Bass ergonomics question

[mhoss32]

Hello all

im in the process of drawing up some plans for a new project and am running into the sticky issue of ergonomics

it may be that there is no hard-and-fast answer to this, but it would be good to get some opinions

the question is about the shape of the front of a bass body

 

a good example is Wal, here are examples of their mk1 and mk3:

 

 

the Mk1 has a straight carve out of the upper edge, the MK3 has a rounded carve out

 

is either of these specifically preferable? and if so why? would be very interested to see which people prefer from a comfort standpoint

 

 

[neepheid]

I prefer the first one - more flexibility for positioning your forearm.  I would worry that the second one is much more prescribed and you have to keep your forearm where the carve is - either side of it and you're actually going to be resting on a perceived hump/point.

[fretmeister]

First one in general.

The second one might be amazing when sitting but crap when standing and so on. It might be comfy for a fewer amount of people.

[itu]

Depending on the body proportions and the strap length, the first one is much more universal. Here I would say, more carve is better, but I have had issues with my hands. If the player sets the bass very low, the carve is nearly useless. 

[PaulThePlug]

Ergonomics... Ibanez SR

[tubbybloke68]

You want ergonomic?get a Ken Smith if you can. X 

[Kiwi]

11 hours ago, mhoss32 said:

im in the process of drawing up some plans for a new project and am running into the sticky issue of ergonomics

it may be that there is no hard-and-fast answer to this, but it would be good to get some opinions
 

 

 

 

I've found generally that there is a set of trade offs between aesthetics and ergonomics which kind of shows there is a limit to the classic Modernist design mantra of 'form follows function'.  I tend to think of it as a prioritisation exercise...priotise ergonomics up to about 70% of the body shape and compromise a little for aesthetics.  If you go beyond that threshold, it's possible to end up with some fairly unattractive body shapes that are exceedingly comfortable.  I'd offer up Vigier as an example and maybe the Klein steinberger/Strandberg Boden bass.  I'm sure it must be possible to cobble together a 2 axis graph somewhere showing attractiveness vs comfort given access to enough survey data.

 

Strandberg Boden bass

Klein/Steinberger bass

 

Vigier Passion SIII 5