How high or low do you wear your bass?

[alaskaleftybass]

I wear mine higher than I used to as I'm older, and I always make sure to cover my belt with a t-shirt. Even when I was much younger I always despised "belt-rash." To me it was the dumbest reason to scratch up an otherwise very nice bass.

Wear it where you feel comfortable. Too low and years later you will regret it as your hands and back start to complain. And do a little pistol-whipping on the hecklers in the band! You're the low end drive to the band!

 

[packhowitzer]

higher than this:

but lower than this:

 

[Element Zero]

I used to wear it fairly high. Higher than it would be if I were sitting down and the bass resting on my leg. For 20+ years I wore it like that. Just until November I dropped it a few inches. Now it’s almost exactly the same height if I stand or sit.

 

[physics]

My basic goal is to seek a position that allows both of my wrists to be as straight as possible. With my long arms and fingers, this means I hang the bridge end a little low. The neck is at about a 45 degree angle and my left forearm is approximately level. This is a comfortable playing position for me and seems to help me play better.

 

[mikewalker]

Somewhere around B.B. King height seems to work best for me ...

With one of my favorite basses, ( A Flying V ) this means the body digs into my ribs a little... and I have toyed with the idea of some bass-back contouring surgery - but have now thought better of it!

 

[Thumpin6string]

I think the rule is to wear your bass at the same level as you wear your pants. That explains why some of those young-uns wear their bass at there knees, the same as their pants.

 

[glocke1]

Ok, ladies and gentlemen. Take it easy on me since this is my first thread post. I am posting this just because I always get my chops busted by my band mates that I wear my bass like a tie. I like wearing my bass pretty high and am comfortable that way, even though I just started playing a Spector 5lx and don’t know if it looks right being worn high. I think with the fenders worked better. Lol. Anyway, I figured I would throw this out there and hope I am posting it in the right forum. Happy New Year!!

I wear mine pretty high as well. It's more comfortable, and I feel like I have more control over it.

I've tried wearing it low, and its just way too uncomfortable.

 

[JimmyM]

I can't stand mine high unless I'm playing extremely difficult music. I don't go all Jimmy Page with it, but I'm much more comfy and relaxed with it somewhat low. But I'm not you. Find your own way with it and own the stage regardless.

 

[hypercarrots]

Do you high guys wear it this high? (I know, it’s a guitar)

Do you low guys wear it this low?

 

[Ooba Tooba]

I used to be like

And then I was like

But now I’m like

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

Years ago, at an audition for a fairly well known national act, they handed me a bass and told me to wear it at my knees, “gunslinger style” every time we played

I remember thinking “This is ridiculous, I can barely play like this”, but they didnt care about that, and were insistent about strap length. Band had to look a certain way.

The importance placed on looking a certain way while making music, even if it makes you play worse, is perplexing.

 

[allenhumble]

 

[gelinas666]

Same as sitting for me.I used to wear them low but my wrists would take a beating from being so bent when playing.. Adjust strap in a sitting position then stand up and adjust it a little for the design of the bass body(and yours)..

 

[interp]

Not too high, not too low.

 

[Nephilymbass]

i Just do what’s comfortable. Too high or low both have their drawbacks. This is pretty normal for me.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I think that the type of music you are playing will dictate the most comfortable playing height. For punk and metal, a lower playing height is necessary to avoid injury, especially if you are playing Dee Dee Ramone downstroke style. For Funk, Jazz, Disco a higher position will work better, so play what ever is comfortable for you and the music you are playing.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Your bass strap should be adjusted right to about where it falls when you’re sitting holding it on your right leg. The guys who wear it real high usually slap way too much or pluck with their thumb...wearing it higher makes it harder for your right hand to have a natural fingerstyle hand position. Rockers who wear their bass real low tend to have extreme angles in their left hand which can lead to carpal tunnel or tendinitis. Wearing the bass really low makes it harder to play fingerstyle on the higher strings, unless you have real long arms like a gorilla.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

I think that the type of music you are playing will dictate the most comfortable playing height. For punk and metal, a lower playing height is necessary to avoid injury, especially if you are playing Dee Dee Ramone downstroke style. For Funk, Jazz, Disco a higher position will work better, so play what ever is comfortable for you and the music you are playing.

Good point. It might facilitate right hand picking, but it can cause left wrist bend if you don’t angle it upward.

 

[BassiklyAC]

 

[Spidey2112]

I've always matched my strap length to pretty much where my bass rests on my thigh, when I practice (while seated, as this is where most of my playing occurs)... when playing while standing, it's really not that far off the mark... very comfortable, for me.