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Strap length. on your chest? or at your knees?

^good point. But really, if you're a professional player, you should be able to play in every position, might have been a relaxed moment there. Also, sometimes a 'relaxed' position can be problematic as well, if the rest of your arm is in a weird position (even though your wrists are relaxed).
 
I play on the higher side for finger and thumb stuff and lower for pick style stuff. My main strap is an old leather one that I've used forever. I've punched 3 holes in each end about 2 inches apart for strap locks. That way I can adjust during the middle of a set just by switching which strap locks I'm in.
 
^good point. But really, if you're a professional player, you should be able to play in every position, might have been a relaxed moment there. Also, sometimes a 'relaxed' position can be problematic as well, if the rest of your arm is in a weird position (even though your wrists are relaxed).

There's different types of professional - I'm sure you can get paid for playing in that way. However I agree that for a session or recording player covering a range of styles and genres you need to be able to get around the fretboard more easily.

That guy probably plays great within a fixed context.
 
I never found that someone playing their instrument very low look cool.

Mine looks like that :

john_patitucci_yamaha.jpg
 
To me, playing well trumps image.

I abide by this as well, although I try to keep my "metal" image by not playing with my bass higher than my belt-buckle.

It works for me, as I can keep the neck at a 60-Degree angle and still access the lower frets on my ESP with a straight-ish wrist.

Plus it feels more comfortable plucking with the neck at that angle.

I hope the attached pictures help explain what I mean...
 

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I guess I'm a high guy.

I don't judge; it's about the way I learned and the guys I was into when I was younger. This is what I became.

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That looks like bass to me. :bassist:

As for other posts, I have seen metal guys absolutely rip with their basses up higher. There is no image in any music except the one you create for yourself. The best players adjust their straps for optimal arm position. The image is created with stage presence and skill.
 
Yeah check this dude out. Name's Tony Choy. Plays for a death metal band called Atheist.

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Here's another guy, Jeroen Paul Thesseling, who used to play for a couple other death metal bands. Namely Obscura and Pestilence.

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They wear their instruments high. They look fine and it works for them. Some bass guitarists wear them low as all hell and it works for them. Nothing wrong with either choice or anything in between.
 

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