Bass height- How high and why?

[FilTurd]

I wear mine on my mid thigh. When I was about 14 -16 I wore mine just above the knees.

 

[fhm555]

If it's high, you look too jazz-fusion.
If it's low, you look too metal.
So wear it right in the middle.

View attachment 3055934

but what about jazz? or is that more of a haircut?

 

[2saddleslab]

Off the hip.

 

[57pbass]

Ergonomically speaking.. there should be zero stress on .. wrist, elbow .. all joints..

This applies to sitting behind a desk or keyboard , playing a bass.. driving a car..etc..
It’s a very individual thing..so there is no right answer

 

[Chrisk-K]

Billy Sheehan plays lower than some, but he has long arms, long fingers and has a 45 degree angle that keeps his left wrist pretty straight.
View attachment 3055899

The photo is not about Billy’s actual playing position. Billy plays relatively high.

 

[vindibona1]

Ergonomically speaking.. there should be zero stress on .. wrist, elbow .. all joints..

That's kind of where I'm headed. When plucking my right hand seems to want to be a tad lower then there is a bit of stress on my left. And then my Yamaha which is about the size of the teal bass in the above photo feels odd if it's too high, while my Ibanez and Fenders feel like the bodies could stand to be a little higher. I dunno. All I know is that I'm super fussy... like 1/2" either way fussy and was hoping there was a rule of thumb. Perhaps the neck plate at the belly button is a good place to start. I can't see it being any lower. My wrist just doesn't want to go that way.

 

[dreamadream99]

bass also happens to be at the same height both sitting or standing that way.

This is the usual approach, from an instructional standpoint. If you sling it too low standing, it will nose dive when you sit, as your thigh pushes up on the body. Instructors will tell you to keep raising it till sitting doesn’t change its orientation.

 

[57pbass]

That's kind of where I'm headed. When plucking my right hand seems to want to be a tad lower then there is a bit of stress on my left. And then my Yamaha which is about the size of the teal bass in the above photo feels odd if it's too high, while my Ibanez and Fenders feel like the bodies could stand to be a little higher. I dunno. All I know is that I'm super fussy... like 1/2" either way fussy and was hoping there was a rule of thumb. Perhaps the neck plate at the belly button is a good place to start. I can't see it being any lower. My wrist just doesn't want to go that way.

You’ll know it when you find that sweet spot.

I was in charge of office ergonomics at my job ( newspaper) for many years.
Computer environment with shifting, sharing work stations.
All work stations were fully adjustable.

Ergonomics are really important since it’s basically a preventative measure to prevent injury ..

We always preached ..
Feet flat on floor
Foot/calf 90 degrees
Calf / thigh 90 degrees
Wrist support
Elbow ..90 degrees
Proper Back support
Hi quality chair with arm rest
Eyes straight ahead to monitor
Line up belly button with B on computer keyboard..

It really makes a difference!

 

[Wulfensteiner]

If I can comfortably reach every note on every string without bending my back or wrists to unnatural angles, I feel like my strap is where it should be. Those guys who sling it around their knees and crab walk around the stage worry me tbh.

 

[Nephilymbass]

There seems to be a lot of variance in how high different players strap on their basses. I'm trying to figure out the optimal height but haven't quite dialed it in yet. Some guys sling their basses down by their crotch. I'm curious as to why, even though I would never do that, as that seems to make serious playing more difficult. But some guys seem to like their basses super high, and I'm most interested in why they do that.

What makes or breaks a given height for you?

For me it really depends on what makes each bass comfortable on my back hands, and wrists. For 6 and 7 string I tend to have them higher like where the body is centered in front of my belly, 4 and 5 string a little lower, more centered around the belt buckle area. The extended range 6 and 7s tend to be heavier basses so having them higher helps ease the strain on my back, having those basses higher also makes the wider necks more a little more manageable. As for the wrist thing, I like to have a middle ground where neither wrist is bent too much. To low makes me bend my left wrist too much, too high and I’m bending right wrist too much.

 

[the slug]

Like this!

 

[the slug]

and sometimes like this

 

[Nev375]

I'm firmly in the ridiculously high camp. I've got to be able to keep my thumb on the back of the neck to play what I want to play.
I agree it looks stupid, but to be honest, I'm not really worth looking at in the first place. So it's not that much of a sacrifice.

 

[biguglyman]

Low enough to expose belly hair!

 

[TrevorR]

Yes, for me it’s all about ergonomics and playing comfort too... Both wrists comfortable without too much bend or stress.

Played that way for... cough cough... decades!

 

[Element Zero]

Depends on the space of the body/neck really. With my ATK 5, it’s maybe an inch higher on the strap than when it’s sitting on my lap. The Pentabuzz I run a few inches higher as it’s easier to play in first and second position for me. With the YY5S, I’m still experimenting with different heights but lately I’ve been enjoying a slightly lower height than when sitting on my lap.

 

[Robscott]

Off the hip.
View attachment 3056052

Cool bass! What is that?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

There seems to be a lot of variance in how high different players strap on their basses. I'm trying to figure out the optimal height but haven't quite dialed it in yet. Some guys sling their basses down by their crotch. I'm curious as to why, even though I would never do that, as that seems to make serious playing more difficult. But some guys seem to like their basses super high, and I'm most interested in why they do that.

What makes or breaks a given height for you?

About belly button. I try to make my standing height about what my sitting height is...about. sometimes I stand play slightly lower. Depends on the genre of the gig, whether I feel the need to look cooler or not.

 

[Watchootognbout]

If it's high, you look too jazz-fusion.
If it's low, you look too metal.
So wear it right in the middle.

View attachment 3055934

So right in the center is good for playing Metal Fusion and Djent Jazz.

 

[somegeezer]

Being able to have a straight forearm and wrist on both arms will be best for your health and comfort.