Fretless Jazz 5 string Bass Guitar Slap Groove Solo

[ibanezman007]

Isn't the string spacing very narrow?

[D1SASTERarea]

love the vibe of that riff

[DavcomBass]

Thanks

[Xais56]

Try something that isnt from one of the big names. I've got a Vintage bass, sounds as good as a fender but for half the price

[1951abcd]

That looks like a Squire Vintage Modified fretless Jazz Bass?

Did you convert that? Ebonol fingerboard holding up OK?

I had one of these, they are hard to beat for the money...

[DavcomBass]

Yes. Yes from a 4 to 5. Yes. Peace out.

[jakevl]

hey dad, cool video

[fretlessbass94]

hi m8 i wanted to ask one thing wich is how far is you neck scratched up because of all the slapping since i'm afraid to slap on my fretless till now because i just got a new one

[DavcomBass]

My neck is not scratched up at all. Of course I am using black nylon would strings.

[CmajAmin88]

na man you can get 5 strings in passive. they sound beautiful. I would know :)

[DavcomBass]

Thanks. Fender does have a 5 string P bass, but its the American one and its over a grand.

[hellasweet4twizzle]

turn down yer midi so you don't get those loud cracks when you come down on yer E string. otherwise i don't think anybody ever said you can't slap a fretless...les has been doin' it for years.

[TJPRSproductions]

can you send me the tab

[TJPRSproductions]

groovy, dude i'd listen to this high

[cogsazra]

Hi, great video, I love this groove. A little bit different to the "usual" stuff that you can hear everywhere ;)

I started playing bass a couple of weeks ago on a 5 string Squier. Do you find it harder to learn slapping on a 5 string than on a 4 string bass? Cause I want to learn this in the future and feared I could have the "wrong" bass for this technique...

Like you said some comments down from that it seems to be fine for your "small hands". I got small hands too, so I feel confident ;)

[DavcomBass]

Slapping on a 5 is a bit more difficult only because the string are usually closer together. Thanks for the compliments.

[DavcomBass]

They are very good for the money. Plus if you know how to set up a bass you can make them better.

[LuGiah]

Yeeh , great stuff , unique groove , seems like some guys dont undestand it becase of that low rating :( but i think its great becase its different 5/5

[VladimirThePie]

does 5-string short scale basses exist?

[DavcomBass]

Maybe, try SX basses.

[nemakur]

nice btw is that an squier???

[DavcomBass]

Yes, its one that I converted to a 5 string.

[masskonfuzion]

that's amazing.. i'm trying to learn slap on my 5-string (after having never really tried to do it on my 4-popper). any tips?

[DavcomBass]

Just practice being in time and accurate.

There are many good slapping tutorial videos here on youtube.

[joren1990]

why did u made your Bass into a 5 string :| dont you hate the very small stringspacing now?

[DavcomBass]

Because I wanted to. The string spacing is fine for my small hands.

[musiclover1066]

cool why is rated 3 stars i thought it was awesome

[Nachtmahr]

rock songs need more slap bass.

[James015]

Epic. I love this. Wish there was a tab for this.

[DavcomBass]

Thanks

[germicidalcheese]

Mental! Good job!

[Flalaski]

groovy!

[luizzeross]

This reminds me of Sonic The Hedgehog!! Cool!!

[suihkubad]

Its weird but good.

[meatflowers]

has a really nice bounce to tis song. i wouldn't mind coming up with something of this style, but this sort of thing never comes to midn when i play

[DavcomBass]

Thanks!

[mistificacao]

man, you're very good and funky, but it doesn´t sound good on a fretless... play it on a fretted jazz bass!!

[DavcomBass]

Thanks..and your entitled to be wrong. Peace.

[meatflowers]

haha :D great reply

made me laugh. that's an unusually awesome slap tone for a fretless.

[DavcomBass]

Yes, I quite agree!

[bubupoo]

good

[3x4t0r]

Wish i could play bass too, but i focus on guitar. Bass is pretty cool, you can do nice grooves like this, well done dude, i enjoyed it.

[DavcomBass]

Cool! Thanks!

[AishaIsKewl]

This is rated just a bit poorly, don't know why...I tend to like it...

[DavcomBass]

Thanks.

[BigBoiJC]

what bass are you playing?

[DavcomBass]

I dont have it anymore. It was a fender squier vintage that I actually converted to a 5 string bass.

[steve01evil]

respect dude,thats some funky stuff goin on there bro.

[DavcomBass]

Thanks!

[DavcomBass]

It's all really preference. The jazz have slightly thinner neck at the nut. So a fender precision bass would actually be better in my opinion.

[tommyplaysbass]

Sounds great!

[DavcomBass]

cool. thanks!

[emyr123]

I was told that a fretless bass is not good for slapping but this seems alright, I am considering defreting my bass see but I've held back

[DavcomBass]

See Les Claypool for some fretless slapping.

[Vuotaraaputin]

mmmh, groovy 8)

[DavcomBass]

Thanks.

[polishpirate123]

such unique style

[DavcomBass]

Thank you for noticing!

[bbBassYo]

those are some badass spacin' tunes man

nice stuff!

[masterquack]

hmm... fender squire vintage modified?

[DavcomBass]

Ya, extra modified!

[CptChaos88]

great playing but i don't really the slap sound on a frettless bass

a lot of people like this sound and i'm not saying that it is bad, i just don't like it

[Alphamage2007]

It's really nice but my taste says to play it a little faster ^^

[nfblackburn13]

i would like to know your EQ settings

if you don't mind sharing your secret

[DavcomBass]

Sure. Those are seymour duncan designed pickups and I have everything set to full. I think I'm playing out of computer speakers in this video too.

[peachesgood]

they're actually not painted on they like frets but not sticking out,

if they were just painted on the paint wuld eventually b played away

[MiNdLeSs1234567890]

Jaco Pastorius jazz bass?

[DavcomBass]

Nope. Customized Fender Squier.

[systemisdisturbed]

thts not fretless

[DavcomBass]

Of course it is my friend.

[systemisdisturbed]

but you can see the frets in the begging

or r they just lk painted on

[DavcomBass]

Painted on like all fender fretless jazz basses.

[Ebbs369]

Nice, I really like it, but the drums are in the way. The bass is great though

[BigJeffreySMK]

yo man i know your bass is pretty modded but were the original pickups good or not because ive debated on buying a bass like that

[DavcomBass]

The bass in this video, I did not change the pickups. They are the seymour duncan designed pickups.

[polsihpirate]

your playing reflex your looks very well

[MisterMysterious]

Very nice though the drums are in the way. The snares are too loud!

[FrossetBlod]

Funky stuff *high five*

[DavcomBass]

Thanks.

[JordanFrerichs]

sounds a little woody. nice though

[Avideo12]

Ahh squier then, i played this at guitar center and the best squier i've heard out there, sweet job

[Avideo12]

is that a squier or a fender fretless reminds me of the squier but i dont wanna make u feel less cuz its a squier i mean its an awesome groove...Squier or Fender?

[DavcomBass]

The back says squier by fender.

[zomglazerpewpew]

great man!

[NirvanaZeppelin80]

were did you get black strings? those are dank.

[RTBM]

most liKely they are from DR. Strings..

special coated strings liKe elexir string, but then with many colours. and 20 dollars cheaper i guess..

[Stahlross2]

wow, slapping on a fretless sounds like a beast! great!

[timiotul]

this is fretless bass?

[DavcomBass]

Ya baby!

[dim1210]

damn i like beat

[franklindavidson]

you execute your ideas very well, but it couldn't hurt to cop some Louis Johnson, Larry Graham, Marcus, early Prince, etc.... you have some nice things going with the thumb, some interesting subdivisions, if you deepened your groove you'd really have something.... for a great slap fretless sound, check out Baghiti Khumalo, for instance the paul simon tune "diamonds on the souls of her shoes" during the horn break section... best wishes!

[deathon2legs55]

Oh, you like adam nitti? He's amazing!

[deathon2legs55]

wow, man! that was sick! what bassists inspire you?

[DavcomBass]

Oh I like em all, like Adam Nitti, Steve Bailey, Damian Erskine, Jaco..etc.

[lummond]

Wait a sec... this is a 5 string with a 1.5" nut width!?

[DavcomBass]

Yes it is.

[bteww]

dude that got my foot tapen  sick job

[DavcomBass]

Alright!

[kyoraswg]

beautiful, the strings must be pretty damn close together if its a 4 string fret boards with 5 strings....is it annoying?

[DavcomBass]

Yes its close, but not annoying. Check out my my other videos where I converted a 5 string bass to 6 string.

[hardinge86]

great playing!

reminds me of clapool

[DavcomBass]

Cool Thanks!

[carpet69mc]

is the nut 38.5 mm in length? What bridge did you use? did you replace the PUs too?

[mynamehere1212]

i love fretless basses. its way easier to move around on them

[Geczap]

man that was pretty awesom nice work. ure rlly tallented. keep up bass !!!

[DavcomBass]

Thanks alot!

[DavcomBass]

I was using a zoom b21U in this video, but only for the drum machine. I've sold it and currently do not use any effect when I play.

[DavcomBass]

Thanks. Rotosound 77 nylon wound strings.

[ryanlong911]

man that was pretty good i must say, i really liked it

[DavcomBass]

Alright Thanks!

[carloop]

nice one ,i just bought a fretless at the weekend it`s was only a cheap ibanez ,but it sounds great,

nice playing though dude ,i love slap on a fretless sounds sleek ,man cheers!

[FireKnight43]

Do you yourself find it easier fretless for playing bass?

[DavcomBass]

No its not easier as you have to be right on for the notes. Unlike a fretted instrument, where you can play anywhere inbetween the frets for the same note. Playing a fretless for me is more about the sound than ease of playing.

[FireKnight43]

Oh ok.

[IceBlack666]

Good Stuff. I play fretless too (72' custom Aria Pro II), although I'm using flatwounds, too afraid to hurt the vintage fingerboard. What strings do you use and what wood is the fingerboard made of on your bass?

[DavcomBass]

Well on that bass im using the rotosound nylon wound over steel core strings. The fingerboard is made of of ebonol, which is a type of wood plastic hybrid. I really like it though.

[CarlosValdez1992]

sweet

[pirobin]

Nice technique, i need a bass player like u =)

[DavcomBass]

Oh really? :)

[ham109]

very cool, loved it, dont see much slapping on fretless's

[DavcomBass]

Thats right. Thank you for watchin'!

[Gilleece666]

its is a fretless! its just lined!

good playing by the way!

[DavcomBass]

Yes. Thank you!

[Benjiaziza92]

Thats not a fretless bass!

[DavcomBass]

Of course it is. :)

[nairbfry]

I dig that groove! I think that sounds great on a fretless. Good bass to try the modification on. Thanks for the videos.

[DavcomBass]

Alright! Thank you!

[BigJeffreySMK]

isnt that a jaco tribute bass with a 5 string added?

[DavcomBass]

It is a fender squier vintage bass. With some work I added the 5th string to it. The Jaco tribute bass your talking about is around $1300 .

[BigJeffreySMK]

yea i was like no way he didnt alter a jaco bass those are amazing from the start off

[primusblows]

Nice.

The greatest thing about this is that you seem to have some fun playing bass, wich is the most important IMO.

[DavcomBass]

Thanks, and yes having fun is definately very important when playing music!

[AishaIsKewl]

how did you even fit a 5th string on a 4 string fretboard

[DavcomBass]

Molded a new nut. Added an extra tuner and a five string bridge. Thats all!

[fowlesuk]

Why is it the first thing someone does when they grab a fretless is do excessive amount of glissandos?

[DavcomBass]

Well, for me, I think it was the second.

[Pudsy440]

ahhh... so it's 88's not 77's like you mentioned in your amazing grace video... trying to confuse a guy? you're a good player!! :)

[DavcomBass]

OH sorry. I get mixed up with all these strings.

[ZbAsSaRtZ]

Nice job with the double slaps, i'm still working on those... pfa!

[DavcomBass]

Oh thanks!

[c0d3h4x0r]

Interesting sound. The popping actually comes through okay, which surprises me. What kind of strings?

[DavcomBass]

They are rotosound 88's. A very nice nylon with steel core string.

[Ranxston]

I'm no fan of slapping on a fretless, but if you do, power to you. I wanted to know though, since you converted a 4 string into 5, the string spacing must be pretty damn small compared to a real 5 string. Nice mod though.

[DavcomBass]

Yes, it is on that bass sinse the width at the nut is 1.5 inches. I am now playing a 5 string bass that has a 2 inch width at the nut.

[acdcpwns]

eh not my cup of tea, maybe its just the sound the strings hitting against the neck, hey if you like it keep on doing it, it may eat up your neck though

[DavcomBass]

Ya Jaco said it eats the neck up, but not with the strings I'm using.

[travman102]

if ur playin slap y are u on a fretless?

[DavcomBass]

Yes. I am slapping on a fretless! Oh my! What will my mums bridge club think!

[barrydope]

tasty

[DavcomBass]

cool. thanks.

[EliasMohr]

is that the vintage fretless squire bass?

[DavcomBass]

Yes, however, I converted it to a 5 string.

[haus05]

Dude i have those same strings on my White Thunderbird 4 string... i love em i just bought them last week and im never goin back!

[DavcomBass]

Alright!

[martythedwarf]

Are those black rotosound nylon strings I see?

[DavcomBass]

OH ya! They're great!

[overheadz]

nice groove,work on the appearance a bit more:)

[playdrums]

Damn dude, that seems pretty friggin' stupid converting a 4 string to a 5, but it looks like it worked! I'm having sudden urges to try that myself now!

[DavcomBass]

Go for it!

[danielravina]

Man, you destroy youre fretboard when you slap on a fretless...

[DavcomBass]

Not mine and not with my technique.

[leugs]

38 ratings, average note : 2 stars, I don't understand that... coz You're good! Good groove and good technic, especially considering how difficult it is to slap on a 5 string bass guitar :)

[DavcomBass]

Thanks!

[bluesquidd]

Cuz there's a lot of competitive bashing here. Get on a Jeff Berlin or Billy Sheehan vid a read all the negative comments. Especially from ones with no credentials. People say bass players are a tight niche?

[pauln8264]

This is a reply to warwickbassist: Depends man, i personally reckon the piece sounds very 20th century (which isnt really a bad thing). But yeah i think the piece is good because its so refreshingly different... but i think i agree with you about the fretless slapping, Good job DavcomBass too! : )

[DavcomBass]

Thank you for your kind comments and watchin'!

[ddmsr]

very very nice i rly enjoyed it =]

[DavcomBass]

Thanks.

[MetalMulishaTroop013]

Damn that sounds so kewl, I only have played bass for two years and i still cant slap and pop that good. How Long have you been playing?

[DavcomBass]

Oh, I started to teach myself about 9 nine years ago. Thanks for watchin'!

[harveytriana]

Uno de mis videos de YouTube favoritos. Thanks man.

[warwickbassist]

certainly interesting, but thats it, interesting, i really didn't like your peice, and i now continue to think that slap is only tastefull on a fretted bass, again this is my opinion i hope someone has the skill or taste to change my mind.

[jonnyboy559]

thanks dude!

[sickdiggitydog]

Awesome! Thanks for responding, and keep up the great work!

[sickdiggitydog]

Sweet groove man!

[DavcomBass]

Thanks.

[sickdiggitydog]

All good :) How long have you been playing bass?

Oh, and aside from the Jazz5 what gear do you use?

Cheers!

-Jack

[DavcomBass]

I've been trying to teach myself bass for the last 8 plus years. I played drums before that. I have 2 other jazz 5's and a custom carvin ac50 acoustic/electric bass.

[jonnyboy559]

hey, nice stuff man. Do you have epoxy on the fingerboard of that bass? if not, how does the fingerboard hold up to the roundwound strings?

[DavcomBass]

No epoxy on this fingerboard. I'm using rotosound swing bass 88 strings that have nylon coating on them. They are great strings for fretless bass!

[canvoodoo]

nice stuff man youve just inspired me to get the vidcam out and do some new vids. good playing my freind.

[DavcomBass]

Oh cool! Thanks!

[311Bass]

not sure how you did it, but i've never heard a decent tone from slapping a fretless, but this was above average tone.

but honestly, weirdest slap arrangement i've ever heard..lol

[DavcomBass]

Just a combo of good strings and a "pull" technique. Thank you!

[GrinningLizard]

Why are there frets on your fretless?