Upper horn comfort when playing almost vertical

[scullionj]

agreed

I play at that angle but a lower position.

Are you perhaps attempting to achieve "same height sitting as standing"?
That advice gets tossed out here often, I have found that to be impractical.

I gig and practice standing up and position my bass accordingly (see my avatar pic)
Bass on my leg & in my lap is for non serious idle noodling or figuring stuff out imho
Serious practice includes my "gig posture"

That's interesting you bring that up. I absolutely have tried in the past to get that same height, assuming that to be the best way to go. But it's probably impractical, I know for me that turned into trying to sit while holding the bass like a classical guitar and that feels so awkward to me. I feel like a lot of basses are made to balance on the right thigh, not left...

 

[Lobster11]

I'm also going to try lowering the strap a little bit - once I get a new one! (current one doesn't move)

Aha! So the reason you're wearing the bass so high is just because that's how long your strap happens to be?! Understandable, but I think that once you get a new strap you'll discover that your preferred bass position/orientation is much more comfortable with the bass hanging a little lower, and both of your wrists will thank you. This is worth doing whether it solves your upper-bout-in-the-sternum problem or not. You might not even need to get a new bass (but don't let me talk you out it if you want to).

 

[scullionj]

Aha! So the reason you're wearing the bass so high is just because that's how long your strap happens to be?!

Kiiinda. Basically, it's kind of a loose strap, but when I received it secondhand with the bass, it had these extra holes poked through to cinch it up on either side. So, in a way, I have like...4-5 settings? If I don't cinch it, it winds up maybe just below belt buckle height at the highest, before gravity takes hold. I could also try continuing to poke holes in it, but that doesn't seem like the best way to spend an afternoon.

 

[Lobster11]

Kiiinda. Basically, it's kind of a loose strap, but when I received it secondhand with the bass, it had these extra holes poked through to cinch it up on either side. So, in a way, I have like...4-5 settings? If I don't cinch it, it winds up maybe just below belt buckle height at the highest, before gravity takes hold. I could also try continuing to poke holes in it, but that doesn't seem like the best way to spend an afternoon.

Agreed that this doesn't sound like a great way to spend an afternoon. But, it would be a lot cheaper than buying a new strap -- and certainly a helluva lot cheaper than buying a new bass!

 

[spade2you]

OP, have you taken any lessons? My technique was initially based on what I saw on MTV because I'm that old. I later took classical guitar lessons and was forced to learn classical technique, which I initially resisted. I adapted and soon learned that it was way more comfortable.

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I ultimately landed on this technique, +/- a few degrees. One "problem" is the idea of 1 finger per fret. Works ok on guitar, not so much on bass. Too much strain and not all that useful. My fretting hand fingers are where they are, some of which can be to mute unused strings.

 

[factory presets]

OP, have you taken any lessons? My technique was initially based on what I saw on MTV because I'm that old. I later took classical guitar lessons and was forced to learn classical technique, which I initially resisted. I adapted and soon learned that it was way more comfortable.

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I ultimately landed on this technique, +/- a few degrees. One "problem" is the idea of 1 finger per fret. Works ok on guitar, not so much on bass. Too much strain and not all that useful. My fretting hand fingers are where they are, some of which can be to mute unused strings.

One does what works for one. You're correct that classical guitar technique is more comfortable than rock god style. By extension you could consider if classical bass technique has any value for bass guitar. For one, a more upright position makes your reach longer. And if that don't appeal, Simandl (sp?) technique is designed to be an injury free way to cover all the notes. Not saying you're doing anything wrong. Mainly talking about the OP's methods.

A long time ago a jazz guitarist showed me a 1 fret per finger plus 2 for the index technique. Along with the obligatory "that's what Jaco did." Didn't mention that Jaco regularly injured his hands. Anyway, while mastering that one I quickly discovered pointing my bass at the sky bought that extra fret within reach. Now I just shift down a fret for the extra note. Either way I learned a lot from the 5 note reach

 

[GretschWretch]

I had a serendipitous eureka moment last night on this very thread, long after my previous post here. I trotted out my Daion Savage fretted bass. For many moons I have tried to get the lower strap end to settle over the forearm carve of any of my FSOs, partly to increase the playing angle of the bass as in the first Bunny Brunel pic in post #28 (straight wrists), but mostly to pull the bass body more snugly against my body to reduce the pull of the bass on my left shoulder. It's a fight to get the strap in that position, and once there it's a fight to get it to stay there.

So last night I got to goofing around with this guy (stock photo), which had on it one of the much-maligned nylon straps, let out almost to maximum length.

Be doggoned if the back end of the strap did not default right over the forearm carve and sort of snug itself beneath the back of the bridge (sort of like an anchor). I think this sort of "automatic" positioning is due to that cut-out at the butt of the body; the angle gets changed. Anyway, this allowed me to tilt the bass up more. I could not get it up to sixty degrees, but it settled in quite nicely at forty-five with no neck dive and allowing me to play with both wrists straight.

But the big payoff was that the bass was drawn back against my thorax, which bore a good bit of the load and made the perceived weight of the bass noticeably lighter. Much more comfortable, and that heavy bridge became less ominous. If I can figure a way to pull the top strap end closer to my body I should really have something: an eight-pound plus bass that feels like it weighs much less. And mind you, this was with a stinko nylon strap.

Another surprise. I can position the strap far out on my left shoulder, on that corner where the clavichord ends and as far as possible from that tender area of the shoulder area adjacent my neck. Shoved the strap out as far on my sweat-shirted shoulder as I could, and the darn thing held position. No dropping off the shoulder.

If there is a negative to all this I have not found it. I'm going to investigate further. This post is just an FYI.