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Strap On This... Bass Height

#42
JimmyM said:
that's because you're not as cool as me ;)

i put it pretty low...not jimmy page low, but where the strings meet the beltline. that's as high as i can stand it, quite honestly. any higher and i feel uncomfortable.
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Hey... what do you are caring about Jimmy Page? Let the guitar players worry about him. I don't think players like JPJ, McCartney, Bruce, Rhodes, Weeks, Wooten, East... you get it... would ever have their bass slung low for some sort of visual effect. Many musicians that practice hours each day do so sitting down and want their instrument in the exact position when they are standing up. I don't even use a strap sitting down. Some guy want their bass even higher, off of their laps sitting or standing.

Low slung bassists look like the man who lives on the ground floor of a three story house. It never occurs to him that there are two other floors that he couldn't reach if he tried.
 
#45
I haven't played bass for very long, but I play it like my guitar. That is, very high (just below my pecs) and almost perpendicular to my body. I have a small body and small arms, so this lets me reach it. It's a 24 fret, and a little longer than normal, but if I have it perpendicular, I can reach every fret on the body (except the 21-24 -- I have to arc my hand no matter what position my bass is in).
 
#46
my bass height went from dorkishly high back when i wanted to be a flashy chopsy dude (when i was 16) to relatively low when i wanted to be a stoner indie rock guy (when i was 23), and has now settled where the bass is slightly higher than centered on my belt since i started writing more demanding lines in nerve and don't want to hurt my wrists (29)... i feel like i have found a height that is a good balance for both wrists, and i don't look like too much of a fannypack quad thump shredder.


john
 
#47
I've always worn my bass fairly high up. Not quite like Bill Dickens-style all the way up to my chin, but higher than average I guess. The bottom of my bass hovers right around my belt. I think it's roughly the same place as if I play sitting down.
Why? It's just comfortable that way. The one thing I've done (which I think was the right decision) is to never EVER consider how cool I look when I'm playing. Put it where it feels right.
 
#49
i think something that is important is that people always talk about how different heights affect the look, but it also really affects how you play.... at least it does for me. the music i was playing at the time always dictated the strap length.... AND... that generally means that the look will fit...

it's really uncomfortable to play downstroke 8th notes with a pick if the bass is high... it's also really hard to play donna lee if the bass is below your belt.

john
 
#50
I keep my P Bass pretty much middle to slightly higher than middle. The upper horn is right below my chest, so that my plucking hand falls right around or just below my belly button. I've tried the super-high thing, but I find my right wrist gets uncomfortable being bent that drastically while plucking. Also, I'm short and have somewhat short arms, so going to the lower frets is more comfortable with the bass a few inches lower.

Pretty much like P Nut has his in this pic
471274864_38d025b2d4.jpg
 
#54
There are two factors that determine bass height: age and music type. The older you are the higher up the bass sits. By the time I'm in my 60's it should be right up under my chin:) If you player hard rock or metal you must wear the bass just above the knees just as Rob Trujillo does! If you play jazz it should be up around your chest.:)
 
#55
gjbassist said:
There are two factors that determine bass height: age and music type. The older you are the higher up the bass sits.
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i'm (almost) 49 and i wear my bass fairly low, where the strings are at about belt level. i actually wear it as low as i ever have now. i see as much variance in bass height in older folks like me as younger folks. i realize younger folks love to generalize about older people, but when you get to be my age, you realize that older people are as different and varied as you whippersnappers, and the only thing you can generalize about us older folks is our skin is getting more wrinkly ;)
 
#56
JimmyM said:
i'm (almost) 49 and i wear my bass fairly low, where the strings are at about belt level. i actually wear it as low as i ever have now. i see as much variance in bass height in older folks like me as younger folks. i realize younger folks love to generalize about older people, but when you get to be my age, you realize that older people are as different and varied as you whippersnappers, and the only thing you can generalize about us older folks is our skin is getting more wrinkly ;)
Click to expand...

Jimmy-I'm 44, so not exactly a whippersnapper! I know bass height is a personal taste thing and really has little to do with age. Sometimes the humor in a post doesn't come thru as intended.
 
#57
gjbassist said:
Jimmy-I'm 44, so not exactly a whippersnapper! I know bass height is a personal taste thing and really has little to do with age. Sometimes the humor in a post doesn't come thru as intended.
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i can dig...the written word does come off as quite literal, doesn't it? something i've struggled with as well. well now that you explained it...

:D
 

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