Camera PV 2007 » Camera Tripod » position
position
Question:
> Then don’t follow this link to "the swami’s" store, and > don’t look at the plain old ash elrick 35" 5 string bolt on > he has. Exactly like the one here in Kenosha. After a few > attempts to love it, I opted for the 5 string Zon they had. > (34" 5 strings make rob smile) > http://www.basspalace.com/index.html
I suspect they would make me a little one if I asked nicely, but I’d better try out that neck first. Somehow neither Harry the Bunny nor Jimmy the Luthier have one at the moment. With luck, the urge will pass before they get one. Or I could wander along 48th St., but it’s mostly Sam Ash these days. -Donna
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> And about the open strings: I always thought the whole zero fret thing > sounded like a good idea. A careful inspection of the bass that I’ve had > for 6 months revealed that I in fact have it already and didn’t notice. > I bet that qualifies for the tiniest woo-hoo of the week. What do I win?
You won tons of goodies. You can use any gauge string without nut rattle. You have the lowest action at the 1st fret you can get, and you’ll keep it whenever you get your frets recrowned (just happened to me). And you won’t have that awful 1st & 2nd fret sharpness that comes with a nut that’s cut a little too high. Wish all basses came with zero frets (however can’t justify trying to convert my non-zero-fret bass).
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> I bet that qualifies for the tiniest woo-hoo of the week. What do I win?
You know those prizes, where you get 60 seconds to run through a supermarket, and everything that makes it into your shopping cart is free? Get a wheel barrel, and meet me under the balcony. — O> /() ^^
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> > I bet that qualifies for the tiniest woo-hoo of the week. What do I win? > You know those prizes, where you get 60 seconds to run > through a supermarket, and everything that makes it into > your shopping cart is free? > Get a wheel barrel, and meet me under the balcony.
But I don’t need anything! Really! If a 34" 5-string Elrick with a really nice burled top hit me on the head, I wouldn’t pick it up. I have a bass already, and I’m not even the slightest bit curious about who "Swami," mentioned in another post as a used bass retailer, is. Dammit. Well, unless you were going to throw some of those Y straps so I could try them out before ordering. One burgundy right-handed very short, and one black left-handed medium, please. -Donna
Response:
> But I don’t need anything! Really! If a 34" 5-string Elrick with a > really nice burled top hit me on the head, I wouldn’t pick it up. I have > a bass already, and I’m not even the slightest bit curious about who > "Swami," mentioned in another post as a used bass retailer, is. Dammit.
Then don’t follow this link to "the swami’s" store, and don’t look at the plain old ash elrick 35" 5 string bolt on he has. Exactly like the one here in Kenosha. After a few attempts to love it, I opted for the 5 string Zon they had. (34" 5 strings make rob smile) http://www.basspalace.com/index.html I gotta ask Dude why he bought a bass from him, since I know the two of them went a few rounds a few years back. > Well, unless you were going to throw some of those Y straps so I could > try them out before ordering. One burgundy right-handed very short, and > one black left-handed medium, please. > -Donna
There was someone, ordered one of them more than a year ago. Never was delivered as far as I know. Wonder what happened, and if he ever got it and or liked it. I could toss a power saw onto the pile so you could fix one of them Elricks. The Cort version looks decent: http://www.bassnw.com/New%20Exotic%20%20Basses/cort_elrick_JPS5_5_st_… 
— O> /() ^^
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Another solution I found at bunnybass.com was to attach both ends of the >strap to the horn strap button. Does a great job of fixing the neck >dive, but puts the weight on my neck rather than my shoulder. Not >comfortable for long periods. > Right, that was the effect of moving the rear strap button "down" towards > the controls–to force the bass further rightwards, but not as rad as your > fix. >If anyone is interested, I’ll post pictures. > You know it!
Kurt, Here it is. http://www.pressplay.net/ripper_eub.htm I’ve got an extra tripod leg so if you want to try it, I’d be happy to send it to you. From reading your posts, I know you’ll be able to figure out how to do it with no additional assistance from me, but if you have any questions or want additional pictures or whatever, let me know. Hope you like the project, Neal — Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants "A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve got a ‘71 fender mustang. I just want a position that’s most > comfortable for fretting all the way up and down the neck. I prefer to have > the body low, my picking fingers get less fatigued that way and it feels > more natural to me. Do you find that there’s a compromise as far as > fretting goes??? When I have it in a position that’s very comfortable at > the lower end then at the higher end it’s not so comfortable, and vice > versa. You know?? Thanks. > I agree, and it’s worse with a long scale bass. A general > rule of thumb is to adjust the strap so the bass is at the > same height sitting AND standing. For me though, fretting > is easier high, but plucking hand cramps (but great for > slap) when high. Lower, and the right hand is comfy, slap > is slpooy, and left hand has a reach. Live, I opt for > lower, because I mostly pluck, hardly slap, and just need to > *relax*, which helps you relax your shoulders. Key thing > for preventing fatigur related injuries. Don’t worry about > control of the bass, just try to work in harmony with the > body flopping around. > — > O> > /() > ^^
Agreed…and this is precisely why I love 5 or 6-strings…I can play in the middle of the neck all night long. (I’ve always hated open-strings anyway…unless their peculiar tonality is required for a tune or a reach I always avoided them)
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Getting on it today. Will post the URL. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Another solution I found at bunnybass.com was to attach both ends of the >strap to the horn strap button. Does a great job of fixing the neck >dive, but puts the weight on my neck rather than my shoulder. Not >comfortable for long periods. > Right, that was the effect of moving the rear strap button "down" towards > the controls–to force the bass further rightwards, but not as rad as your > fix. >If anyone is interested, I’ll post pictures. > You know it!
– Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants "A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
Response:
> this is precisely why I love 5 or 6-strings…I can play in > the middle of the neck all night long. (I’ve always hated open-strings > anyway…unless their peculiar tonality is required for a tune or a > reach I always avoided them)
I see your point about being able to stay in the middle of the neck. I’m 5′ tall and spent the weekend contemplating 5-strings because I just like being in the middle better. Fortunately, I’ve decided that I really like the look of Elricks, yet I can’t possibly buy a 35" scale, so I’m safe from shopping. Although if I ran across one accidentally I might check out that round neck thing… And about the open strings: I always thought the whole zero fret thing sounded like a good idea. A careful inspection of the bass that I’ve had for 6 months revealed that I in fact have it already and didn’t notice. I bet that qualifies for the tiniest woo-hoo of the week. What do I win? -Donna
Response:
Another solution I found at bunnybass.com was to attach both ends of the strap to the horn strap button. Does a great job of fixing the neck dive, but puts the weight on my neck rather than my shoulder. Not comfortable for long periods. I’d been working on modifying it by adding an end pin to play upright. I I finally worked it out by replacing the end strap button with a threaded insert. I threaded a piece of 1/4" rod to screw into the insert, attached a big fat aluminum washer to it to distribute the stress, and slip the smooth end into a modified camera tripod leg. Works pretty well so far. I use a long web strap, for "insurance". If anyone is interested, I’ll post pictures. Neal – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->moving the end strap button from the 9 o’clock position to about >the 10:30 position (facing the front of the bass). > Yeah, that kind of stuff really helps. I was playing a Jazz-bodied bass 5 > hours a night and besides getting genarally fatigued, my shoulder really > hurt. I tried holding each end of the strap against different parts of the > body. The front strap button ended up centered on the back of the tip of the > horn and the back button moved about 2 1/2" down toward the controls. Helped > a lot.
– Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants "A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
Response:
Thanks for all the good advice everyone.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Getting on it today. Will post the URL. >>Another solution I found at bunnybass.com was to attach both ends of the >>strap to the horn strap button. Does a great job of fixing the neck >>dive, but puts the weight on my neck rather than my shoulder. Not >>comfortable for long periods. > Right, that was the effect of moving the rear strap button "down" towards > the controls–to force the bass further rightwards, but not as rad as your > fix. >>If anyone is interested, I’ll post pictures. > You know it! > — > Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants > "A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
Response:
> Another solution I found at bunnybass.com was to attach both ends of the > strap to the horn strap button. Does a great job of fixing the neck > dive, but puts the weight on my neck rather than my shoulder. Not > comfortable for long periods.
Right, that was the effect of moving the rear strap button "down" towards the controls–to force the bass further rightwards, but not as rad as your fix. > If anyone is interested, I’ll post pictures.
You know it!
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> This will also help with balance,
It did. Thank you.
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> moving the end strap button from the 9 o’clock position to about > the 10:30 position (facing the front of the bass).
Yeah, that kind of stuff really helps. I was playing a Jazz-bodied bass 5 hours a night and besides getting genarally fatigued, my shoulder really hurt. I tried holding each end of the strap against different parts of the body. The front strap button ended up centered on the back of the tip of the horn and the back button moved about 2 1/2" down toward the controls. Helped a lot.
Response:
> I’m 6′2", with very long arms.
Ready-made for all those cool-looking basses Entwistle liked, the Buzzard and T-Bird and all! Bet an ASAT even fits you (no chance for me).
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This will also help with balance, but not weight: I have a one of them acoustic-y sounding electric shaped geetars (not a Ferrington) which has a hollow body and a maple neck, and as a result is neck-heavy as all get out. I can’t move the strap button, and I didn’t want to attach weight to the body itself, because that would affect the resonance. So I just hang some weight from the rear button. You can either use the weight as a strap lock, or hang it inside the strap. I use a can of Spam. Made a little harness for it out of silver planning substitute. You might want to use Spam lite for those unplugged gigs. But whatever works for you. I’m hoping that they start making squeezable Spam, as I would love to get more of a tube sound. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Innes, >I’ve been working on trying to find a comfortable position to play my >Gibson Ripper which is very heavy and has severe neck dive. I generally >like to hold my bass midway between low and high. So far, I’ve come up >with moving the end strap button from the 9 o’clock position to about >the 10:30 position (facing the front of the bass). Helps the balance a >little, but not the weight. >Neal > I’ve got a ‘71 fender mustang. I just want a position that’s most > comfortable for fretting all the way up and down the neck. I prefer to have > the body low, my picking fingers get less fatigued that way and it feels > more natural to me. Do you find that there’s a compromise as far as > fretting goes??? When I have it in a position that’s very comfortable at > the lower end then at the higher end it’s not so comfortable, and vice > versa. You know?? Thanks. > Innes >>>Hello! >>>Just wondering if anyone has any tips on finding the most comfortable >>>position to play the bass. I’ve been struggling to find one, I’m always >>>adjusting the strap this way and that, but there never seems to be one > spot >>>that’s just right, you know? Any idea’s appreciated. Thanks, >>>Innes >>What kind of bass do you have? Is it particularly heavy or oddly shaped? >>Does it have neck dive? Do you prefer it high or low? >>Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants >>"A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
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> 3. I’m 5′7" short and
Good addition. I’m 6′2", with very long arms. Skinny as hell though. Makes a difference. Even the ratio of back-to-strap surface appears to effect some people’s views of balance. I don’t have much area where the strap can grab on to, but I’m working on it. Breakfast, then I mercifully ate a Krispy Kreame (to save a co-worker). Skipped my weight llifting session. Ate 2 Rally burgers with cheese. Drank 8 beeers, and a shot of "stuff". Looking forward to ice cream in a bit. Not too bad for 36. And… I still have all my hair 
No cigarettes though ;-( Mmm… everything. — O> /() ^^
Response:
Innes, I’ve been working on trying to find a comfortable position to play my Gibson Ripper which is very heavy and has severe neck dive. I generally like to hold my bass midway between low and high. So far, I’ve come up with moving the end strap button from the 9 o’clock position to about the 10:30 position (facing the front of the bass). Helps the balance a little, but not the weight. Neal – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’ve got a ‘71 fender mustang. I just want a position that’s most > comfortable for fretting all the way up and down the neck. I prefer to have > the body low, my picking fingers get less fatigued that way and it feels > more natural to me. Do you find that there’s a compromise as far as > fretting goes??? When I have it in a position that’s very comfortable at > the lower end then at the higher end it’s not so comfortable, and vice > versa. You know?? Thanks. > Innes >>Hello! >>Just wondering if anyone has any tips on finding the most comfortable >>position to play the bass. I’ve been struggling to find one, I’m always >>adjusting the strap this way and that, but there never seems to be one > spot >>that’s just right, you know? Any idea’s appreciated. Thanks, >>Innes >What kind of bass do you have? Is it particularly heavy or oddly shaped? >Does it have neck dive? Do you prefer it high or low? >Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants >"A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
– Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants "A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
Response:
Thanks for your advice, and thanks to Rob for his too. Yeah, I used to have a long scale bass, Ric 4001, but had a really difficult time with it. That’s why I went for the short scale. It is a lot better for me to play as I have not long fingers or ganglor arms. I will try what you said and just stand with the bass, hands resting in position, to see, and take it from there. Thanks, Innes
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> When I have it in a position that’s very comfortable at >> the lower end then at the higher end it’s not so comfortable, and vice >> versa. You know?? Thanks. > It is a bit of a trade-off most of the time >I agree, and it’s worse with a long scale bass. A general >rule of thumb is to adjust the strap so the bass is at the >same height sitting AND standing. > It’s important that you read the rest of what Rob said after this! > I got in real tendonitis trouble because a teacher forced me to do > this, and I was using a long, badly balanced bass It was a very early > Warwick, before they did the Spector-esque body shape, headless, and > butt-heavy as a cheese-cake addicted bus driver. The neck was not set > into the body very far, and trying to play 1-2-3-4 in low positions > just killed me. > Rob’s other advice is bang on though: > For me though, fretting >is easier high, but plucking hand cramps (but great for >slap) when high. Lower, and the right hand is comfy, slap >is slpooy, and left hand has a reach. Live, I opt for >lower, because I mostly pluck, hardly slap, and just need to >*relax*, which helps you relax your shoulders. Key thing >for preventing fatigur related injuries. Don’t worry about >control of the bass, just try to work in harmony with the >body flopping around. > You’re gonna have to figure out one postion and kind of work at that > for a while. Try just standing with the bass, with your hands resting > where they would be working. You’ll get a better idea of what > "normal" should feel like, and be able to work towards it A good > rule is that at no time should any joint be bent past 90 degrees.
Response:
> I’ve got a ‘71 fender mustang. I just want a position that’s most > comfortable for fretting all the way up and down the neck. I prefer to have > the body low, my picking fingers get less fatigued that way and it feels > more natural to me. Do you find that there’s a compromise as far as > fretting goes??? When I have it in a position that’s very comfortable at > the lower end then at the higher end it’s not so comfortable, and vice > versa. You know?? Thanks.
Yeah, I know. If you’re short like me the following formula will work, but you may not like my answers. Actually, I don’t like them either, but I figure I should be content that I am allowed a choice between what works and what doesn’t. 1. I wear my bass high. This keeps it in roughly the same position for effective fingerstyle, picking, and the odd slap tune. Long ago, I learned that to wear the bass low straightens the wrist nicely for fingerstyle, but made my left hand cramp frequently because it put a radical bend into the left wrist. When my hands cramp, they get locked up in a painful, weird knot, and I keep playing to get rid of these cramps. When I wear the bass high, my hands cramp with roughly equal frequency, which I figure is right–equally distribute the weirdness. Really, there is absolutely nothing natural about playing the electric bass, you have to force your body to do unnatural things (however upright is worse). So you get used to it, you make compromises. 2. I anchor my right forearm to the body of the bass. That way I always know where everything is. Sitting and standing don’t put the bass in the same spot, but my forearm tells me where I am and I don’t have any problem transitioning from standing to sitting and back. Also after a while, I noticed I wasn’t dependent on a thumb anchor. I mean, I would rest my thumb on the E string or edge of the pickup or edge of the pickguard or just anywhere and sometimes let it float in the air. I don’t leverage with my thumb at all. No force there, just a reference like a cat’s whiskers. 3. I’m 5′7" short and my sleeve length is 32" so I hold the bass a good bit off to my right. That means the obtuse but abrupt corner of the bass, the edge right at the top end of the belly cut, smacks me an inch or two above the solar plexus smack in the sternum when I’m standing. Mighty uncomfortable if I think about it. Also it looks awful. I don’t at all cut an impressive figure playing. But it really takes a lot of strain off my left arm and since I usually attack the strings directly over the P pickup, everything’s in easy reach where it should be. But none of this should be as weird for you as it is for me since you’ve chosen to play a short-scale bass.
Response:
>> When I have it in a position that’s very comfortable at > the lower end then at the higher end it’s not so comfortable, and vice > versa. You know?? Thanks.
It is a bit of a trade-off most of the time >I agree, and it’s worse with a long scale bass. A general >rule of thumb is to adjust the strap so the bass is at the >same height sitting AND standing.
It’s important that you read the rest of what Rob said after this! I got in real tendonitis trouble because a teacher forced me to do this, and I was using a long, badly balanced bass It was a very early Warwick, before they did the Spector-esque body shape, headless, and butt-heavy as a cheese-cake addicted bus driver. The neck was not set into the body very far, and trying to play 1-2-3-4 in low positions just killed me. Rob’s other advice is bang on though: > For me though, fretting >is easier high, but plucking hand cramps (but great for >slap) when high. Lower, and the right hand is comfy, slap >is slpooy, and left hand has a reach. Live, I opt for >lower, because I mostly pluck, hardly slap, and just need to >*relax*, which helps you relax your shoulders. Key thing >for preventing fatigur related injuries. Don’t worry about >control of the bass, just try to work in harmony with the >body flopping around.
You’re gonna have to figure out one postion and kind of work at that for a while. Try just standing with the bass, with your hands resting where they would be working. You’ll get a better idea of what "normal" should feel like, and be able to work towards it A good rule is that at no time should any joint be bent past 90 degrees.
Response:
> I’ve got a ‘71 fender mustang. I just want a position that’s most > comfortable for fretting all the way up and down the neck. I prefer to have > the body low, my picking fingers get less fatigued that way and it feels > more natural to me. Do you find that there’s a compromise as far as > fretting goes??? When I have it in a position that’s very comfortable at > the lower end then at the higher end it’s not so comfortable, and vice > versa. You know?? Thanks.
I agree, and it’s worse with a long scale bass. A general rule of thumb is to adjust the strap so the bass is at the same height sitting AND standing. For me though, fretting is easier high, but plucking hand cramps (but great for slap) when high. Lower, and the right hand is comfy, slap is slpooy, and left hand has a reach. Live, I opt for lower, because I mostly pluck, hardly slap, and just need to *relax*, which helps you relax your shoulders. Key thing for preventing fatigur related injuries. Don’t worry about control of the bass, just try to work in harmony with the body flopping around. — O> /() ^^
Response:
I’ve got a ‘71 fender mustang. I just want a position that’s most comfortable for fretting all the way up and down the neck. I prefer to have the body low, my picking fingers get less fatigued that way and it feels more natural to me. Do you find that there’s a compromise as far as fretting goes??? When I have it in a position that’s very comfortable at the lower end then at the higher end it’s not so comfortable, and vice versa. You know?? Thanks. Innes
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello! > Just wondering if anyone has any tips on finding the most comfortable > position to play the bass. I’ve been struggling to find one, I’m always > adjusting the strap this way and that, but there never seems to be one spot > that’s just right, you know? Any idea’s appreciated. Thanks, > Innes > What kind of bass do you have? Is it particularly heavy or oddly shaped? > Does it have neck dive? Do you prefer it high or low? > Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants > "A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
Response:
Hello! Just wondering if anyone has any tips on finding the most comfortable position to play the bass. I’ve been struggling to find one, I’m always adjusting the strap this way and that, but there never seems to be one spot that’s just right, you know? Any idea’s appreciated. Thanks, Innes
Response:
> Hello! > Just wondering if anyone has any tips on finding the most comfortable > position to play the bass. I’ve been struggling to find one, I’m always > adjusting the strap this way and that, but there never seems to be one spot > that’s just right, you know? Any idea’s appreciated. Thanks, > Innes
What kind of bass do you have? Is it particularly heavy or oddly shaped? Does it have neck dive? Do you prefer it high or low? Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants "A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer