I was just curious as to the purpose of bibs for double basses. I've seen only a couple of players use them, so I figured I'd ask. Is it primarily to protect the finish of the bass?
A shaped cloth that hangs from the neck and drapes over the right shoulder to prevent scratching the finish.
I sat in on Johannes Weidenmueller's bass the other night and noticed that he has his on the left shoulder. I guess he must be more concerned with the sleeve buttons on his shirt causing trouble as he goes in and out of TP.
I've only seen anything similar on one Jazz DBers bass over here - but this seemed to cover like the top third of the back of the bass - it wasn't on one shoulder or the other, but covered both. It's easier to see at Jazz gigs because generally you are closer; but I'll have to look out for this at the next orchestral concert I go to. Last time, I saw the London Symphony playing Messiaen and there was a huge bass section, but I was really too far from the stage to see detail like this.
I scratched by bass that way at my first thumb position lesson; the offending weapon was a steel watchband.
Anyone sitting in on my girl gets a once over for weapons -- zippers, watches, belt buckles and the like.
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