Biglump Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 Hi all, I appear to have gained an apprentice bass player. I've been asked to offer advice, maybe even find a bass for a soon to be chair bound young lady. So, are there any wheelchair users out there able to offer any opinions, please? Money is quite tight so the cheapest, most playable option would probably be best. Hoping to train her up to be deputy bass in our Uke orchestra. But U basses are too pricey. Also the ambition lies in playing a giant bass a'la Suzi Quattro for limited standing up and posing. (don't we all start wanting to be playing and posing?) Is there such a thing as a wheelchair friendly bass, short scale, small body, light in weight and playable? Thanks, Ade Quote
Muppet Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 I knew of a bassist in a wheelchair who played a Hofner Shorty. Got on OK with it. Might be worth considering http://www.hofner-guitars.com/electric-basses/other-bass/hct-shb-bk-0.html Quote
CamdenRob Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 (edited) Blimey thats a difficult question... there are probably loads of limiting factors that a non wheelchair user wouldn't even think of... Don't wheelchairs have raised sides? I would imagine that takes playing the bass on the right knee (assuming player is right handed) out of the equation. So I guess the options would be to play it uprightish between the legs (kinda like a classical guitarist) although as this is for a young lady she may not be quite so enamoured with a rather unflattering position , or go for as lighter bass as possible and play it on a strap up high, close to the chest so it doesnt even touch the legs... although again down to physiology I would imagine this is harder for ladies than it is for men. I recon a shorty P bass would do, something like this from Thomann, although the body is quite large. They do occasionally crop up on their "decoration only" section which is for instruments with cosmetic damage, I think the last batch went for £17. Edited July 24, 2015 by CamdenRob Quote
CamdenRob Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 both the Hofner and the Steinberger are better options than my suggestion Quote
Grangur Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 (edited) Yes there are wheelchair friendly basses. There may be folk here who use a chair but you can also contact Jimmy Lloyd Rae. https://m.facebook.com/jimmy.l.rea?refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjimmy.l.rea I know Jimmy from LinkedIn and he's only to happy to help anyone else who is in a chair and needs advice and support. Jimmy used to play with Lee Hooker and is in the Blues Hall of Fame as a bass player. Edited July 24, 2015 by Grangur Quote
chris_b Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 She should be able to fold the right hand side of the chair down and I'd recommend a light bass, hollow would be better and a good strap. Quote
Grangur Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1437746205' post='2828771'] She should be able to fold the right hand side of the chair down and I'd recommend a light bass, hollow would be better and a good strap. [/quote] Very true. Try an Ibanez ATK Quote
Weststarx Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 What about a Flying V bass? Playing it in this position ( i have no idea who this guy is - found on google images). I would have thought it would be nice and supported like that. However she might struggle with the length of a bass neck? Quote
tauzero Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 [quote name='Biglump' timestamp='1437744475' post='2828738'] Hoping to train her up to be deputy bass in our Uke orchestra. But U basses are too pricey. Also the ambition lies in playing a giant bass a'la Suzi Quattro for limited standing up and posing. (don't we all start wanting to be playing and posing?) [/quote] U-basses are pricey but there's a Harley Benton equivalent (FSVO equivalent), or there's Ashbories, which tend to crop up occasionally for about £150, although these don't meet the "giant posey bass" criterion. If she can fold the chair arms down then almost anything will do, except Buzzards and anything that doesn't have a little bit sticking out to catch on the leg. Quote
ezbass Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1437745418' post='2828758'] both the Hofner and the Steinberger are better options than my suggestion [/quote]These are sprang to mind when I saw the OP thread title. Quote
pjb13.bass Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 How about the Danelectro? I had a Longhorn for a while simply because I liked the looks. It's super light and short scale. It had a really punchy sound; not a great deal of variation tonally but would be fine for a starter bass. If the body shape is wrong for a wheelchair user they also do a single cutaway bass but I know less about them. I'm assuming they are also light weight. Quote
anDy LAKIN Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 most wheelchairs ive seen(i have seen a few) the sides just simply unclip and come off so any bass should be suitable, and if lightweight small body and quite cheap i would suggest an ibanez sr300 as a candidate and they come in lots of nice colours too Quote
MacDaddy Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 Google 'Beaver Felton' Amazing wheel chair bound player, did many excellent bass tuition vids in the 80's. Quote
M@23 Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 Squier Bronco? They're short scale, very cheap and cracking basses. Quote
anDy LAKIN Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 [quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1437759605' post='2828894'] Google 'Beaver Felton' Amazing wheel chair bound player, did many excellent bass tuition vids in the 80's. [/quote] just remember to type it correctly Quote
PlungerModerno Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 If you can find one used (could be a long shot given how awesome they are supposed to be) - how about an ibanez Mikro: [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/usa/products/jumpstart/GSRM20B.html"]http://www.ibanez.co.jp/usa/products/jumpstart/GSRM20B.html[/url] Quote
alyctes Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 (edited) [quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1437831961' post='2829403'] If you can find one used (could be a long shot given how awesome they are supposed to be) - how about an ibanez Mikro: [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/usa/products/jumpstart/GSRM20B.html"]http://www.ibanez.co...rt/GSRM20B.html[/url] [/quote] I've a Mikro I'm not using... nice little thing, fits a guitar gigbag. It would need some work though (noisy electrics), and my experience is that the E string tends to be soggy. I'm considering restringing it and tuning ADGC. But also consider Aria 690 Sinsonido. Weighs nothing, sounds great, looks good but [i]strange[/i]... This one is a bit overpriced IMO (and fretless)... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-fretless-bass-/181807034028?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a548b2eac"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2a548b2eac[/url] Edited July 25, 2015 by alyctes Quote
Geek99 Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 [quote name='ironside1966' timestamp='1437766448' post='2828967'] Do the side panels come off? [/quote] Usually Quote
Dandelion Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 A Cort Curbow could fit the bill. Light and dinky. Quote
Wonky2 Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 (edited) I'm disabled, but don't use a chair....... Key factor here must be weight. One of my first "real" basses many years ago was a Bass collection ..... A fine slender and very lightweight bass with a great tone.... Infact I had a 4s and a 5s I liked them that much. Active, easy to set up well, slender neck profile..... Seen them very cheap on ebay recently, circa £100, same bass I paid £450 quid for many moons ago... A great cheap alternative the the ibanez sr range but similar standard.... The chair is not the issue here as it's likely the sides will drop down or be removed, the bass sitting on a leg that may have impaired feeling is the issue, especially if the bass is heavy enough to affect circulation ..... Go light weight.... In fact, here's one here !!! Absolute bargain and looks just right for a lady http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Collection-SB301-active-bass-guitar-in-beautiful-candy-apple-red-/201391079812?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2ee3d80184 I had one of these for years and did hundreds and hundreds of gigs with it without a single issue, sounded great too. Edited July 26, 2015 by Wonky2 Quote
alyctes Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 [quote name='Wonky2' timestamp='1437949386' post='2830356'] ... The chair is not the issue here as it's likely the sides will drop down or be removed, the bass sitting on a leg that may have impaired feeling is the issue, especially if the bass is heavy enough to affect circulation ..... ... [/quote] Again, the Aria Sinsonido would do well here, because the lower bout is removable. Quote
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