DB height?

snowdan · #1 04-28-2006, 04:51 PM

how do you have the height of you DB set up? i play mine with the endpin all the way extended, on a thin piece of wood to protect floors, and i play w/o shoes. i am 6'3". nut is about eye level i'd say. i have difficulties with intonation when i change this setting. but wonder if i could go higher and get used to that. any possible positive effects to expect? i have some back issues when i practice alot, that is why i am asking.

thanks!

PaulCannon · #2 04-28-2006, 05:41 PM

I'm 6'4" and when I play standing I never need more than half the end pin out, which would be about 6 or 7 inches. Are you using a 1/2 size bass? Or is your end pin shorter than most?

mcnaire2004 · #3 04-28-2006, 05:46 PM

I'm 6'0'' I play a 3/4. I used to have it at eye brow level but I grew a little so I now have it up a noch (the last one so it's all the way out). I'd rather the bass be a little to high than a little short. Intanation doesn't take long to correct since everything is the same distance. Hopfully I'll keep growing. LOL

Kam · #4 04-28-2006, 06:00 PM

If you're asking because of back pain, make sure you're bending at the waist and keeping your back straight. Don't "hunch over." Are you doing a great amoung of thumb position work? If you have a teacher, ask him to watch your posture and how you're holding the bass. If you don't have one, get one!

PaulCannon · #5 04-28-2006, 06:29 PM

As a general rule of thumb, you should align the nut of the bass with your temple.

anonymous0726 · #6 04-28-2006, 06:55 PM

The bass should be in such a position that you are standing or sitting properly. Finger your low F in your left hand. Put the bow way out at the tip on the G string in your right. Find a spot where you can reach this comfortably and you'll be pretty close.

BGreaney · #7 04-28-2006, 10:38 PM

Yea I have the nut set around my temple too, but I play on a really low stool (26") so that both of my feet can be planted so my endpin is always all the way in. Have you talked to your teacher about these back problems and possible posture issues that might be going awry?

anthem274 · #8 04-30-2006, 10:21 PM

I'm 6'1" and I, also, have my bass at temple level. I sit when I play and keep the bass at about a 65-70 degree angle. On the occasion I stand and I've found that when the nut is at temple level, not only does it feel nicer, but the center of gravity feels just perfect.

snowdan · #9 05-01-2006, 06:51 AM

when the pin is all the way out the nut is 178cms above ground, bass straight up.

that is my temple level, too. so if the bass is at some angle, it seems obvious that my bass is a little low.

.matthew e wengerd. · #10 05-01-2006, 07:51 AM

The nut is at my hairline (I am young and it hasn't started receding yet) when I play, regardless of standing or sitting.

Marcus Johnson · #11 05-01-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .matthew e wengerd.

I am young and it hasn't started receding yet

ouch

.matthew e wengerd. · #12 05-01-2006, 11:14 AM

hey, i'm pretty sure it's gonna!

Sippy · #13 05-01-2006, 08:14 PM

I'm 5'5" (short mofo I know!) and I play with the endpin all the way in. the nut is level with my forehead/temple.

Snakewood · #14 05-01-2006, 08:31 PM

I'm 5'7, and my teacher is also quite short (he's about 5'8" or so), he always told me never to test the height of the bass in relation to the nut-eye thing etc, but always but your arm length to the bridge. I play seated and he believe's that your arm should be able to bow sul ponti while still have a bent arm (never straight~!~)

Paul Warburton · #15 05-06-2006, 07:41 AM

I don't know where I heard this, but it always worked for me...the point of your basses lower C bout should be between your knee and crotch. If you use a stool, set your end-pin before you sit down.

Cory Palmer · #16 05-06-2006, 12:42 PM

The rule that I've always followed for finding the right height of the bass I learned from Jack Budrow. Hold the bass up perfcectly straight and let your arms hang relaxed at your side. The end of the bridge should be at aboud the middle knuckle of you fingers if you are going to stand and at the last knuckle if you are going to sit. I don't know if this will work for everybody or every bass but it has not gone wrong for me yet.

I've tried some different endpin heights and always end up coming back to this.

Snakewood · #17 05-06-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cory Palmer

The rule that I've always followed for finding the right height of the bass I learned from Jack Budrow. Hold the bass up perfcectly straight and let your arms hang relaxed at your side. The end of the bridge should be at aboud the middle knuckle of you fingers if you are going to stand and at the last knuckle if you are going to sit. I don't know if this will work for everybody or every bass but it has not gone wrong for me yet.

I've tried some different endpin heights and always end up coming back to this.

Is this measured with your hand straight? It seems like to end pin would have to be awfully high?

Cory Palmer · #18 05-06-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakewood

Is this measured with your hand straight? It seems like to end pin would have to be awfully high?

It's with the hand straight down. Make sure that you bring your hand to the bridge with your body. Don't lift your arm while doing this otherwise the height will be wrong.

I also keep the nut right by my temple when I'm playing. This puts the bass at greater angle than a lot of people play at but it's not too extreme. My endpin is at the 4th notch when I'm sitting and I'm 5'11''.

Justin K-ski · #19 05-09-2006, 07:06 PM

I'm 5'6" and I play with the pin out about 8.5 inches. The nut is way above my head. I feel that having the bass at a more accute angle with the ground helps the weight of my right arm go into the strings. Balancing the bass isn't a problem because I always play sitting.

anthem274 · #20 05-09-2006, 09:37 PM

I have found that many German bow players like the nut to be at about forehead level or even higher while French bow players like it near their temple. With German bow, a good 5 inches is lost by the way you hold the bow, so if you play German, don't let this thread make you feel bad. That is if your bass is a little higher.