Short guys-- do you get picked on for playing a bass?

Petary791 · #1 04-27-2006, 03:22 PM

So, i'm 5'6", which really isn't that short, but I play a 35.5" 6 string, and it never fails to get the comment, "THAT BASS IS BIGGER THAN YOU!!!" So i'm just wondering if it's just me or what. What do you do when it happens?

Bluesdog · #2 04-27-2006, 03:32 PM

Take it as a compliment , man,

at least they're not sayin' Farrrrrk man , stop ! you'r playin' is sheit!

oh and, yep ,...............it is only you.

Der Bluten Kat · #3 04-27-2006, 03:36 PM

i'm 5'11'' so i've never had that problem.. but i've always been told that i "look" like a bassist... i think that comes from having some sort of chin hair - whether it be a goatee or a solo stripe below the middle of my lower lip... have u guys experienced that?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #4 04-27-2006, 03:37 PM

If you're an adult male...5'6" is pretty darn short. Sorry. I'm 5'8", which is also quite short, but the only time I've gotten comments about my bass looking huge on me is when I had my Conklin seven-string, which was a damned big bass. I have pretty wide shoulders for my size, so I'm not that small for someone of my height.

Your 6-string has a 35.5" scale? Are you sure of that- that's a really odd size? Carvin is the only one I know of with a similar weird size at 35 1/4" for the XB series.

Petary791 · #5 04-27-2006, 03:45 PM

I'm 16 and not done growing.

I think it's 35.5". I measured it myself though so there may be your problem.

WalterBush · #6 04-27-2006, 03:45 PM

I'm about 5'7", and I occasionally hear something along those lines.

The best answer is, get used to being short, and the comments go away. People stop using you to make jokes when you shrug them off instead of putting on some amusing display of indignation like I used to do.

Make peace with your shortness, and relax smug in the knowledge that your sound will be heard blocks away, while a good-sized front door stops most of your (probably tall) guitarist's sound from escaping.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #7 04-27-2006, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petary791

I'm 16 and not done growing.

I think it's 35.5". I measured it myself though so there may be your problem.

Good- keep on growing! It ain't fun being stuck at 5'8". It's easy to make an error in measurement of a half inch or so on a bass as well, so try again sometime. Maybe it's even a 36" scale

Commreman · #8 04-27-2006, 04:16 PM

I'm 5'5", but in killer shape. Shaved head. I play very well, and drive the livin' **** out of my bands. No one gets on me for being short. They know better.

invader3k · #9 04-27-2006, 04:48 PM

Well, I'm about 5'9, which I guess is about average height.

I would just say "well, you know what they say about guys who play long basses..." and laugh.

Kenny Allyn · #10 04-27-2006, 04:52 PM

Naahh ...

Justin V · #11 04-27-2006, 05:53 PM

I'm about 6 foot, so I don't really get that. Though I DO get comments about making strats look tiny when I play 'em.

Toasted · #12 04-27-2006, 06:35 PM

I'm 6'4 and I play a 2/3rds size jazz bass.

**MAJOR METAL** · #13 04-27-2006, 06:38 PM

Just Keep Rockin !

fr0me0 · #14 04-27-2006, 07:31 PM

I mostly play a deluxe jazz which has a smaller body and an EUB thats got a prety small body so i've never really gotten that. I'm pretty small only 5'8 bout a hundred an 130 pounds but i make skinny look good :P

Mitchell Royce · #15 04-27-2006, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commreman

I'm 5'5", but in killer shape. Shaved head. I play very well, and drive the livin' **** out of my bands. No one gets on me for being short. They know better.

And that right there, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a perfect display of the short guy attitude. He's definitly not compensating for anything.

Good thing I'm tall, I don't have to play well or be in shape to be respected.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #16 04-27-2006, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchell Royce

And that right there, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a perfect display of the short guy attitude. He's definitly not compensating for anything.

Good thing I'm tall, I don't have to play well or be in shape to be respected.

He is from Jersey.....

ras1983 · #17 04-27-2006, 11:27 PM

if i knew you, and we were at least acquantances, then i would make fun of your height too.

The Eristic · #18 04-27-2006, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin V

I'm about 6 foot, so I don't really get that. Though I DO get comments about making strats look tiny when I play 'em.

Bah.

Lunardecay · #19 04-27-2006, 11:49 PM

Well, the guitarist in a band that Im doing some recording for...he is about 6'05" or 6'06"....and he plays a 22-fret 34" or less (its very tiny, even on me...and Im about 5'11".) guitar...
He looks like he's playing a ukelele (spelling?) to heavy prog.metal, lol.

ZombieGhosTrain · #20 04-27-2006, 11:55 PM

I'm another 6'4" guy, so that would be a no. But I do dwarf my guitar, and match my upright. Most people don't care about your height if you can play.

Has anyone else noticed, where short people may get "teased" about their height (not common, but comments can be made sometimes), tall people just awe others? I get "whoaaa...you're tall" from short girls often, but its not mean. Maybe they are afraid cause I have like 100+ pounds on all these people.