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Most Comfortable Body shape

#26
Marcury said:
A friend of mine has offered to build me a six string fretless and I need to come up with the body design. What are folks opinions here about what body shapes and styles are most comfortable to play?
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YOU need to go pick up a bunch of basses and see what is most comfortable for YOU

Some folks love the Jazz, but it fits me like a pair of left shoes. Same with a Ric, coolest looking bass but an ergonomic nightmare for me.

Everyone is gonna have their opinion but you need to form your own based on your own experience.

Jim
 
#27
spideyjg said:
YOU need to go pick up a bunch of basses and see what is most comfortable for YOU

Some folks love the Jazz, but it fits me like a pair of left shoes. Same with a Ric, coolest looking bass but an ergonomic nightmare for me.

Everyone is gonna have their opinion but you need to form your own based on your own experience.

Jim
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I hear you and I've been playing 30 years so believe me I've tried a lot of basses. But there are many I haven't and I'm interested in what people here think because it's likely that someone will come up with something I haven't tried that might be a great choice.
 
#28
Marcury said:
I'm real interested in the MTD, why would you want the horn longer?
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Neck dive, Marcury. It's manageable on my Artist 5, but on my Z6, it's a downright pain. I'm trying to figure out a way around this besides shortening the strap (my technique is based on classical guitar and I tend to keep the neck at about a 45 degree angle from the ground, so shortening the strap is really not an option). I already moved the strap button a few inches toward the bass side of the bridge, and that helped a little bit, but not nearly enough.
 
#29
Dave Muscato said:
Neck dive, Marcury. It's manageable on my Artist 5, but on my Z6, it's a downright pain. I'm trying to figure out a way around this besides shortening the strap (my technique is based on classical guitar and I tend to keep the neck at about a 45 degree angle from the ground, so shortening the strap is really not an option). I already moved the strap button a few inches toward the bass side of the bridge, and that helped a little bit, but not nearly enough.
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Dave, thanks for letting me know about that. The major reason i made this post is I want to avoid design pitfalls like neck dive and end up with a design that really works. I am surprised to hear that about Tobias designed basses. I tend to think of him as an ultimate. I see from your avatar the angle you play at. Must be tiring to use a neck divey bass.
 
#30
MichaelScott said:
Just make sure that:

1- The horn goes up the the 12th fret to prevent neck dive
2- There is a bend in the body so that it can rest on your leg.
3- There isn't a sharp edge where you drape your right arm
4- It is light
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That's about all ya need, eh? Really, that's about all I look for. The Rob Allen MB2 and Peavey Cirrus/Conklin Sidewinder work extremely well.

One thing I kinda like about the Conklin is having the strap button behind the horn so it doesn't twist.
 
#31
spade2you said:
That's about all ya need, eh? Really, that's about all I look for. The Rob Allen MB2 and Peavey Cirrus/Conklin Sidewinder work extremely well.

One thing I kinda like about the Conklin is having the strap button behind the horn so it doesn't twist.
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The Sidewinder; that's the body style on your six string Conklin right? Would you mind posting a pic of that one again?
 
#32
Marcury said:
The Sidewinder; that's the body style on your six string Conklin right? Would you mind posting a pic of that one again?
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DSC00707.jpg


Here ya go. The top horn comes to about the 10th stop, but I suspect that they use the same body design on the odd 4-10 string basses in all sorts of scale lengths.
 
#33
I happen to really really like the shape of my warwick corvette, simply because it's a very small body and as such really can't get in the way too much. However on the other side of things, my cirrus 6 is absolutley huge, especially in comparison to the 'wick, but has lots and lots of contours and is still very very comfy. Although it does have the slightest bit of neck dive, nothing that a full set of hipshot ultralights couldn't remedy I would think. BTW the cirrus is a 6 and 'wick a 4.
 
#34
spade2you said:
DSC00707.jpg


Here ya go. The top horn comes to about the 10th stop, but I suspect that they use the same body design on the odd 4-10 string basses in all sorts of scale lengths.
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Thanks, that's got some real potential. I like the deep cut on the treble side.


ElDunco said:
I happen to really really like the shape of my warwick corvette, simply because it's a very small body and as such really can't get in the way too much. However on the other side of things, my cirrus 6 is absolutley huge, especially in comparison to the 'wick, but has lots and lots of contours and is still very very comfy. Although it does have the slightest bit of neck dive, nothing that a full set of hipshot ultralights couldn't remedy I would think. BTW the cirrus is a 6 and 'wick a 4.
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Hmm...

Small could work, have you played a 6 string Corvette? Does it dive?
 
#35
I'm pretty sure I've played a 6er 'vette. I don't seem to remember anything really negative about it other than having a neck I didn't care for too much. So I'd venture to say neck dive wasn't a big issue. I know for a fact the thumb I played for me was pretty dang uncomfortable and it didn't want to dive too much, and thats with a much smaller body.

I have played a 5er Katana and that was superbly comfy. Although it has a simply huge body on the thing. I really don't see how one more string would cause it to neck dive at all.

Theres been a few 6 string carvins I've played that were pretty nice. I don't know which models they were for sure however.

Theres also one of these at the music store I work at that I was considering buying for awhile. Not a hint of neck dive at all.
Washburn XB926
Link Removed
 
#39
The main issue I have with traditional shapes is that the top wing gets in the way of the right arm, especially when sitting down. I would certainly think about making that wing smaller and more rounded, so perhaps the suggestions of steinberger or bongo shapes is on track.

I don't own this Status, but I like the idea of it:
 

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