strap length

[Baloney Balderdash]

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

I've seen this guy before, and that is just silly. 

 

I guess the only reason why he didn't have it even lower is that the output jack plug from the bass would then be hitting the ground. 

 

Edited January 8, 2024 by Baloney Balderdash

[Cat Burrito]

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

 

I guess he's not big on palm muting?

 

I'm definitely from the old school Paul Simonon / Peter Hook era but there comes a point where it just gets silly. And this is beyond that! 

[tauzero]

5 hours ago, SumOne said:

 

Ah, the "get your foot off my f*cking monitor!" pose.

[Angel]

Generally, lower looks cooler (yeah, can go too far as per pic above!). However, I do like to attempt the slappy stuff, and that kind of needs the bass higher. So I'm South of nerdy but North of cool.

 

One thing I hate to see is fingerstyle playing with a bass really high, I really don't like that limp wrist look. Absolutely not for me. 

[zbd1960]

If you want to avoid issues like RSI, tendinitis/tennis elbow etc then getting this right is important. Whilst people are different, the general guidance is having it further south to join the cool kids is not a good idea. Advice I received from tutors when starting out was it should be in the same place whether standing or sitting. As a cellist I can tell you getting posture, fingering, and bow grip wrong can give you serious problems    

[TheLowDown]

The more strings the higher it goes. Not a great deal from 4 to 6 though. In all cases, low enough while keeping wrist as straight as can be.

Edited January 8, 2024 by TheLowDown

[MacDaddy]

2 hours ago, Angel said:

 

 

One thing I hate to see is fingerstyle playing with a bass really high, I really don't like that limp wrist look. Absolutely not for me. 

 

What about finger style and really low?

 

 

 

[Baloney Balderdash]

On 07/01/2024 at 19:49, Baloney Balderdash said:

117cm, and I am 6'4'' (192cm) tall.

 

It matches so that the bass is at about the same location as it would have been if sitting down playing it without a strap.

 

So after I posted this I decided that I would try to experiment a bit with the strap length to see if I could possibly get a better result, and what I've found was that just moving down to the next strap hole in line, which would make the strap 129cm from strap button to strap button, my wrists actually is almost perfectly straight when fretting with my elbow at just about a 90 degree angle, and playing at the upper end of the fretboard, beyond 12th fret, feels significantly less circumstantial and cramped.

 

Also my bass in general balanced better on my fat belly, now resting more on the middle of it, rather than sitting halfway on top of it.

 

So for now I'll keep the strap at 129cm.

 

 

(Edit!!!: 126.5cm hole to hole, currently. This also seems to be pretty much spot on where my bass would naturally be if I sat with it.)

 

Edited March 7, 2024 by Baloney Balderdash

[Guest]

22 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

 

What about finger style and really low?

 

 

 

 

That's a good picture. Dangle it too low and it becomes difficult to rotate the fretting hand far enought forward to reach E.

 

To compensate many players hold the bass more upright hat the norm, a la Bill Wyman, well illustrated here.

[Grahambythesea]

I think fashion dictates the height in some cases. Back in the 60s high was the thing, all of the Searchers seemed to be trying to strangle themselves 😂

 

[casapete]

16 minutes ago, Grahambythesea said:

Back in the 60s high was the thing

It certainly was, and Gerry Marsden was one of the main culprits …….

 

 

[Grahambythesea]

17 minutes ago, casapete said:

It certainly was, and Gerry Marsden was one of the main culprits …….

 

 

And that verythin bass in the back round is way up above the trouser belt too. 😃

[Stub Mandrel]

The way I play Can't Stop, in the bridge there's an F# on the 14th fret I struggle to reach with my little finger. I could play it on the A string or use my ring finger but habit...

 

Usually in this situation I just swing the neck more vertical and that allows me to reach round.

[LowB_FTW]

This came across my Fb page and I thought of this thread …

 

 

Mark

[Baloney Balderdash]

The hit lists has always consisted of absolutely horrendous music without any substance, this is not just a modern phenomena!

 

Exhibit A :

14 hours ago, Grahambythesea said:

I think fashion dictates the height in some cases. Back in the 60s high was the thing, all of the Searchers seemed to be trying to strangle themselves 😂

 

Edited January 10, 2024 by Cat Burrito

[greentext]

On 06/01/2024 at 21:03, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

I have the strap length the same sitting down or standing .  As told by Billy Sheehan . 

Came here to say the same, +1 for this, makes everything more consistent

[gafbass02]

Mine goes up and down during a set, rock stuff, it’s lower. 

[PaulThePlug]

As well as strap length... Top Button position

Lesser Top-Horn or Odd Shape often have the Button at the Neck/Bridge Join

Ric's are only a smidgen shorter than the 34 Norm, but Lemmy had a Neck / Body Strap Button rather than Top Horn... This will move the neck further out... Might annoye, Might get ya comfy...

[snorkie635]

Height of my bass on its strap goes up and down depending on make/model of bass. Generally however, I probably go for middling position.

[Lord Sausage]

So what strap length is the best for metal?

[chris_b]

On 08/01/2024 at 08:32, Cat Burrito said:

I'm definitely from the old school Paul Simonon / Peter Hook era . . . .

 

Old school???

 

Whipper snappers.

[chris_b]

The comfort of my hands, arms and wrists determines the length of my straps.

Edited January 14, 2024 by chris_b

[chris_b]

double post!!

Edited January 14, 2024 by chris_b

[Baloney Balderdash]

On 09/01/2024 at 20:57, casapete said:

It certainly was, and Gerry Marsden was one of the main culprits …….

 

 

Also why is his crotch miked?

[snorkie635]

20 hours ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

Also why is his crotch miked?

I believe it sang harmonies