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Basses with Good Ergonomics?
- Thread starter Gare Boo
- Start date
Id say they arent cheap but these days a new one is actually cheaper than most other builders...
Carl Thompson
His basses are all like 6lbs and are designed w the player in mind. Smart placement of strap buttons, refined neck angle so you dont have to reach, heck the bass will even balance on your lap handsfree (show me ANY other instrument that will do this). They are just tough to find and require extreme amount of patience when ordering new...but they are hands down the best playing basses.
Carl Thompson
His basses are all like 6lbs and are designed w the player in mind. Smart placement of strap buttons, refined neck angle so you dont have to reach, heck the bass will even balance on your lap handsfree (show me ANY other instrument that will do this). They are just tough to find and require extreme amount of patience when ordering new...but they are hands down the best playing basses.
My Warwick Streamer Stage I 5-string is an absolute delight to play. I'm not sure what your budget is if you're shopping or merely curious, but mine retailed at $3100. The body is small and ridiculously comfortable, and the neck has just enough heft to feel solid but skinny enough to make playing a low C a breeze.
A Fender Precision style bass has darn good ergonomics.
The necks on these 3 are all a bit different,but i find them all within my limits. I’m 5’10”,but have 34” arms,and long fingers. (Piano octave stretch). I think of the 3 basses,you might like the gl best,as it has a very slender neck,and a smaller body size than the typical Jazz bass body,plus the “reach” isnt a stretch.
You can get the Tribute import version for $400. Gl uses lighweight tuning keys on their american made basses,and there is no neck dive.
Go to every store you can get to and play every bass that you find until you find what you can be comfortable with.
Another thing to consider is the bridge placement on the body. If it's close to the edge of the body, it is more likely that the neck won't feel like as far a reach. These are things that you can observe from pictures and get a decent idea on how it will sit on a strap.
Obviously, the best thing is to try each bass out (both sitting and standing). Everyone is different and their experience may vary.
It sounds like a short or medium scale might be better for you.
I don't even play fivers anymore, but my G&L L2500 was one of the most comfy basses I've ever owned. Even when I still had it and didn't use it live much, I'd still reach for it first for couch noodling!
It sounds like the ergonomics they mention for the NS Design CR Radius basses are based on the curved body shape. The upper horn looks long, but it is in line with the 12th/13th fret, which seems just about right for normal/standard balance. Maybe it just looks long because there is no real headstock; just a string ball end stump.
That curved body shape can also be seen on Spector basses and some Warwick basses. I would think that would be ergonomic if you have a little bit of a pot belly.
For now, mine is fairly slim so there's no advantage to that shape for me!
Sukop also has a great, ergonomic body. Limited supply though. Also a light bass (both I've played anyway)
As I understand it, Ned Steinberger (NS) designed the Spector body shape, so this is a continuation of that. I came to this bass from passive P-basses and was surprised at how warm and punchy the EMG pickup sounds. I like that on the WAV it's placed in the P-bass position. When I blend in the piezo I get the warmth and punchiness from the EMG coupled with "oomph" from the piezo. I don't know what the resulting sound would be of swapping out the EMG with something else.
IF I had stoopid money, I'd buy one of these JUST so I could take it to a shop that did PLEK procedures . . . . . . 'yah, this thing is really gooched, it's got a hell of twist on the fingerboard . . . . . '.
A bass with good ergonomics, almost an oxymoron. Weight is one thing, but as far as ergonomics, anything Ned Steinberger designed. Any of his current axes or the NS Spectors can be a revelation the first time you try one one.
I guess I'm cheap and old school but here's what came to mind.
The Steinberger is both cheap and old school because when I bought it you could get one for $800:
The Steinberger is both cheap and old school because when I bought it you could get one for $800:
Definitely find my MTD Heir very comfortable to play, too. Ibanez makes some very comfy, lightweight basses, too. The Volo I play is quite easy on the hands.
The body is curved to fit around your stomach. Hmmm, was this made especially for the US market ?
