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Double Bass Difficulty in finding the right height for my EUB

W

Whippet

Aug 30, 2014
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#1
Guys, I am having a hard time finding the correct height for my NS EU6 and the Landscape Swing Master Bass Gamba.

99% of the time, I use the NS EU6 and only when I am in Japan, (every 3 to 4 months for 2 weeks) I use the cheap Landscape.

Currently my NS is set up so the C (3rd fret) is right at my eye level. I set it here so when I play the A on the 5th, my elbow is relaxed and is an easy position for me to muscle to memorize. It can get tiring on my triceps if I only play that one position.

Looking at the internet, many people seems to be playing at a much lower height and their bass is angled more. I put enough angle on the EU6 so that I can use the meat of my finger without cramping up the ring finger and pinky. so I believe that is correct.

My teacher has recommended me this type of height and the internet has a bunch of people using this kind of height too, including Ray Brown. I am sure he knows what he's recommending.

The problem is that my Landscape's pin doesnt go that long and it plays much lower than the EU6.

Should I just adjust my height to the Landscape to make the transition easier or should I keep the EU6 height? Is there even a correct text book height or is it just a personal preference?

I would ask my teacher but I'm back in Japan and won't see him for another 2 weeks and I really want to practice at the correct height.

Thanks for all advice in advance.
 
#2
It can hardly be given the exact answer. For the EUB there is no tradition and no common system.

My experience is this. No problems with DB. I adjust the height as I was taught for a comfortable standing. This allows my hands to be located conveniently and easily to play in different positions.

With EUB everything is different. I tried to adjust the EUB to the same height as the DB. It worked for hands with a bass on a mono stand, but because of the small case it was not convenient to hold the bass. And this does not work at all with bass on a tripod, since your body does not perform the function of support. The teacher could not help me, because there is still no single approach to bass.
We need to look for the best solution in three parameters:
1) hand position
2) body position
3) your interaction with bass

By trial I found the best solution for me. I lower the bass on the mono stand and put it more vertically to reduce the load on the body. This is similar to the position of Butch Warren or Omer Avital (if you imagine that they use EUB). I lift the bass on a tripod very high and strongly tilt back so that it almost lies on my shoulder. This is a bit like the position of Rufus Reid or Garcia-Fons (imagine with EUB too).

Both methods are different from DB. I can not give advice, this is just my experience. Perhaps with an increase in the time of my classes, I will change this position.
 
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#3
VictorW126 said:
It can hardly be given the exact answer. For the EUB there is no tradition and no common system.

My experience is this. No problems with DB. I adjust the height as I was taught for a comfortable standing. This allows my hands to be located conveniently and easily to play in different positions.

With EUB everything is different. I tried to adjust the EUB to the same height as the DB. It worked for hands with a bass on a mono stand, but because of the small case it was not convenient to hold the bass. And this does not work at all with bass on a tripod, since your body does not perform the function of support. The teacher could not help me, because there is still no single approach to bass.
We need to look for the best solution in three parameters:
1) hand position
2) body position
3) your interaction with bass

By trial I found the best solution for me. I lower the bass on the mono stand and put it more vertically to reduce the load on the body. This is similar to the position of Butch Warren or Omer Avital (if you imagine that they use EUB). I lift the bass on a tripod very high and strongly tilt back so that it almost lies on my shoulder. This is a bit like the position of Rufus Reid or Garcia-Fons (imagine with EUB too).

Both methods are different from DB. I can not give advice, this is just my experience. Perhaps with an increase in the time of my classes, I will change this position.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the indepth information. As you mentioned, hand, body and interaction is what I am starting to understand as I play the Landscape bass.

After initially struggling with the NS EU6, I am starting to understand that inorder to get a good tone, my right hand has to be relaxed and I should be playing with not just the fingertip but with the greater part of my finger.

Inorder to do this, the hand angle position relative to the bass has to be correct, or else my ring and pinky start to cramp up. Also I am starting to take consideration of my left arm, elbow, and hand. I see that unless my face is closer to the neck, there is no way I can keep my left hand bowed so that I don't stress it out too much.

If I set my playing position to my hand position, the body position is somewhat set too. And that leaves the interaction part of the equation.

This is a difficult issue since I have no idea what comfortable, playable, and accurate means in terms of playing the EUB measured in hours.

I guess I will just have to continue to experiment with both basses and see how different setups alter the final outcome, which is tone.

Anyway thanks for the information. You just cleared out some foggy thoughts in my mind. I'll just have to work this out over time.
 

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