Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Ergonomic Bass thread
- Thread starter echo008
- Start date
Some great basses here ... just wanted to bump to try and keep this going.
Im still thinking about doing a headless Torzal Twist... They just seem like they will keep my wrists in a more "neutral" position naturally.
Im still thinking about doing a headless Torzal Twist... They just seem like they will keep my wrists in a more "neutral" position naturally.
bongomania
Commercial User
There is a whole Barker forum here. Go check it out. I've played them in a store, and I didn't like them, but they have a lot of fans. Again, look at their forum here.
Just a quick note about tendonitis. A couple of years back, I had "lateral epicondylitis" AKA "tennis elbow." Tendonitis that made rotating my hand palm up very painful...which, of course, made playing bass or guitar for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time painful. After suffering through it for several months, trying things like icing it every evening, taking anti-inflammatories, even using one of those brace/strap things. Finally I broke down and went to a pain management doctor (I work in a hospital and see this guy almost every day). He gave me a couple of shots of steroids and a local anesthetic, and it was noticeably better the next day, and within a few days it was like it never happened. If you think you have tendonitis, don't hesitate to see your doctor about it. There's often highly effective treatment that's very simple and easy to do. I feel like a fool for suffering for months when I could have had it taken care of within a few days.
One word of warning, though... because of the local, my whole arm and hand were numb the rest of the day (about 10-12 hours, if I remember right). Probably a good idea to plan on taking that day off from work.
One word of warning, though... because of the local, my whole arm and hand were numb the rest of the day (about 10-12 hours, if I remember right). Probably a good idea to plan on taking that day off from work.
Just a quick note about tendonitis. A couple of years back, I had "lateral epicondylitis" AKA "tennis elbow." Tendonitis that made rotating my hand palm up very painful...which, of course, made playing bass or guitar for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time painful. After suffering through it for several months, trying things like icing it every evening, taking anti-inflammatories, even using one of those brace/strap things. Finally I broke down and went to a pain management doctor (I work in a hospital and see this guy almost every day). He gave me a couple of shots of steroids and a local anesthetic, and it was noticeably better the next day, and within a few days it was like it never happened. If you think you have tendonitis, don't hesitate to see your doctor about it. There's often highly effective treatment that's very simple and easy to do. I feel like a fool for suffering for months when I could have had it taken care of within a few days.
One word of warning, though... because of the local, my whole arm and hand were numb the rest of the day (about 10-12 hours, if I remember right). Probably a good idea to plan on taking that day off from work.
Hey thanks for the advice, I went and saw an orthopedic specialist had xrays and I do have tendonitis in my right wrist it has been in a splint for about 8 weeks now and it is feeling better. I did not want to jump to getting the shots at this point without giving stretching and a good warmup before playing a chance. as well I plan on going to a therapist if I cant handle it on my own from this point on. I really want to think long term. I keep reading that the shots could weaken the tendons and Im trying to avoid them.
I figure I NEED to change the way I play, to be alot more relaxed and again stretch and warmup before I get going.... my quest for an ergonomic bass is on big time.
I sympathize with anyone going through this. I never would have thought this would have happened to me of course until it did.
depending on what your condition is, there are some shots that actually prevent joint damage. for certain types of rhumetoid (sp?) arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, shots are the only known way to prevent irreversible long term joint damage.
as for the david king basses...have you seen mike gordon's (form phish) body-less bass? that thing has to be really light and accessible...although i don't think sitting and playing is an option.
as for the david king basses...have you seen mike gordon's (form phish) body-less bass? that thing has to be really light and accessible...although i don't think sitting and playing is an option.
+1
I have 2 of his basses right now, a 4 and a fan fret 5, and the 4 is the best bass I have ever played from the perspective of total package ergonomics. The Brubaker has a more comfortable neck for me, but the CB is 6.5 pounds and a joy to play.
-1 for Kubicki for what you are looking for. THat thing is a nice bass, I have owned one, but they are heavy.
I am thinking about having a 32" or even a 30" Bordwell made sometime in the future. I want to see if he can get it down to 5.5 pounds and still have no neck dive.
rob
Just an update I have a fretless, headless Torzal twist from little guitar works on order and my Azola should be coming soon....
BUT today I picked up a fretted Steinberger Synapse, with the strap hanger these things are incredibly ergonomic, can be positioned fairly vertical with no problems with balance.... almost no bend in my wrist at all very comfy to play and the tone is very very nice, highly recommended.... Im finally able to play again after 10+ weeks!
- Tom
BUT today I picked up a fretted Steinberger Synapse, with the strap hanger these things are incredibly ergonomic, can be positioned fairly vertical with no problems with balance.... almost no bend in my wrist at all very comfy to play and the tone is very very nice, highly recommended.... Im finally able to play again after 10+ weeks!
- Tom
Carl Thompson basses are the most ergonomic instruments that I have played. Check out this balance, as the bass is not even resting on the back of the chair!
That pic is just awesome!
I hear (typically) CT's are also very lightweight.
Those particular Barker basses are not Tulipwood but Douglas Fir. Seems Lee Barker acquired some lot of wood that was used for many years to age or make wine and thus the grain got this amazing and lovely "pinkish" hue.
I really don't agree with your friend's opinion. I own one of the pinkish limited edition Barker basses !
Bass Iniya that prototype is a good design, truly ergonomic. Really good to see such a design.
I have suggestion about strap button positioning. A button on the back of the horn is a good idea but if it was on the front of the horn it would help to create a slight backwards tilt to the instrument such that the fretboard is more visible. Doing the same with the rear button does this too.
Currently with one on the back and one standard there is a tendency for a forward tilt.
If the rear button is on body front and closer to the neck this will improve balance when standing and allow steeper bass angles, this also reduces how the strap will tend to try to pull the bridge-end of the body towards you which reduces the good done by the long horn.
I have suggestion about strap button positioning. A button on the back of the horn is a good idea but if it was on the front of the horn it would help to create a slight backwards tilt to the instrument such that the fretboard is more visible. Doing the same with the rear button does this too.
Currently with one on the back and one standard there is a tendency for a forward tilt.
If the rear button is on body front and closer to the neck this will improve balance when standing and allow steeper bass angles, this also reduces how the strap will tend to try to pull the bridge-end of the body towards you which reduces the good done by the long horn.
Well, this is not the first prototype.
In the real first prototype a drilled a lot of holes and tried the strap buttons in all kinds of places.
It's true that if I put the buttons on the front of the body, it will create a slight backwards tilt to the instrument.
But the truth is that it depends on what a bass player is seeking or trying to fix;
What I was trying to fix was my struggle when playing 4 or 5 frets spaced riffs on the first frets, it was really bending my left wrist a lot.
They were 2 solutions to that:
1 Longer upper horn to help having the first frets closer
2 Strap the bass some way to favor a forward tilt
Once the upper horn is long enough, it is a lot easier to play, and the forward or backward tilt turn to be more secondary.
I use to strap my bass the way that it favors the forward tilt because it is a bit more confortable for my left hand. I have to add that I don't really have difficulties to see my fretboard but I don't watch the fretboard a lot when I'm playing.
I look more at the fretboard when I'm learning something new, and it is usually sitted down, where it is very easy to put a backward tilt positioning the bass on my leg.
Finally, I have to say that if you want a backward tilt from this bass it is fairly easy to do, like on these pics:
View media item 16083Snapshot_20171105_4 by Bass Iniya posted Nov 7, 2017 at 6:11
Last edited:
Well, if the rear button is closer to the neck, it will not necessarily balance or allow steeper angles, what it does is feeling more stable on your back and shoulders because the 2 ends of the strap are closer one to another.
In fact It has already 2 rear buttons to use whenever I want to have the neck closer to me and have that feel on my back.
And finally about steeper angles, it is just the opposite, the rear button situated more far away is the one I use when I want to play more vertical and have the hand above the pickups more centered with my body.
If I put the strap on the rear button more towards the neck, I have "pickups hand fingering zone" more to the right side of my body.
Centered Body
Snapshot_20171105_7 by Bass Iniya posted Nov 7, 2017 at 6:11
Right Sided
Snapshot_20171105_8 by Bass Iniya posted Nov 7, 2017 at 6:11
Last edited:
