Lowender Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 [quote name='Alfie' timestamp='1387629583' post='2313957'] No one has ever come up to me after a gig to say, "I love the height you wear your bass". Either I am doing it wrong, or it really [i]really [/i]doesn't matter. [/quote] So as long as someone doesn't directly SAY something to you, it doesn't matter? Someone may not say, "Hey, you have bad breath." but if you do, it still has the same effect whether it's said or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 [quote name='shizznit' timestamp='1387621920' post='2313837'] Over the years the height of my bass has changed quite a bit. Sadly, so has my weight! These days I am quite inconspicuous on stage amongst lots of other musicians and I rather concentrate on my playing. I don't need to 'strike a pose' like I used to years ago. My playing is so much more accurate and dexterous when the bass is higher up my body. [/quote] Sounds like you might be having a similar problem to myself, in so much as some overweight middle-aged bloke keeps getting his picture taken holding one of your basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 [quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1387578045' post='2313649'] ...anyone who slings their bass low is as rubbish as Sid vicious. [/quote] This... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fionn Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Aye, it's all about the playing position for me. Comfort first ... which is why I departed from the Thumb Bass. [attachment=150883:dhdhdhd.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I play the Thunderbirds quite low, but my P-bass a bit higher. Bass height has actually gone down with age, but I also now play over the bridge pickup position rather than right on the bridge. The only real issue comes with having to play parts closer to the bridge, at which point I raise my shoulders a bit (the [i]Frankenstein's monster technique[/i] as someone I know called it). P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 The bassist from Ash wears it low. This doesnt seem to hamper his playing anyhow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamtheelvy Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Mine's been slippling lower recently... Last gig I played I had it pretty high, but found it uncomfortable to sing with it like that and cumbersome to make any sort of performance. I don't think it'll be banging against my knees any time soon though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1387630416' post='2313970'] I think I wear my bass slightly higher than I used to, but there's not much in it. [attachment=150768:1978.jpg] 1978 [attachment=150769:2013.jpg] 2013 [/quote] Imagine if you were playing the same bass too! IMHO it is more about where you feel comfortable. However lets not forget if you saw a \m/ METAAAAL \m/ bassist with massive hair, massive beard and dressed in black and he was playing some lovely burled/ birds eye maple Alembic or Ritter under his chin it would look a little odd. Like wise if you saw a jazz bassist on Later... who was dressed in a lounge suit and playing some technical stuff, swinging his matt black Warlock or Flying V bass round his ankles - again - it may raise a few eyebrows. It is all about stereotype and what people expect - its not wrong so long as you can play! On a related note - I always thought Tom Morello stood out from the rock metal guitarist crowd because he wears his guitar higher than is typical and whilst I love RATM the guitar solos were the weakest part for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybass 70 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 The older I get the higher it gets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Savage Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) This is a few years back: [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/smokingbeagle/ianbddrink.jpg"]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/smokingbeagle/ianbddrink.jpg[/url] I'm an inch or two higher than that now, but not by much. Edited January 9, 2014 by Ian Savage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 [quote name='Ian Savage' timestamp='1389269137' post='2332070'] This is a few years back: [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/smokingbeagle/ianbddrink.jpg"]http://img.photobuck.../ianbddrink.jpg[/url] I'm an inch or two higher than that now, but not by much. [/quote] Keep it low, Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 [quote name='Alfie' timestamp='1387629583' post='2313957'] No one has ever come up to me after a gig to say, "I love the height you wear your bass". Either I am doing it wrong, or it really [i]really [/i]doesn't matter. [/quote] Neither have I However, I did get a drummer comment that my bass was too high to look cool. I pointed out there was nothing cool about getting carpal tunnel and having to settle being a wannabe watching from the sidelines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 For me it's a compromise. If I have it at the same height standing as sitting, my right wrist is too bent and the horn presses into my chest. If, when standing, I have it at a height my right wrist is comfortable, then it's too low to play above the 12th fret. That didn't used to be a problem but now I'm playing in a three piece rock band I'm covering more fretboard than when I was in a 10piece soul band. So the neck pickup is now at belt buckle height instead of b.....k height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 In rock the guitar is a phallic symbol. It's height is important. Too high and it looks like you're stroking your beard, too low and it looks like you're scratching your nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 [quote name='Alfie' timestamp='1387629583' post='2313957'] No one has ever come up to me after a gig to say, "I love the height you wear your bass". Either I am doing it wrong, or it really [i]really [/i]doesn't matter. [/quote] This has happened to me more than once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Lowman Pauling of The 5 Royales wore his guitar low in the early 1950s, they were the band which inspired Steve Cropper to start playing. To copy Lowman's style Steve "borrowed" one of his dad's trouser belts to lengthen his guitar strap with. "Ain't nothing new under the sun" as the saying goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Basic rule. If you can be punched in the bollocks when playing, its too high Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Colonel36' timestamp='1387618721' post='2313803'] The Peddlers. Some of you may not have seen these guys... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gOLkwj-zVI [/quote] loved that great post. I'd heard but never seen anything of the peddlers....but i wonder if those kids were slightly traumatised by it all?!? Edited January 9, 2014 by iconic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 [quote name='Freddy Le Cragg' timestamp='1389296292' post='2332592'] Basic rule. If you can be punched in the bollocks when playing, its too high [/quote] Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
operative451 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='Ian Savage' timestamp='1389269137' post='2332070'] This is a few years back: [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/smokingbeagle/ianbddrink.jpg"]http://img.photobuck.../ianbddrink.jpg[/url] I'm an inch or two higher than that now, but not by much. [/quote] Yep, that looks cool! Compare: http://londonphotos.biz/galleries/music/livework/photos/B4908_Level42IndigO2_034.jpg Very not cool.. Also watching the 70s old grey whistle test compilations on bbc4 has made me think, yeah, the prog guys playing fingerstyle looked way less cool with their fingers flapping around than the punkers with picks... Hmmm... Ok, fingers work better for certain sounds, but yeah... Flapping. No.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 As someone who has never been described as cool, I wear my bass for max comfort over a gig or practice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dyer Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Some of you may find this link useful regards sitting position, wrist angle etc. If you are one of those players who like the Heavy Metal, pointy ass body shapes, you may run into some uncomfortable difficulties... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-ejj2nu0ts"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-ejj2nu0ts[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dyer Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='operative451' timestamp='1389354587' post='2333150'] Yep, that looks cool! Compare: [url="http://londonphotos.biz/galleries/music/livework/photos/B4908_Level42IndigO2_034.jpg"]http://londonphotos....IndigO2_034.jpg[/url] Very not cool.. [/quote] He's right y'know, Mark King looks like he's just been punched in the bollox! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1389258764' post='2331912'] The bassist from Ash wears it low. This doesnt seem to hamper his playing anyhow. [/quote] You are quite right about wearing his bass low not hampering his playing. He still wouldn't be very good even if he wore it a bit higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Ian Savage' timestamp='1389269137' post='2332070'] This is a few years back: [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/smokingbeagle/ianbddrink.jpg"]http://img.photobuck.../ianbddrink.jpg[/url] I'm an inch or two higher than that now, but not by much. [/quote] At least you haven't fallen for any of the stereotypical rock and roll cliches... Edited January 10, 2014 by Dingus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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