Slung low or high?

[wvbass]

I recently dropped my bass considerably lower and it is easier on my hands and wrists. I also don't hate the way a Thunderbird hangs on a strap. And I think some Fenders neck-dive a little.

High or low, though, I don't get all the disrespect for sombody that wears their bass differently than you do. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. Yeah, I'm talking to you.

 

[Meddle]

Just thought I'd post this...I borrowed it from a thread that Michael Henderson started today. Any of you low-slung-bassist haters want to question Michael Henderson's skills?

Thought not.

How about Paul Jackson with Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[nukes_da_bass]

How about Paul Jackson with Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters.

Invalid Link Removed

See, this is perfect. Low body high neck!
My beef is with bassists who keep their headstocks slightly above the knee, removing almost all possibility of complex left hand technique.

 

[georgestrings]

Exactly. I've always thought (and still do) that bassists who wear their basses above their junk look dorky.

If you're playing rock, looking cool (or trying to) is part of it. Dee Dee Ramone, Nick Oliveri, and Kris Novoselic all look cooler than Billy Sheehan.

You left out Geezer Butler and Duff McKagan - two of my favorite rock bassists...


- georgestrings

 

[godofthunder59]

I just wear it where it is comfortable for me. Pretty low I guess for a old guy

 

[Meddle]

Exactly. I've always thought (and still do) that bassists who wear their basses above their junk look dorky.

If you're playing rock, looking cool (or trying to) is part of it. Dee Dee Ramone, Nick Oliveri, and Kris Novoselic all look cooler than Billy Sheehan.

Billy Sheehan would look cooler if he didn't wear sweatpants and had male camel-toe on display.

 

[mark beem]

High for me.

 

[I am Soma]

See, this is perfect. Low body high neck!
My beef is with bassists who keep their headstocks slightly above the knee, removing almost all possibility of complex left hand technique.

Having a beef with how anyone else plays is lame.

 

[s_mcsleazy]

not too low, not too high.

i play a great deal of high basslines and low ones to boot. this is the ideal hight for me.

 

[georgestrings]

Having a beef with how anyone else plays is lame.

Agreed 100%...


- georgestrings

 

[spade2you]

Having a beef with how anyone else plays is lame.

It is. Keep in mind that most musicians are guilty of being excessively judgemental at some point or another.

The thing is, most musicians, especially self-taught tend to have poor technique. Spend a little time on TB and you'll see folks whose technique limits their choice of basses. Simply fixing things could eliminate these issues, but telling a musician that they don't have proper technique makes them agry, even though they've spent less than 5 minutes thinking about technique or developing it.

 

[JimmyM]

See, this is perfect. Low body high neck!
My beef is with bassists who keep their headstocks slightly above the knee, removing almost all possibility of complex left hand technique.

Why do you even care? Your beef...LOL! Seriously now!

 

[seang15]

High!! Mark King high.

 

[Mark Nye]

Somewhere in the middle. Neither extreme works for me.

Too high and my right hand and arm starts hurting, too low and my left hand starts hurting. I really don't care what anyone else does or says about it, either. It works for me, and that's the end of it as far as I'm concerned.

This. Verbatim.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Why do you even care? Your beef...LOL! Seriously now!

Thread was requesting opinion. You don't like mine? Fine with me pal.

 

[Gaolee]

Just thought I'd post this...I borrowed it from a thread that Michael Henderson started today. Any of you low-slung-bassist haters want to question Michael Henderson's skills?

Thought not.

Glasses like that are a sure-fire talent doubler. Unfortunately, most of use cannot get our hands on glasses like those.

 

[Gaolee]

You guys use the term "looking cool" like it's a bad thing.

I am very cool. I just look and act like a dork.

Bass strap length depends on the bass. The P sits higher because it's tough for me to get it to stay in the vertical orientation that the EB-2 and Thunderbird can hold. If the nut is about eye level, then my right hand is pretty happy. My son tells me I'm not cool, so there's no way I want to let him down. Also, I'm living proof that you can still suck if your bass is pretty high.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I once had this brief interaction with a semi-famous touring guitar player whose group was doing a couple of show with us while they were in town...

Him: Dude, nice playing! I knew you were gonna be pretty good before you started...

Me: Thanks. What makes you say that?

Him: All the cool bass players wear 'em low, all the GOOD bass players wear 'em high...

Me: Uh, right on...guess I'm not as cool as I'd hoped. DAMMIT!

I don't really LOVE wearing it high, but I play so much better and my left wrist, which has had cortisone, likes it better...and it is in the same spot standing or sitting.

You wear your bass up high, just like Gary Foote!

 

[JIO]

Just thought I'd post this...I borrowed it from a thread that Michael Henderson started today. Any of you low-slung-bassist haters want to question Michael Henderson's skills?

Thought not.

Michael Henderson RULED! Great pics! Love the Miles Davis 70's - the best sounding and looking band from any era.

 

[Ian_Flash]

If I had to position my bass to cover my Johnson, I'd have to rest it on the FLOOR! VERTICALLY!!!!