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Why Slab Basses? Can a tort guard save them?

#62
troy mcclure said:
ASATMAN, those are some damn good looking basses.... how much does the hollow-body weigh?
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Thanks! It's a semi hollow and weighs 8 lbs 3 oz.

40Hz said:
That silver one is a beauty. Definitely pretty enough to make me start hearing voices.

But what are you doing to scratch up the inside of the horn opposite the one that holds the strap so much? I don't think I've ever seen that type of wear before. :nailbiting:
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I hear those voices too, glad it ain't just me. That's the nitro clear coat checking.

Gyver said:
That white bass is just so damn beautiful it's frightening...
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Thanks, pal! But it's actually Inca silver.
 
#64
engedi1 said:
Ok. I am 100% mystified why anyone would ever, under any circumstance, get a modern custom bass like Nash or Bluesman in the form of a slab precision. Can't we all agree that the slab precision was simply an earlier, and lamer design that was perfected when the contoured precision models came out later in the decade? Now, I fully understand the awesomeness of owning an original '52 P bass, but to pay a luthier big buck to make a reproduction of a bass that will give you carpal tunnel and tennis elbow and is uncomfortable sitting or standing makes no sense to me.
Of course along with the tonal improvements, as well as automatic boost in funkability and mojo, that accompany installing a tort guard on your bass, perhaps the tort also makes the slab bass less likely to give you repetitive stress injury?
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If a slab body gives someone joint problems, then wouldn't acoustic instruments as well? How many people play the heck out of those without a problem?

IDK I consider it both an aesthetic choice as well as an ergonomic one. To each their own. Some people value aesthetics more than ergonomics, some people prefer the opposite. Those that prefer aesthetics might love or hate the slab body. Aesthetics are all subjective.

Ergonomics are less subjective, but the world takes all kinds. If someone wants to trade comfort for what they think is a cool looking bass, well, who am I to tell them not to? Also, some individuals might not have any discomfort from a slab body due to their technique or body dimensions.

Anyway. I guess my question is, why does it matter if people like/want/buy slab bodies? There are plenty of contoured bodies for people that want 'em. However I will say in general I'm in the contoured body camp.
 
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#67
engedi1 said:
But why? Just to be true to the original? You can't say that it is more comfortable this way. I get being true to the original, its a total valid thing to do. But I had a '51 Lull bass I would get the contours.
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You suffer from the common TB ailment of thinking everyone is like you. I never even thought about the slab being uncomfortable. I have a '68 Tele bass that is a slab too. I don't even notice when i play it. I play a Ric 4003 and don't have issue with that either. I don't notice my contoured basses being more comfortable.
 
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#68
engedi1 said:
I hear those voices too, glad it ain't just me. That's the nitro clear coat checking.
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Ah! Mojo stretch marks! My mistake. :thumbsup:

Gotta admit that bass is one of the three I've seen on TB that actually took my breath away the first time I saw it.

Funny thing is I'm mostly the natural (always my first choice) or burst type myself. Never cared for paint finishes. But then I bought a Squier CV Jazz (with some reluctance since I it was the only color in stock and I needed a Jazz in a hurry one day) and thought I'd really dislike that Inca Siver. But as it turns out, it really grew on me in a very short time. Now it's one of my favorite finishes. And I especially like it with the mint colored pickguard it has - which is something else I never thought I'd like. (Although having a musician GF who thinks I look "really sexy" playing that particular bass probably also has something to do with it. ;))

Hey...you take it where you can get it if you're wise, right? :laugh:
 
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#69
engedi1 said:
Ok. I am 100% mystified why anyone would ever, under any circumstance, get a modern custom bass like Nash or Bluesman in the form of a slab precision. Can't we all agree that the slab precision was simply an earlier, and lamer design that was perfected when the contoured precision models came out later in the decade?
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For every chair made, there is an ass ready and waiting to sit in it. The ass cares not what you think of the chair, only that the chair be there when needed.

Also, I'm no Fender fan, but gotta admit that the slab look is appropriate for certain situations.
 
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#74
lfmn16 said:
You suffer from the common TB ailment of thinking everyone is like you. I never even thought about the slab being uncomfortable. I have a '68 Tele bass that is a slab too. I don't even notice when i play it. I play a Ric 4003 and don't have issue with that either. I don't notice my contoured basses being more comfortable.
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You know, with Ricks I don't notice much of a difference. Perhaps it is the smaller body. With Tele-style basses I totally do. I have shorter arms. If you are tall, and thin it may not bother you and more power to ya!
 
#76
Lowendtech said:
20160127_124604-jpg.jpg
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This neck has me very confused
 
#77
Ronbeast said:
If you're like me, you've probably never been bothered by the edges of any bass guitar. I'm just as comfortable on a telecaster as I am with a Stratocaster. Makes no difference to me in terms of the basic feel of the instrument (though we all agree they are monumentally different).

I never really understood people who complain about marks, and sometimes even cuts in their arms because the edges are too 'sharp'. The first thing that pops into my head when I hear those people talk is : get a better strap and stop pushing down with your wrist to stop the neck dive! If your bass is hanging perfectly in balance, there should be no need to ever press down hard enough to hurt your wrist or cause carpal tunnel etc.

-Ron
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So we should hang it super low like zztop guy? Looks cool but, also looks like he can't reach anything but the low string ;)
Not dissin', I haven't watched him play. Rob Trujillo plays the hell out of a bass like that while crab walking.

In my case my bex4 is a REALLY large body and to have it in a comfortable playing position it digs into my arm (that's forearm, not wrist).

I never understand people who think they have the end all be all argument. Comfort is different for everyone, glad you have the answer to how to hang your bass, doesn't mean it's a one size fits all situation.
 

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