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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jan 27, 2020 21:14:05 GMT
I play seated and I had thoughts about how the bass would feel. It is strange the first time but as a staunch PB20 player anything so unusual would feel wierd. Once I understood the strangeness it became soon very comfortable to play. I shift the bass to my right about 3 inches, and even though it doesn't rest in the deep of the bottom cutaway, it balances very niceley and my right hand rests comfy on the neck pickup where I like it. But wait, there is more! The elevated strip in the center of the body leaves an almost perfect ramp all the way to the 19th fret, it's a little bit too far north but hey, it works. I was just thinking exactly that as I was looking at the Thunderbird. If a Jazz's offset body is offset in that direction to bring the playing area left for playing sitting down then reversing that offset is doubly not helping. It probably is helpful though that the bottom waist is so shallow to allow you the chance to move it a bit rightwards. I'm sure no Gibsoneer was ever expecting folks to play it on a knee though. By the way. This ramp to the 19th fret business. What exactly are you saying is helpful? I got a bit lost. I imagined it was quite nice to have as a thumb rest but couldn't figure out what the ramp to the 19th fret was for. I believe he is referring to the ridge along where the wings are joined and is using it as a tumb rest?
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Jan 27, 2020 21:18:42 GMT
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jan 27, 2020 21:38:15 GMT
The body shape vs sitting or standing as you point out DefJef depends on the person's size. I also think the persons body shape/build also has an effect. From watching lots of guitarists/bass players it appears to me they all position the instrument differently. By that I'm talking the angle to the torso, the height (when standing) and their posture. I have yet to find an electric guitar that is uncomfortable. I do find an acoustic dreadnought sitting down to be a bit uncomfortable unless I'm on a high chair/stool.
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Jan 27, 2020 22:25:31 GMT
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jan 27, 2020 22:54:37 GMT
What didn't Bill Wyman take too far!
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Jan 27, 2020 23:00:33 GMT
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Jan 28, 2020 5:27:27 GMT
I was just thinking exactly that as I was looking at the Thunderbird. If a Jazz's offset body is offset in that direction to bring the playing area left for playing sitting down then reversing that offset is doubly not helping. It probably is helpful though that the bottom waist is so shallow to allow you the chance to move it a bit rightwards. Reversing the offset has no impact on the resting position on the leg, which is what shifts the instrument towards the fretting hand in a Jazz Bass. The shallower curve of the Thunderbird should provide more flexibility in that, in both directions. What worries me, however, is the upper wing right where the plucking forearm is resting on the Jazz, to counterbalance neck dive. Is this a help or an additional nuisance on the Thunderbird?
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Post by LeoThunder on Jan 28, 2020 5:35:00 GMT
Certainly standing or at least perching, allows a more extreme and practical angle that brings the headstock up and is much less of a stretch. Less of a stretch for the fretting hand but maybe more importantly a straighter wrist for the plucking hand. Pick players are more likely to hold their bass like a guitar.
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Jan 28, 2020 10:22:10 GMT
I was just thinking exactly that as I was looking at the Thunderbird. If a Jazz's offset body is offset in that direction to bring the playing area left for playing sitting down then reversing that offset is doubly not helping. It probably is helpful though that the bottom waist is so shallow to allow you the chance to move it a bit rightwards. Reversing the offset has no impact on the resting position on the leg, which is what shifts the instrument towards the fretting hand in a Jazz Bass. The shallower curve of the Thunderbird should provide more flexibility in that, in both directions. What worries me, however, is the upper wing right where the plucking forearm is resting on the Jazz, to counterbalance neck dive. Is this a help or an additional nuisance on the Thunderbird? I did not even suggest that offsetting in either direction changes anything about the position on the leg and would never do so. The leg will sit in whatever curve is created for it. It may even sit on a straight line if it wants to. Which is why I also mentioned the shallower waist on the Thunderbird; to allow leg position adjustment, although I'm sure there will be a certain tendency for things to slide to a natural rest position in the middle-ish of that arc. It is where everything then sits relative to the leg that moves left or right by offsetting. A leg is still a leg, a waist still a waist even if you haven't put a bridge or pickups or strings onto a blank body yet. What concerns the player is where he will be using his hands rather than where he will be placing his leg. As we have noted already, offsetting the body Jazz style moves the neck left and the bridge and pickups must follow it if the scale length is to remain unaffected. Reversing the offset moves them in the opposite direction. Try it if you've got an offset bass. Flip it over to face your body. See where the neck, bridge and pickups are now (yes, facing your body of course which is also not an ideal playing arrangement ). And your leg still sits in a waist curve too of course.
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Post by LeoThunder on Jan 28, 2020 11:37:41 GMT
The leg will sit in whatever curve is created for it. It may even sit on a straight line if it wants to. Which is why I also mentioned the shallower waist on the Thunderbird; to allow leg position adjustment, although I'm sure there will be a certain tendency for things to slide to a natural rest position in the middle-ish of that arc. There's a twist to this. I picked up my Jazz Bass and looked at the way I sit with it. The leg is not in the middle of the curve because the bass is held at an angle. The forarm balances it against neck dive.
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Post by LeoThunder on Jan 28, 2020 12:21:55 GMT
That's right. The point is that the inner angles of the offset body are the balancing tool for the instrument. When I first got it, I felt it was impossible to play sitting, holding it like a guitar. Then I realised it was meant to balance this way.
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Post by subdude on Jan 28, 2020 17:45:15 GMT
By the way. This ramp to the 19th fret business. What exactly are you saying is helpful? I got a bit lost. I imagined it was quite nice to have as a thumb rest but couldn't figure out what the ramp to the 19th fret was for. I believe he is referring to the ridge along where the wings are joined and is using it as a tumb rest? What I tried to say, this edge runs all the way past the heel to the 19th fret and males a handy thumbrest
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