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Travel/couch/light(er) bass?
- Thread starter Old_Noob
- Start date
I don't think playing on a couch is very comfortable, I have a couple of kids' chairs that have no arms and are lower to the ground that are great for sitting and practicing. Also closer to the pedals. I use my regular P in them.
Yup because this shoulder pain thing is a crap condition of playing stringed instruments very often
and yet many players and companies still don’t get it.
A typical electric bass guitar is ridiculously NOT ergonomic.
Just go with a light Hofner, Acoustic bass guitar (with super light strings), Danelectro, etc IMO
There is no reason you shouldn’t have a weight limit and play what feels right to you. The “sounds right to you” part can be worked on as a springboard off of your ergonomic needs.
Technique is easily one of the biggest translators of tone. So why should anyone let a heavy bass get them bogged down and at risk for longer term health risks unnecessarily?
and yet many players and companies still don’t get it.
A typical electric bass guitar is ridiculously NOT ergonomic.
Just go with a light Hofner, Acoustic bass guitar (with super light strings), Danelectro, etc IMO
There is no reason you shouldn’t have a weight limit and play what feels right to you. The “sounds right to you” part can be worked on as a springboard off of your ergonomic needs.
Technique is easily one of the biggest translators of tone. So why should anyone let a heavy bass get them bogged down and at risk for longer term health risks unnecessarily?
I have a Traveler TB-4P and I love it as a bass for performing and couch practicing because it’s so light and it’s medium-scale. However, I find the internal headphone preamp to be very lacking so I use an external one instead.
I haven't found a better couch noodler than a cheap Indonesian Beatle Violin bass copy like the jay Turser. it's surprisingly well made, weighs nothing, and is just loud enough for quiet practice unplugged. This Rogue looks virtually identical:
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bas...zocGcN-2qnLgi_RcoBMiKddjsIkbMZHRoC3KYQAvD_BwE
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bas...zocGcN-2qnLgi_RcoBMiKddjsIkbMZHRoC3KYQAvD_BwE
Actually, with the foldout leg rest, it sits quite comfortably on your thigh.
Floating bridge is no problem once it's setup and the Club sits comfortably on your lap.
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I just picked up a Kala U-Bass. Tried 2 Headen Uke Basses and sent them back for QC reasons. I'm liking the Kala so far ... but I ordered a set of flats for it and think I'll be much happier once they're on. My purpose is for purchasing is for camping and campfire acoustic jams (w/ a small amp) ... but I can't put it down when watching TV. Just enough sound for me to hear what I'm playing and not annoy the wife 
I've played quite a few different options. All have their good points and I would say it all comes down to what you want out of a bass...
If you want something as much like the Squire as possible but smaller-
Get the Squire Mini P. The 28.5" scale will still feel similar to a standard sized bass but it's much smaller. Despite the small size, it's the bass most likely to pass as a regular bass guitar in a gig situation. At $179 it's the cheapest of the group aside from a Hadean Uke Bass.
If you want a more traditional scale length-
Go with a Traveler. In either 30 or 32 inch scale it's going to have the closest feel to a traditional bass, but lighter and more compact even than the Squire. The ones I've played have sounded quite good to my ears. The Travelers are $379 (ultralight 30") or $500 (32" with more traditional body).
If you want something completely different and extremely small-
Go with a uke bass. I've owned a solidbody Hadean, and played both kinds of Kala, but the 23" or 25" scale Goldtone Acoustic Microbass is my favorite of the breed. It can be played acoustically alone and has a superb upright-like tone when amplified. However, uke basses do not play like traditional electric basses. The feel is different as is the touch required for good tone. At $500 or $550, it is the most expensive of the group.
I have no experience with them, but Traveler also makes 2 sizes of small acoustic bass.
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If you want something as much like the Squire as possible but smaller-
Get the Squire Mini P. The 28.5" scale will still feel similar to a standard sized bass but it's much smaller. Despite the small size, it's the bass most likely to pass as a regular bass guitar in a gig situation. At $179 it's the cheapest of the group aside from a Hadean Uke Bass.
If you want a more traditional scale length-
Go with a Traveler. In either 30 or 32 inch scale it's going to have the closest feel to a traditional bass, but lighter and more compact even than the Squire. The ones I've played have sounded quite good to my ears. The Travelers are $379 (ultralight 30") or $500 (32" with more traditional body).
If you want something completely different and extremely small-
Go with a uke bass. I've owned a solidbody Hadean, and played both kinds of Kala, but the 23" or 25" scale Goldtone Acoustic Microbass is my favorite of the breed. It can be played acoustically alone and has a superb upright-like tone when amplified. However, uke basses do not play like traditional electric basses. The feel is different as is the touch required for good tone. At $500 or $550, it is the most expensive of the group.
I have no experience with them, but Traveler also makes 2 sizes of small acoustic bass.
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By coincidence I just moments ago posted this on another thread.
I dragged this new Hadean walnut F-hole uke bass out and have been playing the fire out of it, as they say in LA (Lower Alabama). It sounds clicky yet awesome! It was just over 200 amero simoleons a few months back from Rando. I was disappointed with the uneven intonation and (imagined?) string buzzes. I guess.
But dragging this puppy out I find it sounds right nice, woody and thumpy (and, yes, clicky).
No weight to speak of, no neck dive, built in not-so-accurate tuner, cute black machine heads, body binding and bridge, rubbery black fat strings to match. My fine finger callus set is not needed and a light precise touch is called for. How can I minimize the clicks and clacks?
Three knob EQ is OK- I turn the bass up. I really like this mini uke bass now, piezo sound and all, and now I'm glad Rando was so slack about my return request.
All I play is primitive 12-bar blues progressions and turnarounds and this box can play that sort of I-IV-V boogie woogie up and downs very nicely. My new old toy. I can't put it down.
I see some have returned Hadean basses for QC weakness. So I hope my string buzzes don't come back.
I dragged this new Hadean walnut F-hole uke bass out and have been playing the fire out of it, as they say in LA (Lower Alabama). It sounds clicky yet awesome! It was just over 200 amero simoleons a few months back from Rando. I was disappointed with the uneven intonation and (imagined?) string buzzes. I guess.
But dragging this puppy out I find it sounds right nice, woody and thumpy (and, yes, clicky).
No weight to speak of, no neck dive, built in not-so-accurate tuner, cute black machine heads, body binding and bridge, rubbery black fat strings to match. My fine finger callus set is not needed and a light precise touch is called for. How can I minimize the clicks and clacks?
Three knob EQ is OK- I turn the bass up. I really like this mini uke bass now, piezo sound and all, and now I'm glad Rando was so slack about my return request.
All I play is primitive 12-bar blues progressions and turnarounds and this box can play that sort of I-IV-V boogie woogie up and downs very nicely. My new old toy. I can't put it down.
I see some have returned Hadean basses for QC weakness. So I hope my string buzzes don't come back.
The real Steinbergers have that fold out thingie that lets the bass sit on your lap.
The real Steinbergers are expensive, though.
I have one of those cheap copies in paddle form, which is great as a travel bass because it takes up not much space, plus it came with a fitting leather bag that lets people think you're carrying a rifle.
It's bad for couch noodling, as you said.
squier mini p bass.
tiny boy basses are on reverb shipping from a shop in germany but they are not cheap.
tiny boy basses are on reverb shipping from a shop in germany but they are not cheap.
How flat is the rear of the Traveler? Not quite getting how the tuners are back there and it can still sit comfortably
