KingBollock Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 When I played in band when I was young, I always had my Bass covering my gentleman's area, which is where I wear it while sitting down, I don't have it on my lap I let it hang down between my legs. After 16 years of not being in bands, so not having to stand up, and getting bigger and bigger as the years went by, I was surprised to find that when I stand up I can no longer have my Bass that low because my belly shoves the top of the Bass away from me so that the strings are almost parallel with the floor. So when standing, I have to have it over my bellybutton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 [quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1348501369' post='1814411'] Doesn't it depend on how you're sitting? [/quote] Not if you know how to sit properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassulike66 Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) Gotta' be loooooooow..... Its not just your body parts that drift south as you get older but you also get blurry! And that's not our drummers kit before you say anything! [attachment=119224:Route 44 5 may 12 062.jpg] [attachment=119226:Route 44 5 may 12 102.jpg] Edited September 24, 2012 by Bassulike66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 [quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1348501369' post='1814411'] Yep that's exactly where I got it. Doesn't it depend on how you're sitting? [/quote] It assumes your sitting as instructed in the example I gave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywoodrox Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 [quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1348501369' post='1814411'] Yep that's exactly where I got it. Doesn't it depend on how you're sitting? [/quote] I get right shoulder pain especially when sitting down! especially if Im playing something I find tricky I think i get tense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1348494929' post='1814287'] If you are unable to play naked in public without being arrested for indecent exposure then your strap is at the wrong height. [/quote] Brilliant! I've got a way to go then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdowner Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1348494929' post='1814287'] If you are unable to play naked in public without being arrested for indecent exposure then your strap is at the wrong height. (I do have gorilla arms btw) [/quote] surely this doesn't just depend on the length of your strap but the length of your *cough* as well ...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 [quote name='lowdowner' timestamp='1348513027' post='1814641'] surely this doesn't just depend on the length of your strap but the length of your *cough* as well ...? [/quote] I've got a bit of a chest infection, I can *cough* for hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 [quote name='lowdowner' timestamp='1348513027' post='1814641'] surely this doesn't just depend on the length of your strap but the length of your *cough* as well ...? [/quote] That my dear chap is why I now have an EUB (I thank you....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdowner Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1348515395' post='1814691'] That my dear chap is why I now have an EUB (I thank you....) [/quote] boom-crash... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westie9 Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Someone's already mentioned it but I tend to have mine slung at the same height when sitting to when standing up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Bob Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Mr S Hawkins once told me that the length of your strap is inversely proportional to your female tendancies........i.e. bass on your chin....not a good sign.....bit like knee nuts, chest nuts and chin nuts..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Don't know if someone has said this already, but, assuming right handed, the right side can go down with the long strap but tip the neck further upwards than 'normal' This straightens the wrist on both hands and allows a low right hand. Bit like, but not as far as, the old Bill Wyman position. Someone posted a (new to me) clip of Jamerson and I was surprised how low he had his, but he also raised the neck end. I'm a bit of a short strap softy, bass rests on my belly, can't play as well with it low and I couldn't give a tinker's cuss what it looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushers Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 [quote name='Westie9' timestamp='1348516953' post='1814730'] Someone's already mentioned it but I tend to have mine slung at the same height when sitting to when standing up... [/quote] Yeah, this is what I've been taught and the way that makes sense in my head, sometimes maybe a TAD lower, just so I can reach the lower notes, perhaps that's just because of the Dingwall though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 [quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1348699432' post='1817247']Someone posted a (new to me) clip of Jamerson and I was surprised how low he had his[/quote] Cropper says he was the same when he first started in bands, ended up with a strap specially made to get it at low as he wanted & referred me to his last album cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 I think as a result of misspent teenage posing I've always strung really low. I raised it & raised it as I started getting serious about playing / older, only to then think sod it - it's just a part of me these days so back down it went. I'm 5 months off 40 so probably not too cool to still be doing it but the beauty of being 5 months off 40 is you genuinely don't care what others think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 [quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1348700221' post='1817253'] Cropper says he was the same when he first started in bands, ended up with a strap specially made to get it at low as he wanted & referred me to his last album cover. [/quote] Interesting, as his strap got shorter with age his sadly missed oppo went the other way; [attachment=119448:Duck Dunn.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamtheelvy Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Comfort and good technique is important if you don't want your hands to be crippled in a few years time. Cool is what you make it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 It seemed to be quite the thing to wear your bass high years ago. When I was dragged kicking and screaming out of a 14 year retirement about 6 years ago I duly dragged my Ray from under the bed, slung it on at the rehearsal and the guitarist looked at me and said "we're not fu**ing Kajagoogoo you know" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I`ve recently started moving my strap up, as I came to the conclusion that I feel more comfortable playing the bass in an almost sitting down position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Mostly I'm like.... But now and again I'm like.... And I don't give a fig about the right ways and the wrong ways of how to play your bass. I convey emotion and the physical characteristics of the music as part of my performance in any way my body feels fit. I'll admit that I did used to go out of my way to crush the stereotype of the bassist who stands motionless and upright at the back though. And even though I have this supposed lousy technique my chops still rule. And the strange thing is I can play perfectly well like this or while sitting down with it under my chin... and have done for many a year. I guess I'm flexible.... literally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriswareham Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 (edited) Used to have my bass so low that it took two straps buckled together to get it there. Being six foot four tall didn't help either. Nowadays the strap is a lot shorter, but I often slouch forward and have the bass only a few inches from the floor, so I still appear to be subliminally channelling the Peter Hook stance... Edited September 30, 2013 by chriswareham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 [attachment=145104:magnums.jpg] My bass has got a little higher as I've got older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1380573753' post='2227423'] I convey emotion and the physical characteristics of the music as part of my performance in any way my body feels fit. [/quote] That's a real posh way of saying "I loup aboot like a gype" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1380618250' post='2227792'] That's a real posh way of saying "I loup aboot like a gype" [/quote] Oops that was the vodka speaking..... but yeah you're absolutely right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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