"Behind the nut" vibratos by pushing/pulling headstock. Bad for every bass?

**Drop-D** · #1 10-17-2009, 11:38 PM

Alright, tried a search and can't seem to get an answer to put my curiosity to rest. It it always going to be damaging to your neck to push or pull your headstock to get a vibrato. Tried it a couple times, but didn't experiment much 'cause it just felt so unnatural.

Good example is Wojtek Pilichowski. He uses the technique effectively.

Good one just before 0:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRk2O...eature=related

HaVIC5 · #2 10-18-2009, 07:26 AM

I've always done it for effect. As long as you don't push too hard and do it sparingly (as a specific effect like in that video) I don't see how bad it could affect the bass.

Murder_Worship · #3 10-18-2009, 08:32 AM

on one of my basses, i go much farther than that. i do it alot on that bass. on my 5 string it doesnt seem to work to well, necks pretty wide. and on my other bass i dont rly like to do it.

RAM · #4 10-18-2009, 11:31 PM

It's unlikely you'll do any damage, and obviously others do it. I've never heard of a neck snapping off from the body or the headstock cracking from too much tugging for effect.

One thing you might consider is that it could pull the strings out-of-tune a little.

Craig_S · #5 10-18-2009, 11:44 PM

I knew a guitarist who broke the neck on his Les Paul doing that. He played metal and went kind of extreme with it, though. Personally, I would never do it.

stoo · #6 10-19-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

I knew a guitarist who broke the neck on his Les Paul doing that. He played metal and went kind of extreme with it, though. Personally, I would never do it.

That nearly happened to me too. I thought it actually had broken until I picked it up from the floor and noticed that just the strap button had come off, and everything else was OK.

bassplayer22 · #7 10-20-2009, 12:14 PM

I just bend the strings above the nut. Although it doesn't give you the same effect, it does sound nice and it easy to do.

Tim

EADG mx · #8 10-20-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

It's unlikely you'll do any damage

My thing is: why go there?

Opinions ahead:

It's not worth a risk of damaging your bass or putting yourself out of tune, for what ends up being a practically useless effect anyway. All in my humble opinion.

JimmyM · #9 10-20-2009, 10:10 PM

I've done it, but I stopped when I heard my bass make a cracking sound. It WILL take its toll.

smeet · #10 10-20-2009, 10:14 PM

I sometimes shake the bass, holding the body and waving the neck back and forth. Not as dramatic, but not as damaging either.

zagralin_arf · #11 10-21-2009, 07:23 PM

Watch Billy Sheehan! He punishes those Attitudes of his...on my cheapo Attitude I can bend the neck down at least a full step. That neck joint on the Yamaha Attitude is amazing...try that out.

Darkstrike · #12 10-21-2009, 07:35 PM

I have a whammy bar for doing that.

Seriously, I've done it a few times, not worth the damage it'll eventually do, IMHO. Re: Billy Sheehan, he has to reset his necks often because of damage from doing it.

RAM · #13 10-21-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADG mx

My thing is: why go there?

Probably because he asked...