• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hold your bass pretty low?

I was looking at pictures of rex brown, and god damn does he play low! Just wondering how many of you bassists out there play pretty low. I would say I play mine at a medium elevation. I've tried playing low but man was it uncomfortable.
 
I tend to have it quite low. Although it is a lot easier to play higher up when the strap is shorter, the low notes are nicely at hand when the strap is longer. And I can make the high bits work.

Plus the added advantage of hiding my crotch. Don't want the ladies over me TOO much.
 
I can usually tell how good someone is by where there bass is when they put it on..
The higher the Bass the better the bassplayer...
They're are of course exceptions, but I find this to hold fairly true...

Meh, crap. I hate stereotypes and prejudices like that.
I don't need to get my bass up to my neck to be able to play a more complex line or a bass solo or slap or whatever.

PLENTY of great bassists who hold it on the medium or lower side, but still play incredibly.
Just take Alderete for example. He's an absolute monster.
 
I can usually tell how good someone is by where there bass is when they put it on..
The higher the Bass the better the bassplayer...

What weak parameters to judge somebody on their bass playing. Seriously. You must spend too much time with those po-faced academic bassists who think the only way you can suceed at life is by transcribing out 30 year old jazz solos to a crowd of equally po-faced academic bassists.

And for the record check out this guy:

Invalid Link Removed


I presume you really enjoy this sort of noise, but I (and every none-bassist ever) would be bored of this stuff in no time.
 
I wear mine pretty low, but i have really rather long arms so it works for me. Plus im lefthanded, which apparently is the root of all evil so meh ha ha.

But i would say that the body of the bass is sqaurely over my belt, and the 12th fret is just above my hip.

I actually think bass players that have their bass quite high look, well... funky. But i find it really incomfortable.

And in response, to the higher worn the better the player. Tsk Tsk, i can name several bassists that are awesome and dont play high up.
 
I can usually tell how good someone is by where there bass is when they put it on..
The higher the Bass the better the bassplayer...
They're are of course exceptions, but I find this to hold fairly true...

reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaly
its funny in my experience i've found the higher the bass the more "high and mighty" the attitude of the player
there are of course exceptions but i find this to hold fairly true;)

its also a well known fact that red cars go faster than any other colour
and its also possible to spot a criminal from how far apart his eyes are:smug:
 
its also a well known fact that red cars go faster than any other colour
and its also possible to spot a criminal from how far apart his eyes are:smug:[/QUOTE]

hahahahaha! awesome. Strap height is not only comfort, but image... rarely seen a metal player with a short strap, rarely seen a jazzer playing with a bass at his knees....but over time (20 yrs) due to strain, most end up in the middle somewhere..
 
Yup, its all biomechanics. And for you youngin's, it WILL be. Even ol Billy Sheehan dont play down at this knees anymore. It is easy to be prejudiced against the knee knockers though, and we shouldnt.

Me, ( not that it should matters to any of you what I do), i need that upper horn stuck hard in my sternum so I can feel it even if I cant hear it. So I always have the bass dug into me somewhere. That way I can still play it when I'm a deaf , drooling , sob in my 70's. I am becoming Aqualung.

(It may be a psychological thing, like a baby blanket, as I used to do the same with other pieces of, um , iron that I was requried to wear and use. Well, thank God, not use.)