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Slung low or high?

#143
I'm more to the low end of the scale, I use my Gibson a lot and the fat neck is easier for me to grip with the bass low, my arm is fully extended (not stretched, comfortably extended) to play the g string, I play my fender around belt height, and my Flying V closer to my knees. I also anchor my thumb on the bridge pickup. I got into the habit of practising standing up so i learn the way I play on stage.
 
#144
BluesMan845 said:
I set my bass strap so when I am standing the bass is in the same position as it is if I am sitting and resting it on my lap. Too low is basically a recipe for sloppiness or bending your wrist in a position that might end up causing trouble for you down the road. Suer it "looks cool" but is really not when you consider all the negatives. Too high makes you look like a jazz weenie ;)

I don't recall where I saw the recommendation for the way I wear my bass but it was from a well known bass player. Try it and I think most players would agree it is a very comfortable postion. It also gives you the benefit of always having the bass in the same position whether you are sitting down at practice or on stage for a gig.
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+1

I have that wrist issue in both wrists. The left problem came from playing a 6-string with a nut that I'd never adjusted for comfortable position (4-strings only now); the right wrist issue is this.

Did it come from www.scottsbasslessons.com?

I laugh at people who play that low. Even at Ben. (sorry Ben)
 
#145
Definitely high, not low. I stopped caring about how it looked when I kept missing notes slung low. Also, I'm pretty near-sighted, and in the dim light on some stages, the neck was too far away for me to see what I was doing. :-)
 
#146
georgestrings said:
You left out Geezer Butler and Duff McKagan - two of my favorite rock bassists...


- georgestrings
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Geezer and Duff both look cool and sound great when playing. Playing low looks cool and it looks rock n' roll. Playing high does not.

Another guy who looks cool playing low is Mario Cipollina from Huey Lewis and the News. Plus he's always got shades on and a cigarette dangling from his mouth. I aspire to this level of cool when playing.



After watching this clip, I just realized "I Want A New Drug" and "Ghostbusters" have exactly the same bass line.
 
#149
BluesMan845 said:
I set my bass strap so when I am standing the bass is in the same position as it is if I am sitting and resting it on my lap. Too low is basically a recipe for sloppiness or bending your wrist in a position that might end up causing trouble for you down the road. Suer it "looks cool" but is really not when you consider all the negatives. Too high makes you look like a jazz weenie ;)

I don't recall where I saw the recommendation for the way I wear my bass but it was from a well known bass player. Try it and I think most players would agree it is a very comfortable postion. It also gives you the benefit of always having the bass in the same position whether you are sitting down at practice or on stage for a gig.
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This - a very comfortable position. I could care less how anyone thinks it looks.
 
#155
I have two bass straps, a Planet Waves strap & a Comfort Strap. I don't think either strap can keep a bass at upper stomach/mid chest height (which is where the bass is when I'm sitting down). When I'm standing up, it is at the level of my waist. This is comfortable for Herrick.

I'm not sure why the lowness is associated with cool. It looks a little silly with guitar (Hetfield) & a bass looks even more silly...especially when a bigass bass is hanging low on one of those skinny punk rocker dudes. Actually, I just saw the picture JimmyM posted and I have to admit, that mang looks kinda cool.

Butt! What it all comes down to it this:

Mikhail1 said:
Bottom line... play it where it feels good and causes no pain!
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#159
I can't stand people who play with their bass hung extremely low because they think it looks cool. To me, it looks like they can't play and are trying to compensate for it. Many of the best players wear their bass high on their chest. Play where ever you are most comfortable and can play your best. For me, it's slightly above waist high.
 

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