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Punk rock low?

Tech Bass high?

I played with a few posistions and found that with my bass low so I finger around my belt (stop it) and the neck around my shoulder is the most comfortable.

I also found a 3 inch wide leather strap to be the most comfy.

What works for you?

Bev
 

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For the most part I like it slung low, but the guitar really kind of dictates where it hangs with me.

For example, my uncut Teles are allways 'off the hip' on the side as if I play them for a long period of time in the front I start wearing a hole in my fore arm.

I like my pick arm to be straight at the end of a strum.

As far as straps go, I have always liked the 'seatbelt' straps as they slide around easily.
 

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I draw the line at where you can't reach the guitar comfortably/while standing up straight (and really... around the knees would be a little uncomfortable to play). I find it uncomfortable if the guitar's up too high... but maybe i'm just short :D
 

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I've been told I play too high, but yeah, I like to be able to play properly... not to mention, avoiding wrecking my wrists from playing too low, I'd like to have some longevity to my career (if thats what it turns into).
 

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I draw the line at where you can't reach the guitar comfortably/while standing up straight (and really... around the knees would be a little uncomfortable to play). I find it uncomfortable if the guitar's up too high... but maybe i'm just short :D
If it works for you it works for you. :rockon2:

Slung low I can lay down the chords but lead work becomes more of a challenge. Twisting my wrist around like that gets tiring real quick and it makes low string runs difficult.


.02
 

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I guess I hold it not to high but not to low. Between John Lennon and Billy Corgan.
 

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James' neck is low (don't know how he has it that effin' low), Zakk has the neck pretty high, Marty is kind of in between the two.

They usually only keep it low for rhythms though... leads are a different story. Like Zakk will prop the guitar up on his leg / knee area, Friedman puts his foot on a wedge and kind of balances the guitar on his leg, etc.

Another one that comes to mind is Sully Erna of Godsmack... he's not old but he has it INSANELY low. Then again Godsmack's guitar work isn't exactly hard, lol. Drop C and a lot of chords done with 1 finger, lol.
 

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it really does make a difference whether you're playing lead or rhythm. For rhythm stuff I can have it pretty low as long as it's just open chords or riffs or whatever. If I need to play barre chords or leads I gotta have it at a medium height. If it's too high I feel weird, if it's too low my wrist hurts after 3 notes..
 

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Good points Lester, that seems to be the way I do it, I can let it hang a little lower with guitar but with a long-scale bass, I need it higher. I use 5 or 6" wide strap, (leather with cool conchos), really saves the shoulder.
 

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At the belt for me (bass). There's no right or wrong to this. Looking at old Beatles pictures, George played with the instrument fairly high. That's just not my preference for guitar or bass.
I think playin' a bass with the body almost under your chin is a little silly looking, but that's just me.
I also chuckle when I see a bass player usin' it where the instrument body is at the crotch and the neck almost straight up. Again, just not for me.
And KORN style slingin is what I call something for the skateboard crowd.
I agree with 3" strap for bass.
Finally, a dear friend of mine [drummer] used to answer the question "How's it Hanging?" with "Like grapes, only fewer"
 
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