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Bass Ergonomics

IamGroot

IamGroot

Inactive
Jan 18, 2018
6,953
13,553
#1
Is there a bass that works well ergonomically ( or doesnt).

I play multiple hours 7 days a week and have some right shoulder issues linked to raising my shoulder. Injuries made it worse. I switched from a T Bird to a Jazz and my whole shoulder and upper arm were a mess of pain. Switched back to the T bird and the pain has almost disappeared. I hook the strap over the lower body of the TB so my shoulder hangs loose when reaching over the body to pluck.
 
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#2
IamGroot said:
Is there a bass that works well ergonomically ( or doesnt).

I play multiple hours 7 days a week and have some right shoulder issues linked to raising my shoulder. Injuries made it worse. I switched from a T Bird to a Jazz and my whole shoulder and upper arm were a mess of pain. Switched back to the T bird and the pain has almost disappeared. I hook the strap over the lower body of the TB so my shoulder hangs loose when reaching over the body to pluck.
Click to expand...
I love my Tbird. Most comfortable bass for me the play, standing or sitting.
 
#4
The Sadowsky NYC’s are probably the most ergonomic bass I’ve played. Kind of like standing there breathing.

My NYC4 weighs about 7 1/4 pounds. I broke several ribs in two places in a bad fall seven weeks ago; and the NYC was the first bass I could pick up and play afterwards.
 
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#6
''from a T Bird to a Jazz'' can cover a broad spectrum, is there a narrower range of sound you prefer?
offhand I've found the dirt cheap LTD B-50 (P/J) to be a great value for a petite / lighter body which has a super solid neck and punches way above it's weight class. the Cort Curbow Retro is a great J if that's a preference. an Epi Toby Std. is another comfy cheapo to check out. the choices are endless.
 
#7
Bass V said:
''from a T Bird to a Jazz'' can cover a broad spectrum, is there a narrower range of sound you prefer?
offhand I've found the dirt cheap LTD B-50 (P/J) to be a great value for a petite / lighter body which has a super solid neck and punches way above it's weight class. the Cort Curbow Retro is a great J if that's a preference. an Epi Toby Std. is another comfy cheapo to check out. the choices are endless.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Fortunately, I have enuff basses to grab something else. My real point for fellow TBers is that if your right shoulder hurts, maybe its because you raise your upper shoulder a little for your arm to reach over the lower bout. In my case, the solution was a bass with a lower profile plus hooking the strap differently. (NOTE FOR T BIRD OWNERS).
 
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#8
Sounds like the solution for you is wearing the bass low but at a high angle, this is ergonomically helpful in several ways.
However 99% of basses are neck-heavy even when horizontal, and rapidly become more so as playing angle increases, due to overall design and strap button geometry. Playing at a very high angle is difficult and also somewhat uncomfortable as the strap pulls forward hard over your shoulder.

A T-Bird is very unergonomic and very poorly balanced due to having no top horn, this also shifts the bass to the left which is bad for the fretting arm. I'm surprised you found a Jazz bass (Fender copy i assume) worse, as those at least have a long top horn.

For high angle playing a headless bass will help a lot.

Sadowsky NYCs and G&L L2000s are not remotely ergonomic, neither are ESP B series basses, all of these are basically the same Fender P/J type design which is inherently unergonomic.
99% of basses have bad ergonomics because they are recycling designs from the 1950s-1970s, because 'rock band fashion' dictates most bass design.
Ergonomics requires a radically different design, and probably headless.
 
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#10
ixlramp said:
Sounds like the solution for you is wearing the bass low but at a high angle, this is ergonomically helpful in several ways.
However 99% of basses are neck-heavy even when horizontal, and rapidly become more so as playing angle increases, due to overall design and strap button geometry. Playing at a very high angle is difficult and also somewhat uncomfortable as the strap pulls forward hard over your shoulder.

A T-Bird is very unergonomic and very poorly balanced due to having no top horn, this also shifts the bass to the left which is bad for the fretting arm. I'm surprised you found a Jazz bass (Fender copy i assume) worse, as those at least have a long top horn.

For high angle playing a headless bass will help a lot.

Sadowsky NYCs and G&L L2000s are not remotely ergonomic, neither are ESP B series basses, all of these are basically the same Fender P/J type design which is inherently unergonomic.
99% of basses have bad ergonomics because they are recycling designs from the 1950s-1970s, because 'rock band fashion' dictates most bass design.
Ergonomics requires a radically different design, and probably headless.
Click to expand...
I practice sitting down and about half my work is sitting. Never had a problem with neck dive on any of my instruments. The t bird has an extra advantage of being one of the few basses where you can drape the strap over the lower portion of the bass which locks it in place and tilts the top towards the player. People are always telling me my strap is messed up - no, its intentional.
 
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#11
IamGroot said:
Is there a bass that works well ergonomically ( or doesnt).
Click to expand...

I have long term hand issues, plus a few other geezer things, so YMMV. What works best for me:

An EUB on a peg, not a stand. I can play mine with minimal discomfort maybe twice a long as anything else I've tried.

A BG with a ramp. I remember you mentioning being a "dig in" player, so I doubt you'd enjoy this alternative.
 
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#12
IamGroot said:
I practice sitting down and about half my work is sitting. Never had a problem with neck dive on any of my instruments. The t bird has an extra advantage of being one of the few basses where you can drape the strap over the lower portion of the bass which locks it in place and tilts the top towards the player. People are always telling me my strap is messed up - no, its intentional.
Click to expand...

I'm having trouble visualizing your T-Bird strap setup. Can you post a picture?
 
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#15
Torzal?

Little-Guitar-Works-Torzal-Twist-Body-01.jpg
 
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#18
IamGroot said:
Is there a bass that works well ergonomically ( or doesnt).

I play multiple hours 7 days a week and have some right shoulder issues linked to raising my shoulder. Injuries made it worse. I switched from a T Bird to a Jazz and my whole shoulder and upper arm were a mess of pain. Switched back to the T bird and the pain has almost disappeared. I hook the strap over the lower body of the TB so my shoulder hangs loose when reaching over the body to pluck.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing with my strap when I play my T-Bird. That does make it a little more comfortable, but it weighs about a half ton, so that starts to wear on my shoulder.

I have a Spirit headless bass for which I built an aluminum strap extension, that is by far the most comfortable bass I've ever played.
 
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