Hold your bass pretty low?

[drewsky2004]

I was looking at pictures of rex brown, and god damn does he play low! Just wondering how many of you bassists out there play pretty low. I would say I play mine at a medium elevation. I've tried playing low but man was it uncomfortable.

[mouthmw]

I'd say medium. Like Juan does it here: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/...80569ae7d0.jpg

I experimented with low slung, high slung, and every possible height in between, and this one just feels right. It's when the bottom bass contour is just above the crotch area.

[Floscum]

I have mine faily low, find it kind of awkward if it gets up high and i dont really need to do anything fancy so it works out okay...

[Plays_For_Dog]

Keep mine slung about even with my hip bone. Any lower and my left wrist is on the verge of damage. Any higher and my right rist is on the verge of damage.

[MattyBass]

I can usually tell how good someone is by where there bass is when they put it on..
The higher the Bass the better the bassplayer...
They're are of course exceptions, but I find this to hold fairly true...

[timbledum]

I tend to have it quite low. Although it is a lot easier to play higher up when the strap is shorter, the low notes are nicely at hand when the strap is longer. And I can make the high bits work.

Plus the added advantage of hiding my crotch. Don't want the ladies over me TOO much.

[mouthmw]

Originally Posted by MattyBass

I can usually tell how good someone is by where there bass is when they put it on..
The higher the Bass the better the bassplayer...
They're are of course exceptions, but I find this to hold fairly true...

Meh, crap. I hate stereotypes and prejudices like that.
I don't need to get my bass up to my neck to be able to play a more complex line or a bass solo or slap or whatever.

PLENTY of great bassists who hold it on the medium or lower side, but still play incredibly.
Just take Alderete for example. He's an absolute monster.

[Meddle]

Originally Posted by MattyBass

I can usually tell how good someone is by where there bass is when they put it on..
The higher the Bass the better the bassplayer...

What weak parameters to judge somebody on their bass playing. Seriously. You must spend too much time with those po-faced academic bassists who think the only way you can suceed at life is by transcribing out 30 year old jazz solos to a crowd of equally po-faced academic bassists.

And for the record check out this guy:

Shortest bass strap ever.


I presume you really enjoy this sort of noise, but I (and every none-bassist ever) would be bored of this stuff in no time.

[Mike M.]

I wear my bass fairly high. I find I have a much easier time playing like that.

I'll admit that looks cooler a bit lower but at my age I could care less about that.

[Edward G.]

I used to wear my bass low long ago before I knew anything.

Now I hang it about where it would be if I were playing sitting down, which makes the most sense.

[The Bassmonkey]

I wear mine pretty low, but i have really rather long arms so it works for me. Plus im lefthanded, which apparently is the root of all evil so meh ha ha.

But i would say that the body of the bass is sqaurely over my belt, and the 12th fret is just above my hip.

I actually think bass players that have their bass quite high look, well... funky. But i find it really incomfortable.

And in response, to the higher worn the better the player. Tsk Tsk, i can name several bassists that are awesome and dont play high up.

[nerfbass]

I try to wear it so that it's at the same spot for me whether I'm sitting or standing.

[Qvist]

Originally Posted by The Bassmonkey

I actually think bass players that have their bass quite high look, well... funky. But i find it really incomfortable.

Haha, I'd say dorky!

Depends on the music genre if you ask me... It's kinda hard to rock out heavy with a bass hanging over your chest (IMO)

[Blacksack]

Originally Posted by MattyBass

I can usually tell how good someone is by where there bass is when they put it on..
The higher the Bass the better the bassplayer...
They're are of course exceptions, but I find this to hold fairly true...

reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaly
its funny in my experience i've found the higher the bass the more "high and mighty" the attitude of the player
there are of course exceptions but i find this to hold fairly true

its also a well known fact that red cars go faster than any other colour
and its also possible to spot a criminal from how far apart his eyes are

[dudelove]

Robert trujillo held his bass quite low
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9LgC389LqC...t_trujillo.jpg

[254 stringer]

Originally Posted by Qvist

Haha, I'd say dorky!

Depends on the music genre if you ask me... It's kinda hard to rock out heavy with a bass hanging over your chest (IMO)

Mike Dean rocks out pretty good with his bass on his chest of course he has it low sometimes too

[Hoffman6000]

its also a well known fact that red cars go faster than any other colour
and its also possible to spot a criminal from how far apart his eyes are[/quote]

hahahahaha! awesome. Strap height is not only comfort, but image... rarely seen a metal player with a short strap, rarely seen a jazzer playing with a bass at his knees....but over time (20 yrs) due to strain, most end up in the middle somewhere..

[BuffaloBass]

Yup, its all biomechanics. And for you youngin's, it WILL be. Even ol Billy Sheehan dont play down at this knees anymore. It is easy to be prejudiced against the knee knockers though, and we shouldnt.

Me, ( not that it should matters to any of you what I do), i need that upper horn stuck hard in my sternum so I can feel it even if I cant hear it. So I always have the bass dug into me somewhere. That way I can still play it when I'm a deaf , drooling , sob in my 70's. I am becoming Aqualung.

(It may be a psychological thing, like a baby blanket, as I used to do the same with other pieces of, um , iron that I was requried to wear and use. Well, thank God, not use.)

[AcidFripp]

I usually play sitting, so I like to have it in the same position when I'm standing too. So, fairly high, I guess.

[flyingfinbar]

Originally Posted by MattyBass

I can usually tell how good someone is by where there bass is when they put it on..
The higher the Bass the better the bassplayer...
They're are of course exceptions, but I find this to hold fairly true...

What a joke! How's the weather up there on your high horse?

I wear mine low. I have long arms, and I just "feel" the music more, which is important for me.