What does the lower body horn do for...

[Colonel_Claypoo]

balance?

i was wondering. some are as small as the thumb has it and some are bigger.
can they be as long as desired or what's optimal for balance if it has something to do with it?

thanks

 

[Jazz Ad]

Lower horn helps when sitting.

 

[SDB Guitars]

The lower horn on my older Cort Curbow was almost non-existant. Basically UN-helpful, when sitting. LOL

 

[Colonel_Claypoo]

ok thanks, that seems the only importance of the lower body horn.

 

[BenitoBassolini]

The lower horn on my older Cort Curbow was almost non-existant. Basically UN-helpful, when sitting. LOL

So for those of you who've done a lot of sitting with a lot of instruments, I'd be interested in knowing how much of a lower horn there needs to be. I'm working on my first bass and in the design there is no horn at all, only a dent for the knee. I tried making it out of particle board and it sat fine, but after reading this, I'm worried it may not.

 

[pilotjones]

The lower horn on my older Cort Curbow was almost non-existant. Basically UN-helpful, when sitting.

...after reading this, I'm worried...

The problem with the Curbows is not necessarily the size of the horn but rather (at least mostly) its position. It is farther from the nut and closer to the bridge than on any other bass I've seen, so that puts the "leg resting curve" too far over.

 

[Jools4001]

You know, I read the title and thought this was a question about birds and bees

 

[Jazz Ad]

On a bass, you can have great upper fret access or large lower horn to play sitting, both can't be done. You have to make a choice at some point. Curbows offer fantastic access to highs but you can't play them sitting unless you wear a strap of sit them between you legs, classical guitar style.
Actually, some basses such as the Zon Hyperbass or Danelectro Longhorn offer both great access and large horn to play sitting but you can't do both at the same time.

 

[Arx]

The problem with the Curbows is not necessarily the size of the horn but rather (at least mostly) its position. It is farther from the nut and closer to the bridge than on any other bass I've seen, so that puts the "leg resting curve" too far over.

Yes, I've had the same problem on a bass that I built. the position where it naturally sits on your leg is the key, not necessarily the size of the horn. Too far towards the bridge and the neck will dive when it's on your lap.

On a bass, you can have great upper fret access or large lower horn to play sitting, both can't be done. You have to make a choice at some point. Curbows offer fantastic access to highs but you can't play them sitting unless you wear a strap of sit them between you legs, classical guitar style.
Actually, some basses such as the Zon Hyperbass or Danelectro Longhorn offer both great access and large horn to play sitting but you can't do both at the same time.

I think you can do both at the same time, but it usually looks pretty ugly. a large long horn with lots cut away for access to the neck can work.

The bass I've currently got in the works deals with the problem differently.

I figure that design will hang on the strap the same way standing or sitting and will have great upper fret access. Really, I think the upper horn is required to play comfortably, and is the reason many people don't like small bodied basses like steinbergers, but really who needs the bottom half?

 

[tjclem]

This is the way I handled the issue. Some may not like the shape/design but it works for me and the customer.

 

[Colonel_Claypoo]

You know, I read the title and thought this was a question about birds and bees

haha that made me laugh really hard and i' glad you got the hidden message, hahaha

i think another bass with great lower horn design and accesibility is the Nordstrand NX model such as this beauty here:

it might be a little to close to the bridge though...

 

[Basschair]

haha that made me laugh really hard and i' glad you got the hidden message, hahaha

i think another bass with great lower horn design and accesibility is the Nordstrand NX model such as this beauty here:

it might be a little to close to the bridge though...

Huh, for a second there I thought that was a Cliff Bordwell bass by the type/quality of the photo. I really dig that design, as I lean towards the traditional lower-horn-for-sitting/playing. Still, I'm also willing to supplement with a slightly higher strap setting...ie: if there is less access to the upper register due to the lower horn being attached further along the neck (toward the nut), I'll raise the strap a bit to allow my hand to curl around more which gives me reach all the way down to the lowest string.

Aesthetically, I don't dig the hornless basses (I've got one of those Hohner Steinberger copy basses from the late 80's and love the sound, hate the look).

 

[Arx]

haha that made me laugh really hard and i' glad you got the hidden message, hahaha

i think another bass with great lower horn design and accesibility is the Nordstrand NX model such as this beauty here:

it might be a little to close to the bridge though...

Yeah, that looks pretty similar to my first bass as far as position goes.

It is a bit close to the bridge.

 

[dblbass]

Carl thompsons basses are a great examples of long lower horns. his basses balance perfectly while sitting.

here's a link to some cool pics.

http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/cc269/ctbasses/hands free/

here is another good one. talk about balance.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

(scroll down to marshalls post.)

joey k

 

[Joey.Ogden]

Hey, my bass does that. If you just rest it on your leg it balances perfectly at about a 5 degree angle.

My solution was instead of a big horn, to do a big cut.

 

[eleonn]

Funny... Ive been working with some models I have in my head and I came with this one with no horn... not sure about how good will be its balance but I really like how it looks

 

[Mutant Corn]

^

That thing is both awesome and eye-straining at the same time.

 

[envika]

Funny... Ive been working with some models I have in my head and I came with this one with no horn... not sure about how good will be its balance but I really like how it looks

hahaha it's a fanned fretless

 

[eleonn]

Actually it won't (if I build it). I'm just too lazy to model every single fret

 

[cmewhinney]

Somebody ordered a 10 string fanned fret unlined fretless from Chris Stambaugh a while back. I can't find a picture, but it was an absolute monster! Not sure how you would play it though!