Think you could play this low?

[Joybass]

I have examined this video carefully and have concluded that this bass, although it appears to be a more or less regular wooden jazz bass, is in fact made of solid metal, probably cast iron, and must weigh something in the vicinity of 175 pounds. Just look at the muscles on that guy. It is as simple as that. And stop blabbering about the weather, please.

 

[thebassguy86]

My bass sits right at my belly button. I'm plucking around my belt line. Sometimes I think that's too low...

 

[vdbass]

1. I don't dig CC or his style of "singing". It sounds as though he were pushing a grumpy.
2. Playing that low-IMHO-is total wankery.
3. GET OFF MY GRASS!

 

[1954bassman]

How you look is so much more important than how you sound or even the notes you choose.

Glad I didn't have cereal in my mouth when I real this. good one.

 

[Thir13teen]

So...Ask him in 20 years. Human wrists weren't designed to bend at that angle. If this was the only time he did it, okay, but as part of a concert tour, you get the impression that he does it routinely. Did you ever hear of carpal tunnel? That's from not having your wrists supported properly when using computer keyboards for hours on end. This is the same type of situation. Look cool if you think that's important, but before your body gets crippled from it, reconsider.

You are right. And I get it. If you watch a vid of him playing from the last year or so you can see that it's low, but nowhere near as low as it was. I agree that it's ridiculous. But for whatever reason, I give Ben a pass. Something about the detuning and sometimes how sludgy the bass is "warrants" that the bass be that low. I've looked at some of my own live vids. While my bass doesn't hang that low, the body has been known to skip off the stage because of me being honched over at certain points in the song. Cheers!

 

[Thir13teen]

I miss the '90s. Krist Novoselic used to have to link 2 straps together to get that low cuz he's so damn tall! Yes, it looks ridiculous on today's standards, but so do all the costumes that bands wore in the '60s, the bell bottoms and flowing chest hair of the '70s, the acid washed jeans and crimped hair in the '80s (although I hear acid wash is making a comeback), etc.. I think I have a pic of me somewhere playing in a Cure t-shirt with Oakley blades, haha!.. but my bass was still at the same height it is now!

Good, valid points.

 

[Eric Swaim]

I have not, nor would I ever play my bass that low. I also was taught never to play "Jax" in the middle of a busy road.

 

[Thir13teen]

By the way, here he is playing nowadays and then a pic of him "back in the day" (pics are vice versa - sorry)

 

[Thir13teen]

I have examined this video carefully and have concluded that this bass, although it appears to be a more or less regular wooden jazz bass, is in fact made of solid metal, probably cast iron, and must weigh something in the vicinity of 175 pounds. Just look at the muscles on that guy. It is as simple as that. And stop blabbering about the weather, please.

Ok, it's 8:52am is too early to make me laugh that hard. That was awesome.

 

[Thir13teen]

My bass sits right at my belly button. I'm plucking around my belt line. Sometimes I think that's too low...

I think that's kinda like mine...

 

[FA108208usat2]

Looks ridiculous. He's obviously more interested in doing what he thinks "looks cool" instead of how he sounds.

Nah, that's Sid Vicious, I think this guy sounds great.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Higher means better slap? Not in my experience, I have the thang right up in my face and slap like crazy, i never found it to be any less difficult. That said, were all diffent peeps here.

As you can see in my picture I don't not have my bass rediculously high.

 

[Thir13teen]

Nah, that's Sid Vicious, I think this guy sounds great.

Agreed. Now is Ben the fastest, most technical, flashiest, bassist around? Of course not. But he has to have some skill - I don't think Bass Player magazine wants to make a laughing stock out of themselves by having a complete, incompetent, novice on their front cover.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I'm the same way with my parents music. I'm clueless on about 99% of it. I'll oversimplify this band; sold approx 23 million records and they are responsible (along with a few other folk) for squashing & eliminating "hair metal" from the 80's. Also, Chris Cornell (singer/guitarist) was ranked 9th of "greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone, has a 4 octave range, and has won 3 Grammy's.

I do the same thing with my parents music. I hear something and think it's ridiculous then find out later that back in the day, it was the best/most popular band/song. My parents would be irritated that I wasn't aware, lol.

Cheers!

That concert was recorded 23 years ago. That's OLD STUFF.

 

[Stealth Fighter]

How you look is so much more important than how you sound or even the notes you choose.

Unfortunately, there is more truth in this statement than most of us would like to admit.

 

[I Need a six...]

As you can see in my picture I don't not have my bass rediculously high.

I have an easier time playing for long periods of time with the bass directly in front of my face, It feels the best for me.

 

[ShredderMaximus]

And what about that dang lead singer? He needs to cut that hair, he looks like a dang hippy!

 

[Stealth Fighter]

And what about that dang lead singer? He needs to cut that hair, he looks like a dang hippy!

 

[Hahaha]

If I lived in the bell tower at Notre Dame I would learn to play that low.

 

[Thir13teen]

And what about that dang lead singer? He needs to cut that hair, he looks like a dang hippy!

Frickin hippies. I haven't had a haircut in 14 mos...