Offset Bodies, Yay, or Nay?

[jd56hawk]

Offset is just fine.
As for them not sitting properly in a stand, what is it, the '70s?

Seriously, what about truly uncomfortable bodies...Flying V basses, for one, Thunderbirds, etc.

 

[bigthemat]

I love the look of offsets. Although I ended selling it, I really dug the look of the Talman bass. Jaguars, meteoras, etc. all have that cool kinda retro vibe that I really dig. My current main player (reverend mercalli) has that cool retro vibe with a touch of that retro futurism/googie that I really dig

 

[Element Zero]

It’s a nay (or neigh? Nigh?) for me. Anything that’s a “j bass” shape is a no go for me. My plucking hand forearm ends up pushing in towards my body which pushes the neck out in front and further out making my fretting hand/arm in an uncomfortable position.

 

[creaturegods]

Thanks for listening.

Any time.

 

[RattleSnack]

Offset is just fine.
As for them not sitting properly in a stand, what is it, the '70s?
View attachment 6974958
Seriously, what about truly uncomfortable bodies...Flying V basses, for one, Thunderbirds, etc.

For me, it's only minor inconvenience: main issue is how it balances on a strap. As for that stand, I can't fit that kind in my gig bag. And all the small stands that can fit inside gig bag have bottom body pads and don't balance offset body well:

Yes, I am possibly spoiled

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Some yes, love my Musicmasters and Mustangs. Some no, never been a real fan of Jaguars or more "outside the box" designs.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Yay for me.

 

[Lowbassman]

So I must be missing something--
I never considered a Jazz bass to be offsets; the Jaguar and Jazzmaster bodies (with others) are really "off" offsets.
That's a pic of a "PsychoMaster" Bass, a very cool and highly-regarded instrument built by Psychedrhythm Guitars in Ebisu Japan.

Some yes, love my Musicmasters and Mustangs. Some no, never been a real fan of Jaguars or more "outside the box" designs.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I don't like them. They just feel weird. Thanks for listening.

I have one of each. Doesn’t make much difference to me. In general, I don’t buy basses to look at them. I’m way more interested in what I can get out of them musically.

 

[mambo4]

I hate the offset jazz shape, a recipe for falling over in my experience.
ain't always a stand handy, and I like to lean my instrument against my cab in a pinch
I forget as soon as I start playing my Lull tho

 

[Dust2Dust]

I like my jaguars, and although I like my Jazz bass for tone the body sometimes feels like I'm playing a garbage can lid

 

[Jefenator]

Reverse offset FTW:

IME the only real advantage of non-offset bodies is that they are easier to leave on the floor leaning against the amp.
I usually don't do that, so why not look cool?

 

[Richard Lindsey]

And all the small stands that can fit inside gig bag have bottom body pads and don't balance offset body well

Not entirely true. Fender makes one that can be tweaked to accommodate offset bodies like the Jazz.

Amazon.com

 

[Killing Floor]

2 things.

YOU can’t feel the difference between a P or J when playing with a strap EVEN if you say you can.

And the base of an old school stand swivels and they have been like that since at least 1980 so that’s not a problem anyone here has experienced either.

This lesson brought to you by science.

 

[eeyorebass]

Curious regarding the reach on J vs P. I *think* because of the smaller body shape, the P is slightly less of a reach to the first fret when standing, but considering the waist of the bottom horn of the J site a bit forward, it offsets that little extra bit of distance when seated. Thoughts on this?

Nut width gets a lot of attention but I think distance to first fret is worth more discussion than it receives as I find it to be a greater determinant of comfort compared to nut width.

I primarily play seated, and this has been my experience. The offset of my Jazz pushes the nut out a little farther than a P. The jazz is my only bass at the moment, so I deal, but it will likely be the last offset design I buy.

 

[RattleSnack]

YOU can’t feel the difference between a P or J when playing with a strap EVEN if you say you can.

Thank you for informing me and every other forum user what can and cannot be felt. Just wondering, what science are you referring to?

 

[Chrisk-K]

I don’t like the appearance or the feel of an offset body.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

Same stand and offset bodies tilt at an angle. What am I missing?

On my Sadowsky M5, I align the left hook of the stand with the B string on the bridge. Stays pretty balanced.

 

[Vitrius Humor]

I like offsets. They hide my fat stomach better.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Big yay from me.