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Why Slab Basses? Can a tort guard save them?

#108
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#110
Slab basses are old school. Why do people like them? Same reasons some people prefer a 1965 Mustang 2+2 Fastback to a 2016 Mustang. New cars, and basses, have better ergonomics and electronics. But for me the new cars and basses lack the soul and mojo of the older ones. To each his own. Keep the groove.
 
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#112
engedi1 said:
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? ... 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.
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The contours on Fender-style instruments make no sense to me. The "arm" contour isn't close to where my arm rides over the body. It certainly has no bearing on carpal tunnel or tennis elbow, products of poor technique regardless of the sanding on a part of your instrument. The "belly" contour actually makes the bass sit LESS comfortably, and doesn't match the wear patterns that develop on my instruments. I see the contours as being the lame, imperfect design experiment.
 
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#113
Can't agree with you there. The typical Fender or Jazz bass contours make it WAY more comfortable for me. Slab type basses, especially when sitting are just wildly uncomfortable. YMMV of course. I actually don't get wear patterns on my basses, even basses I played for 2-3 hours per day for years. What are you doing to wear down the finish on yours? ;)
 
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#118
But yeah @engedi1, I'm with ya.
I can't get comfortable on a non contoured bass.
Recently a music store near me had a Fender Aerodyne Jazz in stock.
They didn't realize it was a Japanese model and had not priced it... let's say, accordingly.
Super cheap.
I thought I had always wanted one, and I did, for years.
I wanted one while driving to the store.
I wanted one when I entered the store.
I wanted one when I saw it, I wanted this one.
But then, I played it, grabbed a strap plugged into an amp...
No hip contour, no arm contour, all uncomfortable.
I no longer wanted it, and left very sad.
 
#119
SunnBass said:
Do you play live ever?
Not a knock, a real question.

I have to keep up with two drummers, that gets pretty sweaty.

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Absolutely. I have been a gigging bass player for at least 15 years with varying levels of intensity. The only part of my basses that get sweaty are the bout where I rest my arm sometimes. Even on 4 hour cover gigs in dive bars I just don't sweat a whole lot unless its super hot under the lights. I probably have low thyroid lol.
 
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#120
SunnBass said:
But yeah @engedi1, I'm with ya.
I can't get comfortable on a non contoured bass.

But then, I played it, grabbed a strap plugged into an amp...
No hip contour, no arm contour, all uncomfortable.
I no longer wanted it, and left very sad.
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This has been experience. It seriously harshes my mellow on a new bass, the only thing worse is neck dive.
 
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