Is putting an unstrapped bass across one's knee and letting go, the means by which balance is viewed? Or is it when hung from the strap points with a "frictionless" strap the means by which balance is determined?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Bass balance
- Thread starter stevensivak
- Start date
I don't think there's any "do it this way - or else" way to check a bass' balance. Personally? When I can be bothered to wonder about a given bass' balance, I usually just flip it over on it's back, and balance it in my hand. I've always thought that it was... well, kind of nice to know, but also pretty irrelevant. I suppose that, for some basses, there might be a correlation between balance and the bass's tendency to dive, but... I have several basses (out of the 22 I own) that might balance well, but the front strap pin placement renders that more or less completely moot. Like, for instance, my Epi Jack Casady Bass; or my Tokai TB48 Thunderbird...
So... IMO, balance is nice to know, and you can check it any way that makes you happy. But, in Bass Playing World, that pesky front strap pin very often overrules it...
So... IMO, balance is nice to know, and you can check it any way that makes you happy. But, in Bass Playing World, that pesky front strap pin very often overrules it...
My definition is close to the second one. Hang a bass on your shoulders from a strap (mine are either leather or cloth, but not really "grippy") Now, with your hands off the bass, jump up and down a bit (I use Dunlop strap locks so the strap stays on the bass). If the bass doesn't change position, it's balanced.
i'm right-handed. i call "balance" = when i don't have to support the neck with my left hand/arm/shoulder. my left hand/arm/shoulder is free to move about without 'counterbalance' from all the rest. FWIW: i don't jump up and down.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,020
- 1
- 31,740
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Balance while seated is a completely separate thing from balance while on a strap.
Practically speaking, if you usually play seated, you’ll want to pay attention to seated balance. And if you usually play standing, then standing balance is more important.
Practically speaking, if you usually play seated, you’ll want to pay attention to seated balance. And if you usually play standing, then standing balance is more important.
Balance is much more important when you are standing for hours than when you are seated. In either case, if its really out of whack it'll be obvious.
It depends on how you play and what's comfortable for you.
Yeah, I would say whatever matters more to you.
Generally, I don't have any problems with any of my basses. And you can kind of shift them a bit back and forth on your knee too. If I want, I can have my basses tip towards the one side or the other. I'd say that's pretty balanced.
And I also use leather straps mostly, which don't slip much either. So I never really had the opportunity to encounter this as a problem.
Generally, I don't have any problems with any of my basses. And you can kind of shift them a bit back and forth on your knee too. If I want, I can have my basses tip towards the one side or the other. I'd say that's pretty balanced.
And I also use leather straps mostly, which don't slip much either. So I never really had the opportunity to encounter this as a problem.
Balance is when the builder built it correctly. If a bass has neck dive, it wasn't done right.
AFAIK most people are concerned about balance on the strap.
I would rather play a heavy bass that balances well than a lighter bass that does not balance.
If a bass does not balance on the strap it can twist up your shirt or jacket.
It also interferes with fretting hand technique. If the bass does not balance then, you may have to support it with your fretting hand.
Another concern is the asymmetric loading on your shoulder and spine. If you play for an extended time this can be more tiring and also cause pain.
My first bass did not originally balance on the strap, but it did balance on my knee. I often practice bas guitar sitting, but usually play standing.
I would rather play a heavy bass that balances well than a lighter bass that does not balance.
If a bass does not balance on the strap it can twist up your shirt or jacket.
It also interferes with fretting hand technique. If the bass does not balance then, you may have to support it with your fretting hand.
Another concern is the asymmetric loading on your shoulder and spine. If you play for an extended time this can be more tiring and also cause pain.
My first bass did not originally balance on the strap, but it did balance on my knee. I often practice bas guitar sitting, but usually play standing.
If I'm not thinking about neck dive when I play then it's a non-issue.
I've got a couple of basses with neck drop but they only drop until the neck is parallel to the floor. I raise the bass a little higher up my body until it's ok , and my hands can float around the bass like normal.
@LowEndLobster usually demonstrates both methods when he reviews a new bass on his YouTube channel. I would suggest that for you, what matters is how you usually play: seated or standing, and with the strap you normally use. I've taken my own strap into a music store once or twice when I wanted to try out a new bass.
Seated tends to have more neck dive that standing. I evaluate the balance while being strapped on standing. If it does well there, any minor neck dive while being seated is manageable.
Now that I’m well into my 40’s I balance my bass on my gut to check for neck dive.
Same. I made a post a while back about this... I just don't really care about the balance of my bass. Several of my basses are neck-divey, and it just doesn't bother me. It's a mild inconvenience in the seated position, and when standing and using a strap, I just don't notice due to the effect of a $15 medium width suede strap I got when I was 17. I'm sure there are some technical mechanical reasons why neck dive is actually an issue and not a subjective annoyance, but it's not something I've seen enough to appreciate.
I would pay far more attention to the overall weight than I would the balance.
Since I am a lefty who does not get to hold other left handed basses, I wonder if there are basses that are balanced from the strap and not the knee and visa versa.... In other words if you have or the other does that imply the other?
