I've already kinda of covered this, but what do you guys think could be done to improve the ergonomics of the electric bass in general.

First thought is this:
http://www.littleguitarworks.com/layout/proto2.jpg

Is it just me... or does that neck look warped?

:)

'tis twisted... and would be a mother to setup...

you'd really need a graphite composite neck for that...

what's scary is that photo actually looks real... not photoshopped.

It IS real. It the Torzal Twist Bass, made by Little Guitar Works. I posted about it a couple of weeks ago. Looks like it would work fine.

Do a search for "Twist Bass" on YouTube and you can see Ed Friedland playing one and describing its action.

It seems like it would be better to twist it the other way though.

Edit: because I've always found it really awkward to reach across the neck high up.

It seems like it would be better to twist it the other way though.

Edit: because I've always found it really awkward to reach across the neck high up.

+1

at first I was like "huh, its twisted:confused:"

and then I thought "***, it looks like it's twisted the wrong way:rollno:"

I'm not sure how Ergonomic, a twisted bass is....usually, we all do trust rod adjustments, to avoid that sort of thing, eh?;)

That's one of a number of different attempts to make basses more "ergonomically friendly".

I personally think that the basic layout of a lute or guitar (which is where the electric bass gets its layout) is pretty sound and proven over hundreds of years.

Perhaps these are really handy designs for those who experience repetitive stress injuries. I'm not among them.

Most comfortable bass I played so far.
http://www.kleinelectricguitars.com/Klein/kleinbass.jpg

It seems like it would be better to twist it the other way though.

Edit: because I've always found it really awkward to reach across the neck high up.

looking at the video, it seems that the high frets are about flat, its the neck, bass that are twisted

looking at the video, it seems that the high frets are about flat, its the neck, bass that are twisted
Look at that photo again. The high frets are twisted up towards your face (for the benefit of the plucking hand), and the low ones are twisted back towards their normal position.

http://www.littleguitarworks.com/torzal/

This is a very good design. it counteracts the broken wrist that many bassists employ by raising the string angle at the bridge. It then avoids transfering the problem to the left hand by twisting back. This is the best design I've seen that avoids carpel tunnel syndrome.

There was a video of that bass on youtube but I can't find it.There should be a thread about it too.But I don't remember even the keyword to look for it.

Did anyone else find the video of Ed reviewing the Torsal twist bass pretty funny?

(Youtube - "Torsal twist", as a poster mentioned earlier)

So you could get a bass made, twisted like this one, with a big, wide strap to spread the weight, with fanned frets perhaps?
What other physical problems can occur from playing bass? I think thats what the op had in mind...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLi8pOa6zYk

That's pretty dang cool - sounds good too! As much abuse as I put my hands through, something like that might be a Godsend.

The thing I can't figure out is how do the strings lay flat across the neck? I just can't figure out how they can get the neck to twist one way and then another and have the strings not bottom out.

The thing I can't figure out is how do the strings lay flat across the neck? I just can't figure out how they can get the neck to twist one way and then another and have the strings not bottom out.

The answer, from the designer's website:That’s right, we’ve just created a twisted neck. To imagine how this actually works might seem like a bit of a brain tease, but it’s really pretty simple. The strings are still straight, they’re just not in the same plane anymore, so the neck and fretboard geometry are developed on a string-by-string basis. The neck (and frets) actually rotate around the string such that a straight line (minus some relief) exists at the contact point under each string.

http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/72%20jazz%20bass%20s.jpg

Can't ask for a more ergonomic bass. ;)

http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/72%20jazz%20bass%20s.jpg

Can't ask for a more ergonomic bass. ;)

LOL:hyper:

this is my idea of an ergonomic bass

It's such a shame, Gibson phased it out, in favor of the Thunderbird..the RD is so much more appealing to me:crying:
http://xf0.xanga.com/9fed26f0c2d30111544056/b79461476.jpg

After playing many basses in the last 46 years...The most comfortable bass I've ever played is a contoured "P" bass body with a "J" neck with a 7.25" radius fretboard and radiused fretboard edges, just like my Wilkins P/J.

George

If the whole reason to make a twisted bass it to take the bend out of the wrists, then it's tottally uneeded.

Just lengthen your strap a bit so your plucking hand isn't so bent, and raise your headstock up more toward your head on the other hand, and bingo wrists almost straight.

Other than that is there any good reason for a twisted kneck?

If the whole reason to make a twisted bass it to take the bend out of the wrists, then it's tottally uneeded.

Just lengthen your strap a bit so your plucking hand isn't so bent, and raise your headstock up more toward your head on the other hand, and bingo wrists almost straight.

Other than that is there any good reason for a twisted kneck?

Doing that leads to other problems, and makes the bass harder to play. The best way to play a bass is vertical, just like an upright.

lowsound

Doing that leads to other problems, and makes the bass harder to play. The best way to play a bass is vertical, just like an upright.

lowsound

+1, iamlowsound.

The Barker vertical bass is interesting. It just doesn't seem to lend itself well to the style of playing I use (Patitucci-esque...I wish...).
I personally play with the bass fairly low (see attached picture), but not so low that it is in the realm of bad punk "players". Being a fat guy helps keep my right wrist staright, but the angle affects my left wrist, and I'm beginning to develop mild carpal tunnel. There is no way to play in a tradition bass style ergonomically without changing the instrument. Believe me, I've tried, and the Torzal is the best attempt I've seen yet.

Doing that leads to other problems, and makes the bass harder to play. The best way to play a bass is vertical, just like an upright....if you say so :hmm: :hmm:

...The best way to play a bass is vertical, just like an upright...Yup.

..Or maybe a little angled - like a Chapman or Warr or Megatar.

I need to figure-out how to angle my bass up more! Does it work to extend the top horn out farther?

Joe