Playing something bigger makes everything smaller effect?

wesman2232 · #1 02-21-2011, 01:57 PM

Does anybody know the technical term for that?
I got me a new 6 String bass on Saturday (I switched from a 4 string) and I have been playing it since. Now I take out my four string and realize it looks and feels like its smaller like it was made for a little child lol

I find this funny :P
Has this happened to anybody else?

touji · #2 02-21-2011, 02:00 PM

Yes! Bought a Yammy TRB6II and the Fender Jazz now feels oh so tiny and easy to play

wesman2232 · #3 02-21-2011, 02:01 PM

I know. Its really weird lol

IbanezBass69 · #4 02-21-2011, 05:42 PM

I thought this thread was going to be about compensating for ones....ahem... "shortcomings" by playing big, complicated songs and solos. I was wrong.

On the subject, Going from my Warwick 5 to an Ibanez 4 is a bizarre experience sometimes.

AdamJames306 · #5 02-21-2011, 05:45 PM

I noticed this especially when I started learning upright. Spent months playing the big guy solely. When I went back to electric it was like playing a friggin' ukelele. Had to get used to it all over again. It's all relativity.

Another example- here in NYC, when the thermometer peaks it's head over 50 degrees these days, it feels like summer. NO MORE SNOW. PLEASE GOD NO MORE SNOW.

Elrend · #6 02-21-2011, 06:01 PM

I've spent at least 3 hours a day practicing the double bass for the past 8 months, and as a result, I've barely touched the bass guitar.

The only word I can think of to describe how playing the BG feels right now is... cute.

zachoff · #7 02-21-2011, 10:33 PM

Yeah, after playing my Yamahas, T-40, and EB-3 it feels weird to play my Reverend now. Skinny neck on that one for sure.

Downunderwonder · #8 02-21-2011, 10:45 PM

Opposite effect is noticed after neglecting EB and EUB in favour of new kid on block U-Bass.

bassclef216 · #9 02-24-2011, 07:47 AM

That reminded me....I have been playing bass for a couple years and decided to buy an electric guitar to fiddle around with. I was in the living room noodling around with the guitar slung over my shoulder. My wife walked in and started laughing and asked me why I was playing with a kids guitar. I went and looked in the mirror and realized that it did look kind of silly. After playing bass so long the guitar seems ridiculously small.

MattyH · #10 02-24-2011, 07:53 AM

I have a variation of this!

I had a MarkBass 210 to use for weddings. I hated it, so I went back and bought my favorite work horse, the Ampeg 410HLF. They always tease me for having such a gigantic amp, along with a 4 space rack, for weddings. Hey, I love the thickness of a nice big amp!

Anyway, every venue usually barely fits it in. It's pretty funny to see. Until we played an event at the Edison Ballroom in NYC. Huge professional stage. Made my amp look like a little toy!

thesilence · #11 02-24-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassclef216

That reminded me....I have been playing bass for a couple years and decided to buy an electric guitar to fiddle around with. I was in the living room noodling around with the guitar slung over my shoulder. My wife walked in and started laughing and asked me why I was playing with a kids guitar. I went and looked in the mirror and realized that it did look kind of silly. After playing bass so long the guitar seems ridiculously small.

I mess around on guitar every now and then and play acoustic every now and then for gigs and it always seems like a toy and feels ridiculously small not to mention the string spacing

RustyAxe · #12 02-24-2011, 09:36 AM

Sure. I played my friends new Martin Baritone J-28LSE for an hour or so, and then grabbed an 00-17 for a song. It was like holding a toy. The feeling wore off in a minute, and all was right again.

MatticusMania · #13 02-24-2011, 10:04 AM

I recently, like last week, started playing a 5string. At practice i switched to my 4string for this one song we play in drop D and even though my 5er has a narrow neck, you can really feeel the difference.

wesman2232 · #14 02-24-2011, 05:45 PM

Nice stories guys. Especially bassclef216, that is funny.
My hands are so used to my 6 string now that my 4 string will never be the same to me lol.

joshmmorrison · #15 02-24-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IbanezBass69

I thought this thread was going to be about compensating for ones....ahem... "shortcomings" by playing big, complicated songs and solos. I was wrong.

On the subject, Going from my Warwick 5 to an Ibanez 4 is a bizarre experience sometimes.

Definitely where i thought it was going too.....

But, thread related comment:
I agree. I play on a 5 and every time i pick up a 4 it feels tiny.

**colcifer** · #16 02-24-2011, 07:33 PM

It's called relativity.

Stilettoprefer · #17 02-24-2011, 09:31 PM

Going between upright and electric used to trip me out big time. Same with going between guitar and bass. I've gotten used to it and can play anything from a short scale classical to upright without much problem now

but extended range basses are ridiculous.. Some 5 strings I can stand but 6 strings are just too much. I have huge hands but the necks are too friggen wide!

AnnieSocial · #18 02-24-2011, 10:02 PM

I'm currently going back and forth between my Peavey 5-string and my newly acquired Ashbory 4-string. The Ashbory is tiny to start with and in comparison my Peavey is gigantic! Relativity, indeed.

Annie

BruceWane · #19 02-25-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Playing something bigger makes everything smaller effect?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Electro-Harmonix used to make one, but they had to quit when they received a cease-and-desist order from Alice In Wonderland.

erbine · #20 02-25-2011, 03:29 PM

Any guitar player turned bass player knows the effect well. At some point you stop seeing the bass as large and awkward looking, and start seeing the guitar as small and awkward looking.