Strap On This... Bass Height

Sonicfrog · #1 05-31-2010, 07:01 PM

What is your preferred bass height - Do you ride 'em high, jazzy style, do you swing low (sweet chariot), or are you a middle-of-the-roader? And why.

I'm a middle-of-the-road guy. Just feels most comfortable. Plus, I have stubby little fingers, so I couldn't swing low if I wanted to.

tom once dead · #2 05-31-2010, 07:04 PM

I swing low. Feels more comfortable to me.

Scottgun · #3 05-31-2010, 07:07 PM

Middle-of-the-road. It's fine if you have it up to your chest, but you'd better be freakin' amazing.

snyderz · #4 05-31-2010, 07:08 PM

You did a search, right?

lbanks · #5 05-31-2010, 07:10 PM

I like it to ride on my belly. That way I can create a shelf on my gut where I can keep my lighter and cigs handy.

Muaguana · #6 05-31-2010, 07:11 PM

Slightly higher than middle-of-the-road; it's basically whatever puts it in the most comfortable position for my fretting hand to work with. I have tendon issues in my hand, so I try to avoid as much added strain as I can by having good form.

Eater_of_Birds · #7 05-31-2010, 07:18 PM

swing low/medium. maybe be higher if i used fingers i suppose but im a picker just now.

Arpeggiator · #8 05-31-2010, 07:52 PM

i play pretty high (lower horn of the bass sits just above my belt) its the same height for when i am sitting and playing, make tapping and slapping easier and keeps my left wrist a good streght angle. often bassists/guitarists comment on the height of my bass. it jsut works for me.

bebop1 · #9 05-31-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arpeggiator

i play pretty high (lower horn of the bass sits just above my belt) its the same height for when i am sitting and playing, make tapping and slapping easier and keeps my left wrist a good streght angle. often bassists/guitarists comment on the height of my bass. it jsut works for me.

+1 same height, same reason, same comments (with rock bands)

HEADLE · #10 05-31-2010, 08:21 PM

Middle of the road. I'm a BIG guy and basically it fell there at maximum strap length. I've since gotten longer straps but I'm so used to it there I always go back.

H

m.oreilly · #11 05-31-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbanks

I like it to ride on my belly. That way I can create a shelf on my gut where I can keep my lighter and cigs handy.

you know that's right

Nigel Rahmshard · #12 05-31-2010, 08:34 PM

I prefer my bass up high. A sweeping generalization that is fairly accurate most of the time is the higher the bass the higher the talent level of the player, the lower the bass well, you can figure it out. Take this with a grain of salt as a good many of the bands i enjoy have their guitars closer to their knee than their chin.

derridiandrift · #13 05-31-2010, 08:39 PM

Low because that's where it's most comfortable for me.

Greevus · #14 05-31-2010, 08:42 PM

A little higher than middle. I'm short and stocky, so it helps. I think I look pretty ridiculous with it at my tits or down to my knees.

squashedOpossum · #15 05-31-2010, 08:43 PM

Actually have 3 different heights: The strap I use for my 5-string and my fretless (also 5-string) has two heights: high (completely above the belt) and middle of the road (about 3-4 inches lower). My 4-string strap also has two heights: the highest is the same as the lower position on my 5-string, and about 3-4 inches lower for playing with a pick. Most of the time I'm in the middle position (lower position with 5-strings, higher position with the 4-string) but I like to switch it up based on the style of music and how my wrists are feeling at the time.

BassClef 2010 · #16 05-31-2010, 08:47 PM

I'm middle of the road to high. Riding the bass low looks very stupid to me.

nealw · #17 05-31-2010, 08:48 PM

Up high=aptitude. Down low=attitude. I'm an attitude guy-not that I really have that much attitude; it's just that for the past 25 years or so I've been comfortable with my right arm pretty much straight and my thumb anchored on my Stingray pickup. I'm also comfortable enough not to worry too much about what anyone else thinks about my aptitude level.

beelzelboss · #18 05-31-2010, 08:53 PM

Depends on what I'm doing. If I need the higher registers of the fretboard, its coming up. For everything else, it have it so the bridge is at my waist. I have it slanted up, probably at a 45 degree angle from my body.

stratovani · #19 05-31-2010, 09:06 PM

I place the middle of the bass body smack on my bellybutton. For me, if my bass is too high my right wrist breaks, and if the bass is too low my left wrist breaks (angles, not bones!). With the bass in the middle both wrists are straight, which for me is a much more comfortable position for playing. And, as always, YMMV.

Jasonic · #20 06-01-2010, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muaguana

Slightly higher than middle-of-the-road; it's basically whatever puts it in the most comfortable position for my fretting hand to work with. I have tendon issues in my hand, so I try to avoid as much added strain as I can by having good form.

That is exactly what I do, and why I do it. If you plan on playing above the 12th fret you can strain your hand, and you also have more comfortable access to the notes on the E and B string. My teacher plays on the 24th fret of the B string-I don't know how he does it!

I would wear it way up high but it looks a bit silly for what I do, blues jazz and vocals...but I try to strike a happy medium.