That's funny.
I remember watching John Kerns from The Age of Electric play in Vancouver. Not only did he max out his bass strap, he bent over such that the bass was around his ankles. It was a hilarious sight...and he played the entire set that way.
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low slung bass guitar player
- Thread starter Blunk
- Start date
That's funny.
I remember watching John Kerns from The Age of Electric play in Vancouver. Not only did he max out his bass strap, he bent over such that the bass was around his ankles. It was a hilarious sight...and he played the entire set that way.
I did that last fall when we did an opening stint for The Color Red (they are the brothers of Ty from Alien Ant F.). Normally I strap at about scrode-level, but for those shows I maxed out the strap and hunched so low my bass was inches off the floor. T.C.R. told me afterward they were gonna put roller skate wheels on the bottom of my bass so I can roll it along instead!
(I also tripped on the fog machine and fell onto the drumset one of those nights too, but that's another story!)
(I also tripped on the fog machine and fell onto the drumset one of those nights too, but that's another story!)
Peter Hook from New Order wears his bass very low. He's always bent over double when he plays. Also, I heard that Sid Vicious used a chain strap - owww!
I'm sorry, I can't understand anyone who wears their bass as statement of style over comfort and practicality. I would have no part in a band that ordered me to wear my bass one way or another. In fact, I'd beat the crap out of them for wasting my time.
By the way, I wear mine high. It allows me easy access all over the fretboard. More importantly, my playing position remains the same whether I'm sitting or standing.
I'm sorry, I can't understand anyone who wears their bass as statement of style over comfort and practicality. I would have no part in a band that ordered me to wear my bass one way or another. In fact, I'd beat the crap out of them for wasting my time.
By the way, I wear mine high. It allows me easy access all over the fretboard. More importantly, my playing position remains the same whether I'm sitting or standing.
I remember seeing a video for this band Blue Cheer (playing Summertime Blues) and their singer/bassist had his bass around his knees. I would guess that this is the first one back in the late 60's.
Dickie Peterson, then.
The band, who was so loud, as their manager said, they made "the air into cottage cheese."
They were the first band I ever saw where the bassist and guitarist had more than one Marshall stack apiece.
To be honest, if people want to have their bass
as low as their ankles or as high as their chin, who cares - music is all about expressing yourself so maybe that's how they feel most comfortable doing it.
I just asked the question at the start because i was curious as to who started the "trend".
I remember a mate of mine trying to make his strap even LONGER by tying a shoe string onto the last notch in the strap...he could just about play it, it looked hilarious!
as low as their ankles or as high as their chin, who cares - music is all about expressing yourself so maybe that's how they feel most comfortable doing it.
I just asked the question at the start because i was curious as to who started the "trend".
I remember a mate of mine trying to make his strap even LONGER by tying a shoe string onto the last notch in the strap...he could just about play it, it looked hilarious!
I am sorry if I offend. I have seen a bass player sling his/her bass low that was worth a ****! I suggest leaving the fashion statements to supermodels.
Flea and Eric Avery spring to mind as two exellent bassists who slung their basses low.
At the end of the day , I reckon that the last thing people want to see is a bass player who wears his instrument under his chin and looks like he's falling into a coma.
At the end of the day , I reckon that the last thing people want to see is a bass player who wears his instrument under his chin and looks like he's falling into a coma.
I think it's all really due to the conspiracy that was started by the American military/industrial complex that, in the 60s, included guitar strap manufacturers. It seems that nylon webbing was in short supply during the Vietnam era due to the war therefore cutting the supply for what the Dept. of Defence called "recreational uses". As a result, guitar straps were shortened. As tensions eased in the 70's and 80's, more material was available for recreational use guitar straps and as a results guitarists were allowed the luxury of low slung guitars. After the fall of the Soviet empire in 1990, additional supplies of nylon webbing were now available on the free market and strap manufacturers were now taking advantage of the situation. Where will the trend go to next? Only geopolitics will be able to tell us...
DD
What about these guys?
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COPY AND PASTE THIS ONE!
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Sorry guys, I am not convinced. I am not saying that my opinion is better than yours, still when I think of the better players that I have seen over the years, typically the ones that did the Jimmy Page thing were lousy players.
For example, the bass player for Creed just does not impress me, although I will certainly not argue that Flea is a great player.
Like I said, leave the fashion statements to supermodels. As a bass player, I am more concerned with the quality of my grooves than I am with my image under the spotlight. I know that virtually all of you will agree with that sentiment.
For example, the bass player for Creed just does not impress me, although I will certainly not argue that Flea is a great player.
Like I said, leave the fashion statements to supermodels. As a bass player, I am more concerned with the quality of my grooves than I am with my image under the spotlight. I know that virtually all of you will agree with that sentiment.
I can think of a jillion low slingers that can play. Maybe it's the style of music you like. In my experience rock players play low. Jazz and country play high. Most likely because their influences did so. It gets kind of old listening to "he plays fender, he sucks" or "only rubes play flatwounds". There are a lot of good players hanging low, just like there are guys who suck with the bass up to their chin. Hell, Geddy Lee used to play low, then he moved it up to mid level. Is it because he got better or is it because the bass he was using felt better that way. My precision feels good slung low, but my Punisher feels better mid-way.
Agree, in the end it's a matter of preference, and we are all individuals. What works for me, may not work for you. What I am saying is: don't forsake quality playing to achieve a quality image. If you sling your axe low because it looks good, you are doing it for the wrong reasons. If you are doing it because that is where you achieve optimal performace, go for it
Dirt Dog posted a pic of this guy (one of my idols)
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If you don't know who Robert Trujillo is, then find out! He is one of THE biggest bass monsters around. And the guys' chops are scary-incredible! So what if he or anyone else slings low? That never makes anyone a crappy player. I've been a bassist for a long time and seen it all, and where the bass is slung doesn't make a player good or bad. Believe me, I've seen it both ways. Also there is no formula to who is going to develope tendinitis...strapped up to your chin with your right hand bent over like that it can happen too.
Come to think of it Larry Graham (of Sly & family Stone/Graham Central Station) played his slung lower too and that's since the 60's.
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If you don't know who Robert Trujillo is, then find out! He is one of THE biggest bass monsters around. And the guys' chops are scary-incredible! So what if he or anyone else slings low? That never makes anyone a crappy player. I've been a bassist for a long time and seen it all, and where the bass is slung doesn't make a player good or bad. Believe me, I've seen it both ways. Also there is no formula to who is going to develope tendinitis...strapped up to your chin with your right hand bent over like that it can happen too.
Come to think of it Larry Graham (of Sly & family Stone/Graham Central Station) played his slung lower too and that's since the 60's.
some other notable low-slingers-
Scott Thunes (Frank Zappa)
Simon Gallup (The Cure)
David Ellefson (Megadeth)
Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden)
I remember Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black sabbath, Company of snakes, Brian May band etc.) saying in an interview he has to wear it low when playing fingerstyle or else his "wrist gets mangled up", but prefers to wear it high when using a pick or slapping.
Scott Thunes (Frank Zappa)
Simon Gallup (The Cure)
David Ellefson (Megadeth)
Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden)
I remember Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black sabbath, Company of snakes, Brian May band etc.) saying in an interview he has to wear it low when playing fingerstyle or else his "wrist gets mangled up", but prefers to wear it high when using a pick or slapping.
The bassplayer of the band "Ash" wears his bass so low he can't reach the G-string (I'm not talking about underwear here, btw) which is probably the reason for him only having 3 strings on his instrument.
I reckon some basses just look ridiculous in high positions, for example "Explorer" shaped and similar ones. But then again, ... (see my signature)
I reckon some basses just look ridiculous in high positions, for example "Explorer" shaped and similar ones. But then again, ... (see my signature)
Originally posted by volker
The bassplayer of the band "Ash" wears his bass so low he can't reach the G-string (I'm not talking about underwear here, btw) which is probably the reason for him only having 3 strings on his instrument.
I reckon some basses just look ridiculous in high positions, for example "Explorer" shaped and similar ones. But then again, ... (see my signature)
John Entwhistle played an explorer wearing it a little too high, and it sure looked ugly....
but hey, ugly is cool, right??
