness" to it while having a higher high end or treble on my bass (especially the G string). I also checked Yamaha BB234 reviews on youtube and it sounds pretty different from what I have, especilly the slap. The youtube reviews of BB234 got a little bit of bassiness to it, so the slap sounds better than mine. Meanwhile my technique is fine, I slap with my thumb with having a little bit of an upwarded angle to it And also I'm using a Fender Rumble LT25 that I brought recently (less 3 months ago). I have been playing with the EQ knobs on the amp and it doesn't change much. Also, my bass had never been shielded until now and I've been planning to do it. Could it change my tone to be a little bit bassier?
 
#3
Jeverool said:
Hello, I'm currently playing a Yamaha BB234 and it's the only bass that i have. I've noticed that the slap sound of the bass is quite thin. It doesn't have that desired "clack" or "thump" sound. It sounds too thin in A, D, and G strings. Whenever I looked at youtube tutorials of slap it quite pretty different from what I have. I don't have that low end or "bassiness" to it while having a higher high end or treble on my bass (especially the G string). I also checked Yamaha BB234 reviews on youtube and it sounds pretty different from what I have, especilly the slap. The youtube reviews of BB234 got a little bit of bassiness to it, so the slap sounds better than mine. Meanwhile my technique is fine, I slap with my thumb with having a little bit of an upwarded angle to it And also I'm using a Fender Rumble LT25 that I brought recently (less 3 months ago). I have been playing with the EQ knobs on the amp and it doesn't change much. Also, my bass had never been shielded until now and I've been planning to do it. Could it change my tone to be a little bit bassier?
Click to expand...

Welcome to TalkBass!

Your primary limiting factor is going to be the single 8" speaker in your amp. It is not going to move a ton of air. Technology has advanced in recent years regarding speaker size, weight, volume, and frequency response. However, engineers can't defy the laws of physics.

That said, let's touch on a couple of thing. The most popular slap tone will usually involve both pickups turned all the way up, round wound strings, and a "scooped" EQ. That last part simply means boosting your highs and lows and cutting mids.

Try scooping your EQ (at a pretty low volume at first) and turning both pickups (and the tone knob) on your bass all the way up. It will likely sound pretty good at low volumes. But you won't be able to crank it incredibly loud with the bass boosted.
 
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#4
two fingers said:
Welcome to TalkBass!

Your primary limiting factor is going to be the single 8" speaker in your amp. It is not going to move a ton of air. Technology has advanced in recent years regarding speaker size, weight, volume, and frequency response. However, engineers can't defy the laws of physics.

That said, let's touch on a couple of thing. The most popular slap tone will usually involve both pickups turned all the way up, round wound strings, and a "scooped" EQ. That last part simply means boosting your highs and lows and cutting mids.

Try scooping your EQ (at a pretty low volume at first) and turning both pickups (and the tone knob) on your bass all the way up. It will likely sound pretty good at low volumes. But you won't be able to crank it incredibly loud with the bass boosted.
Click to expand...
It's definitely your amp imho. While it's a nice little practice amp that's all it is.
 
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#6
Here's my sound sample:
 

Attachments

  • fretted slap 7th fret E and A string.mp3
    68.8 KB · Views: 329
  • fretted slap 3rd fret E and A string.mp3
    114.8 KB · Views: 266
  • slap plugged louder sound, flat eq.mp3
    56 KB · Views: 199
  • Fingering plugged.mp3
    66.5 KB · Views: 132
  • bass unplugged slap.mp3
    50.3 KB · Views: 113
  • bass plugged minimum sound, flat eq.mp3
    79.9 KB · Views: 105
#10
how old are your strings? a "thin" sounding bass should have "clack" for days but with no body to the notes. maybe aside from that baby amp (which is probably the biggest culprit) you're trying to describe a "dull" sound rather than a thin one? maybe change your strings out. Try some Stainless steels like DR Hi-beams (try a medium gauge set). They should have a nice clack and zing to them and have decent bottom end compared to light gauge strings.
 
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#14
Jason Bonilla said:
how old are your strings? a "thin" sounding bass should have "clack" for days but with no body to the notes. maybe aside from that baby amp (which is probably the biggest culprit) you're trying to describe a "dull" sound rather than a thin one? maybe change your strings out. Try some Stainless steels like DR Hi-beams (try a medium gauge set). They should have a nice clack and zing to them and have decent bottom end compared to light gauge strings.
Click to expand...

I just changed strings like a month ago because I haven't changed my strings for 3 years.

BTW currently I use nickel roundwound strings, D'addario 45-100.
 
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#15
bigthemat said:
The big difference between you and those videos is the amps. You're playing a little practice amp, they're all playing on bigger rigs.

What are the knob settings on your bass? If you have the volume pot low, it's gonna sound low through the amp
Click to expand...

Is that so? because when I watch the Rumble LT25 review I also found that their slap bass sounds perfectly fine although it's not the same bass as mine.
 
#17
Jeverool said:
I just changed strings like a month ago because I haven't changed my strings for 3 years.

BTW currently I use nickel roundwound strings, D'addario 45-100.
Click to expand...

no yea i had asked that before I saw your posts of sound samples. youre strings sound fine. im pretty sure its just your amp. also you could probably raise your pickups just at tad or lower your action a bit so your pickups get more feedback from the strings
 
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#19
Jason Bonilla said:
no yea i had asked that before I saw your posts of sound samples. youre strings sound fine. im pretty sure its just your amp. also you could probably raise your pickups just at tad or lower your action a bit so your pickups get more feedback from the strings
Click to expand...

Oh yeah I've been experimenting with the pickup. I lowered it and heightened it but the tone doesn't seems to change.
 
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