Strap Adjustment

[Lewi_wilko]

Hey, i have an explorer bass and its difficult to stand up and play with. Due to the wierd shape or something when i try to stand up and play it shifts down witht the head allmost touching the floor making it impossible to play. However, i have semi sorted it, i have made my strap realy tight and i just reast my right arm on top of the bass to keep it balanced. This is fine when im using my fingers or a pick to play but i cant slap like this. I was told that i should try adjusting my strap but first testing where to move my strap pegs by tapeing my strap to parts of my bass close to the strap pegs. However i didnt know where to start and none of the places seemed to work. So i was just wondering if there are any alternatives to make my bass slapable whilst standing?!?!

heres a picture of the bass if it might help http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?...ollectionID=12

[JimmyM]

That's why I sold mine.

[jackmurray]

If I had one and I knew that Jimmy sold his, then I would too.

Right on Jimmy.

[BurningSkies]

Move the strap pin UP the back of the bass...and on the front, it needs to be somewhere near the neck joint .

[WezV]

The balance of these things mainly comes down to the position of the strap button nearest the neck. Good balance ismost easily achieved by having the strap button as close to the 12th fret as it can go.... Obviously thats not very close on an explorer style guitar. Some put the strap button on the heel of the neck because that is the closest point on the body to the 12th fret. That can stop the neck dive but its still not very close to the twelve fret so it might not, it also has its own problems. I find it an uncomfy place for the strap button because the bass will lean foward more than it did before.

You might be able to improve the situation by moving the other strap button further up the edge, it might work but i like to keep that one near the centre line of the bass.

I hold the bass in certain places i might put a strap button and let it balance (or not!).

This bass might always be neck heavy so maybe get another one for slap.

[Magneto]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Move the strap pin UP the back of the bass...and on the front, it needs to be somewhere near the neck joint .

I'd have to agree. These types of basses are notorious for this problem. I would try to leave the neck side button alone for now and see about experimenting with the bridge side button.
Since that body has so much room to move the button UP, I would try that first. This puts more BODY area below the button, helping to counteract the neck weight.
I'm not exactly sure of a good way to experiment with this. Can anyone else think of an acceptable way to test a new button location on the body without drilling a hole and mounting? Perhaps some dual-sided mounting tape for a quick test. That stuff is pretty strong. I'd keep a hand under the bass and not take any chances..

Mag...

[rnlytton]

Check out the Bass Balancer.
http://www.bassbalancer.co.uk/
I ordered one but haven't tried it yet, but the idea seems to make sense.

Richard

[bassteban]

I really like the looks of Explorer-style basses- especially Entwistle's Alembics- but the designers must have tried to figure out THE WORST shape for balancing that people would still buy...

[JimmyM]

What I hate is the way basses like that force your left arm out so far from your body. And you can't very well put the strap button behind the 12th fret directly on the neck. So I use a more traditional bass shape. I lose points for coolness now, but my arm isn't sore at the end of the night.

[Magneto]

Originally Posted by bassteban

I really like the looks of Explorer-style basses- especially Entwistle's Alembics- but the designers must have tried to figure out THE WORST shape for balancing that people would still buy...

I agree. But I swear it's like they added strap buttons as an afterthought. Some basses balance better for sitting or standing, some balance nicely both ways. A badly balanced bass is a pain, especially neckdivin' basses.

I think they could all be balanced well. I think it's an engineering mistake.

Mag....

[Lewi_wilko]

thanks allot rnlytton mate. Im going to buy one of those bass balancers. Cheers

[Giraffe]

I used to run the bridge side of the strap over/across the top of the body, with the buttons in the stock position. It doesn't necessarily change the balance, but it seemed to hold the bass more firmly in the position you initially put it in.

Another trick is to get your girlfriend or boyfriend to sew some suspender buttons on the back waist area of all of your stage pants. Then get a piece of leather about 16-18" and some Chicago screws from a Tandy store. You attach the strip of leather to your regular strap with the Chicago screws, about 2" behind the spot that rests on top of your shoulder. You button the other end to the waistband of your pants, in back. This really helps with the neck diving problem. Costs less than $5. It is a little awkward, as the bass feels like it is swinging freely from the neck side strap button, and it feels like you are getting a wedgie all the time, but some may prefer that sensation. Those basses are designed to snap off the headstock, with the poor balance and the truss rod cavity routed behind the narrow nut! Look at the vintage dealers and see how many have repaired headstocks. An ounce of prevention.

[Magneto]

Originally Posted by Lewi_wilko

thanks allot rnlytton mate. Im going to buy one of those bass balancers. Cheers

Cool little product, but a bummer if you ever want to use straplocks, which I would not want to do without. But I'm sure there are some locking straps that will do the job well.

Mag...

[EASonBass]

I've found part of the problem is sometimes the strap. Ones that slide easily on your shoulder tend to exaserbate the problem. The Squid thing from Planet Waves attaches on the strap and helps a bit with the dive issue.