A slightly awkward question for lady bassists...

Jeff2287 · #1 11-29-2007, 08:39 AM

Hello. Like I said, this is a slightly touchy topic, so I ask that you bear with me. Okay, I was tutoring this girl to play electric bass for a jazz ensemble. She was used to playing upright bass, but she had to play electric bass in this context, so I was giving her some pointers. However, the one issue that I could not reconcile with her was how to hold the bass comfortably.

Often, this problem is solved easily enough by changing the strap position, putting the bass on the opposite leg while sitting, etc. However, the problem was not that her strap was on crooked, the plain and simple truth was that she had very large breasts, and this made it difficult for her to hold the bass to her body in a comfortable, movement efficient manner. I pondered to how to reconcile this problem for the whole two-hour practice, but came up empty.

I am curious, for any lady bass players who are well endowed in the manner mentioned above, how do you hold the bass comfortably to your body?

Thank you.

txbasschik · #2 11-29-2007, 09:35 AM

I don't understand how that would keep her from holding her bass properly. I have two female guitarist colleagues who are very busty. The only problem that one of them has is with her electric acoustic, and the settings getting inadvertantly changed. Unless this girl is holding the bass very high on her body, there should be no problem.

Cherie

EADG mx · #3 11-29-2007, 09:53 AM

Have her sit up straight and adjust the strap until it's taut (fusion level)

then have her stand up

Still in the way? Is the neck at a (roughly) 30 degree angle?

chaosMK · #4 11-29-2007, 11:31 AM

I would just enjoy the situation.

She might be better off standing with the bass a little lower than sitting height.

**Pacman** · #5 11-29-2007, 02:20 PM

There was a thread on this in the past year. You might want to see how that one panned out, too....

SundanceChile · #6 11-29-2007, 02:28 PM

I suggest she play standing up with the bass set up low enough that it isn't in the way, but still be comfortable for playing.

funkydanbass · #7 11-29-2007, 02:30 PM

I had the same problem with one of my old students. She decided the best way to have the bass setup was with her right breast kinda perched on top of the bass and the left breast behind the upper horn. Seemed to work for her!!

Linkert · #8 11-29-2007, 02:36 PM

Look how Tal Wilkenfeld is doing it. Shes putting her right breast on top of the bass.
Tal Wilkenfeld - Kick ass song.
Solo, and you can see it better.

Ah CANT HOLD MY PERV SIDE AWAY!!! .. Looks like a happy bass

MrHyde · #9 11-29-2007, 08:48 PM

yo man. i have been teaching bass for about two years now. one of my students was huge, a double d. she had some real problems playing. i found the if you use a sax harness, modify it a bit with two straps, itl sit perfectly. its so fuggin comfy i use one now. pm me and ill send u a pick of how the harness was made.

Phrogie · #10 11-30-2007, 05:37 AM

When I first set up my strap, I did it standing up. Right boob is just above the bass body. When I sit, however, it winds up pushing up a bit... makes it uncomfortable. I compensate for this by dropping my right leg down a bit, so that the bass sits on my body the same way it does when I'm standing. Obviously, this works best on a stool, where you can just drop the leg down... when I'm in a chair that's lower to the ground, I wind up either shoving my foot under, so that the right leg is almost in a kneeling position underneath me. Yes, it sounds wierd, but it's comfortable for me and it works.

---Phrogie
Busty Bassist

CallieBum73 · #11 11-30-2007, 06:45 AM

This is the times when Im happy to be a mere B-cup

txbasschik · #12 11-30-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CallieBum73

This is the times when Im happy to be a mere B-cup

Me, too! I had no idea it was such a hassle. Wow.

Cherie

tswd · #13 11-30-2007, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

There was a thread on this in the past year. You might want to see how that one panned out, too....

I thought the same thing when I read the first post.

I've never had a problem like this as a teacher

Sarah5string · #14 12-04-2007, 04:33 PM

I only have iddy biddy ones so have never had that problem.... lol...
seriously though.. could she get a sling for them and hoist them up? lol

ii7-V7 · #15 12-04-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

There was a thread on this in the past year. You might want to see how that one panned out, too....

And I enjoyed that one just as much!

ii7-V7 · #16 12-04-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CallieBum73

This is the times when Im happy to be a mere B-cup

Me too!....except I'm a guy.

JonathanD · #17 12-05-2007, 06:36 PM

One of my students found that resting her right breast on the bass and having the left behind worked. Hope that helps.
Jonathan

BillMason · #18 12-05-2007, 07:26 PM

I'm not sure I understand the problem. Pictures might help.

Bass Mule · #19 12-05-2007, 07:30 PM

What do all you "slightly-heavier-than-you-want-to-admit" guys do, y'know, with your man-boobs?

22pauld22 · #20 12-07-2007, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Mule

What do all you "slightly-heavier-than-you-want-to-admit" guys do, y'know, with your man-boobs?

I guess its only painful or annoying for the ladies .. my man jugs aren't the slightest bit worried about getting up close and personal with any of my basses