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Hold your bass pretty low?
- Thread starter drewsky2004
- Start date
rockstarbassist
Inactive
When I was playing during college in my original+cover band and it was a 3-piece acoustic rock gig, I played with it right in the center of my stomach if not a little higher as I was using MTDs, Warwicks, Modulus, etc. and needed the full access to the neck and all the frets.
Now I play it with the body of the bass about belt or waist level. I had it all the way down to my upper upper thigh for a while but at 6'4, that was quite a reach and killing my middle back!
Now I play it with the body of the bass about belt or waist level. I had it all the way down to my upper upper thigh for a while but at 6'4, that was quite a reach and killing my middle back!
In my younger days, I used to play with my bass slung really low and hold my right arm almost perfectly straight. As time went by, I kept moving the bass up and up and now play with it around my stomach area.
I play a T-bird, so I keep it way low. When I play my fretless or other basses, I wear it ALOT higher. Hmm, I guess it's true that 'birds feel better played lower. I tried raising it and felt like a d!ck.
I usually play so that my right hand is somewhere near my belt line. It is a good compromise, not too high or low
I switch between four holes at the bottom of my strap, depending on the song. For loud, fast aggressive playing it's all the way down at my knees, but for soft with a light touch it's at my chest.
On 4 and 5 string I wear it with the strings about even with my belt. For 6 string I like it higher (about the location it is when sitting down), so I can get my left wrist down allowing me to reach the B string comfortably. I know it is unusual to have two different heights for different basses, but it works for me. I have a Levy's 4" padded leather strap with two strap locks on the bottom end at the two locations so I can switch easily.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I am not that comfortable playing when seated, so although I tried that, I've found that just an inch or so lower on the strap than where it hits when seated it comfortable for me. Like another poster said: any lower and it would hurt my left wrist; any higher and it would hurt my right wrist.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Imbecile, table for one? Your reservation is ready.
Also re: Rex, in the Nov. '10 BP Mag interview they specifically talk about his low-strung posture for all these years and now he's had to bring it up since it's attempted murder on his back haha.
I used to wear mine low when I gave a damn about how other kids thought I looked. Then I wore it crazy high so as to better get to the upper registers... Now I'd say I play it medium high, which was always the place I told students to hold it. So far as I can see, the only reason to sling one's bass (or guitar, for that matter) really low is right up there with wearing pants to baggy they fall off, or baseball caps sideways - you want your teenage buddies to think you look cool. 
