Mark King playing along with the Big Ben in London:
 

 
Mark King bass solo @ the Town & Country Club London:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyqumNSuXA8&mode=related&search=
 
 
Enjoy!
Duncan

Here's another one. Mark King soundchecking with his S2 prior to a gig in Rotterdam, Holland...
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kVV74rhA3k&mode=related&search=
 
Duncan

That's great stuff. Thanks for the links. The guy so fast and clean. What's that thumb pick or plate he's using? Those red LED's come in handy!
NLP

I too would like to know what that is around his finger. I'm thinking it just gives his slap a cleaner tone than your bare finger.

It's actually plain and simple Duck Tape. He uses it because he slaps the strings a lot and tends to slap pretty hard and fast. Years ago, Mark split his thumb while slapping the bass. To prevent this from happening again, he tapes his thumb.
 
Duncan

And he threw the tape into the audience at the end of his perth gig at the start of the month. Copying the guitarists and their never ending supply of picks I guess;-)
 
graeme

Mark once claimed that the sound is better and more accurate without the gaffer tape and he only uses it for protection on stage, not in the studio. However, I found that the tape gives your thumb extra weight and thus allows for even faster slapping.

Saw this guy (wojtek Pilichowski) from Poland at Bass day last weekend. He beat the living daylights out of his bass so definitely needed the tape..
 
Graeme

That's a nice bass, too. ...slowly drifting this thread more and more off the original topic...

Watch out! someone will mention beer and Bikes next......
.
.
DOH!
 
Graeme

I suppose one could duct tape a beer to a bike.  Just kind of slap in on there so to speak...
 
Full circle.  
 
Seriously, these videos are enough to make me harbour thoughts of light gauge strings and duct taped thumb for slapping and giving it a go (and ultimately embarrassing myself in public)...
 
John

Oops.  Double post.  It's the duct tape on the thumb's fault, I swear....
 
(Message edited by 811952 on November 24, 2006)

Susan mentioned to me that Mark uses some very light gauge strings. I see how this could speed up your fretting hand but not your slapping hand. In fact you would probably need a lot more control on your slap and pop technique with lighter strings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_QcACpK_9o&mode=related&search=
 
Here's another one. In this clip Mark plays the Series 1 he owned before Alembic built him his Series 2 basses.  
 
Mark uses 30-50-70-90 gauge strings, so that's probably as light as it gets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf1IqA9GEVw&mode=user&search=
 
This is exactly the kind of gig where the Alembic royal Series 2 bass fits right in: performing for the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Charles and the late Lady Diana, at the Prince's Trust concert in 1989.