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Thanks! I sure appreciate you taking the time to take/post those photos.
Not getting off-track here - but in my purchase research I also tried an Epi TB. I see that you have a TB too. I’m talking about that in a different thread. Somewhat similar to the Aerodyne, the TB doesn’t have a super smooth/beveled body where the picking forearm drapes over the body.
Not getting off-track here - but in my purchase research I also tried an Epi TB. I see that you have a TB too. I’m talking about that in a different thread. Somewhat similar to the Aerodyne, the TB doesn’t have a super smooth/beveled body where the picking forearm drapes over the body.
This reminds me of a story I passed on here years ago;
I started off on a first-gen Aerodyne Jazz. To me, the binding was just a part of playing, much like learning on an acoustic guitar...it was no big deal and I never gave it much thought. After I started branching out and building my own basses, I was using the Aerodyne less and less.
One day, I decided to blow the dust off my 'Dyne and wouldn't you know it, I had gotten so used to leaning in hard on a Jazzes upper bout, the binding was digging into my forearm.
The problem wasn't the Aerodyne, but was me! I was no longer keeping my elbow and shoulder every-so-slightly elevated when playing because I'd "adapted" to the standard Jazz bass body! In other words, I'd gotten lazy!
Since then, I try not to lean too much into the upper bout, no matter which Jazz I'm using. It ain't easy, but I consider it all a part of re-adapting to playing in the first place.
This reminds me of a story I passed on here years ago;
I started off on a first-gen Aerodyne Jazz. To me, the binding was just a part of playing, much like learning on an acoustic guitar...it was no big deal and I never gave it much thought. After I started branching out and building my own basses, I was using the Aerodyne less and less.
One day, I decided to blow the dust off my 'Dyne and wouldn't you know it, I had gotten so used to leaning in hard on a Jazzes upper bout, the binding was digging into my forearm.
The problem wasn't the Aerodyne, but was me! I was no longer keeping my elbow and shoulder every-so-slightly elevated when playing because I'd "adapted" to the standard Jazz bass body! In other words, I'd gotten lazy!
Since then, I try not to lean too much into the upper bout, no matter which Jazz I'm using. It ain't easy, but I consider it all a part of re-adapting to playing in the first place.
Interesting! Great points here. I am an odd duck, I guess. My playing/right arm position on bass has never been such that a slab body with a sharp edge bothered me. BUT... when playing guitar (I'm a chuggy rhythm player on guitar) Les Pauls cause me pain after about 1hr of intense playing. Oddly enough, my slab-bodies Tele doesn't bug me. I am probably (definitely) a lazy guitar player, lol!
I don't wear my guitars/basses really high or very low... just kinda "in the middle", I guess. I think that has a big effect on whether someone's arm is pushed hard again the body bevel, or just resting easily in-line with the body surface.
I think the way I rest/anchor at the pickups when playing bass keeps my hand kind up and off the body pulls my forearm away, keeping it from being a problem area for me.
I never liked the Aerodyne's upper body edge either so to adjust that, I began wearing a wristband to eliminate the sensation.... and because my hand and wrist get sweaty and stick to the finish.
Just to be geeky: my Aerodyne is an CIJ 2005 bought used. The hardware was in bad shape and replaced with Hipshot replacements and the pickups were switched to an Aguilar P/J set...all blacked out, we call it, The Count.
Just to be geeky: my Aerodyne is an CIJ 2005 bought used. The hardware was in bad shape and replaced with Hipshot replacements and the pickups were switched to an Aguilar P/J set...all blacked out, we call it, The Count.
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Kind of has a Duff McKagan look with the wrist band.
It’s a complicated equation. Playing height/strap length, the angle of the bass, the angle of the arm and wrist, playing style, and your personal physique plays a part. Changing any of those factors even slightly will yield a different result. I find my Aerodyne very comfortable, but YMM, as always, V.This reminds me of a story I passed on here years ago;
I started off on a first-gen Aerodyne Jazz. To me, the binding was just a part of playing, much like learning on an acoustic guitar...it was no big deal and I never gave it much thought. After I started branching out and building my own basses, I was using the Aerodyne less and less.
One day, I decided to blow the dust off my 'Dyne and wouldn't you know it, I had gotten so used to leaning in hard on a Jazzes upper bout, the binding was digging into my forearm.
The problem wasn't the Aerodyne, but was me! I was no longer keeping my elbow and shoulder every-so-slightly elevated when playing because I'd "adapted" to the standard Jazz bass body! In other words, I'd gotten lazy!
Since then, I try not to lean too much into the upper bout, no matter which Jazz I'm using. It ain't easy, but I consider it all a part of re-adapting to playing in the first place.
The ol' "personal ergonomics" thing, eh? Given my line of work (massage and sports therapist), I've seen this countless times. One, small change and what works for one person doesn't for another...or many others.
I was gonna say much the same, but if I remember correctly, Duff plays way, waaaaaay lower.
He very much reminds me of the swimmer, Michael Phelps. On land, he's gawky and awkward. But, when he's in the water, he takes off like a rocket. It's like he was built for aquatic shenanigans, much more than anywhere else.
So, circling back to Duff...I believe his long, lanky arms and hands work really well with his low-body/high-headstock, chugging-style of pick-playing.
The thunderbird is definitely a unique beast to tame. I play mine at an almost 70° angle to mitigate the extra length of the neck and the pickups being closer/ body being shorter than my Fenders. The quirks are easily overlooked once you get those piano like tones dialed in.
Here are some pics of my dolphin grey jazz from my Black Wednesday gig last week. As I’d hoped, it looks fantastic when it catches some light.
Someone came up to me after the show to say that he despises Fender, but I almost changed his mind with this bass. While I don’t passionately dislike fender myself, these are some of the first examples that I’ve really been excited about bringing out and playing for 3 hours a night. I can see myself paring down on basses and using the dolphin for the cover band and stormtrooper P for the rest. Especially with my white fearful 12/6 and black mesa w800 as my rig for everything else. I think it looks pretty dang sharp. Will try to get a photo of the stormtrooper look at my gig on Thursday.
Someone came up to me after the show to say that he despises Fender, but I almost changed his mind with this bass. While I don’t passionately dislike fender myself, these are some of the first examples that I’ve really been excited about bringing out and playing for 3 hours a night. I can see myself paring down on basses and using the dolphin for the cover band and stormtrooper P for the rest. Especially with my white fearful 12/6 and black mesa w800 as my rig for everything else. I think it looks pretty dang sharp. Will try to get a photo of the stormtrooper look at my gig on Thursday.
Thanks! I was having a great time!Nice "bass-face"! Neater shoes, too!!
And since you said bass face, I just have to throw this one out there:
See that, lil' Timmy? That's a man who's feeling the "BUZZ-BUZZ-BUZZ" of that E-string!Thanks! I was having a great time!
And since you said bass face, I just have to throw this one out there:
View attachment 5266346
I was gonna say much the same, but if I remember correctly, Duff plays way, waaaaaay lower.
He very much reminds me of the swimmer, Michael Phelps. On land, he's gawky and awkward. But, when he's in the water, he takes off like a rocket. It's like he was built for aquatic shenanigans, much more than anywhere else.
So, circling back to Duff...I believe his long, lanky arms and hands work really well with his low-body/high-headstock, chugging-style of pick-playing.
Does Duff play alternate picking, or only downstrokes?
So…what song were you were playing that brought out that bass-face?Thanks! I was having a great time!
And since you said bass face, I just have to throw this one out there:
View attachment 5266346
Using his slightly-more-recent "Walking Papers" era as a guide, it looks like he mostly does down-strokes, except when it's ergonomically beneficial to alternate...or whenever he just feels like alternating. (eg: second vid at 3:40)
This, also, looks like the time he was rockin' a Fender @Reggie Hamilton body paired with a Fender Geddy Lee neck. Ultimately, though, put it together with whichever strings and pick he prefers*, he still sounds like "Duff".**
*: By his own admission, he is not a gear-head, so a lot of decisions we fret and hum over are apparently made by his bass tech.
**: Yet more proof about "the tone residing within the fingers", ja?
That got me a-googlin' as I didn't know there was a Tin Roof in Chicago and now I see they had just opened before when you were playing. I used to live a couple blocks from there and know that neighborhood has changed a lot but I see it's changed even more. Hope Tin Roof does well there.
Yup, just opened when we played there! It’s a really nice building with two rooms and a well stocked back line. I went direct rather than using the Aguilar rig provided. Hope to see it do well and to be able to play there again soon!
