Question on multiple basses
My Tune bass is so easy to play that I've noticed that it's getting harder and harder to play any of my others. I don't mean because I don't like them, it's a physical thing. My left hand gets tired and aches when I play my other basses.
The worst is my Ric. I can only play it for about 5 minutes before I have to put it down. I get uncomfortable first and in a few minutes my left hand is aching and clumsy.
My Gretsch isn't quite as bad. The deeper 'C' shape seems to prevent my hand tiring quite so fast. But still, within 10 or 15 minutes I have to put it down.
I can play my Fender for 30 to 60 minutes without real problems but I can still feel some tiredness. The Fender has a slim neck but it's a shallower 'C' shape closer to the Ric than the Gretsch.
The Tune bass I can play forever without any problems at all. It has a slim neck with a deep 'C' shape. It seems ideal.
Now I'm not complaining here, I wondering if this is normal. All you multi bass owners; do you find a similar situation or can you play them all equally?
Is it possible that I've developed some bad techniques and that is causing the problems. Could the Tune bass actually be too easy to play?
My second thought is should I sell the Ric and get another Tune bass somehow? Is it right to keep a beauty like my Ric hanging on the wall and hardly playing it? Or should I sell it to someone who's going to play it regularly?
Your thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
My fort thought is that you
My first thought is that you are using a slightly different position for the different basses because of their balance, weight and shape differences. Try sitting/standing in front of a mirror and pay close attention to how you are positioning each bass. Plus, are they all the same length scale? Do they all have the same gauge strings?
Don't strap 'em up in front of the mirror but strap 'em on, play a little riff then look in the mirror to see if there is a difference.
Hazz
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That's certainly worth
That's certainly worth checking. The balance is definately different on all of them. The Tune naturally sits with the neck angled slightly up. The Fender sits level. The Gretsch and Ric both neckdive noticibly. That may explain some of the problem. The Tune bass is the only one I don't have to support at the neck.
I think the neck shape does have an effect too. The deeper profile seems more comfortable.
But that still begs the question should I accept that the Ric doesn't suit me at all and sell it for another Tune? Or should I stop playing the Tune as much and try to get comfortable with the others again?
I guess in a way I'm asking when you finally find the perfect bass is it time to play it exclusively or is it a good idea to keep playing other basses as well? Do we need to be able to play multiple basses?
For you Paul, I think you
For you Paul, I think you should keep the bass you play exclusively and send me the others and I will pick up the shipping. ;^)
I am one that will hold onto basses and guitars even if I do not play them unless I am crunched for some cash.
Just for shytes and giggles, get a 1 lb weight, put a strap through it and hang it off the base of the body from the strap and see if that changes anything. Kind of like a counter balance for the basses that like to dive.
Hazz
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Yea, good one Hazz!! Just
Yea, good one Hazz!!
Just put this out there too,
This is something that I've found,
Sometimes our body types prefer a certain bass feel, weight, neck size, neck width ect… as we are all different, small fingers, long arms, big belly ect, all sorts of things can effect how we play. So I think you may have found a bass that works for you as well some that aren't as good.
Another idea is that you might be out of shape (bass wise) so the basses that don't suit your shape as much become just a bit harder to play, I find this if I don't play much and then go straight to a 6 string bass.
You said that your left hand gets tired try some really hard exercises, stretch them out more than you would and play over 5 frets, also try doing the spider exercise and some trills using some fast hammer ons and pull offs.
Might be stuff you already know but it may help.
J
Re: Yea, good one Hazz!!Just
[quote=jaymie77]small fingers, long arms, big belly ect[/quote]
Have we met Jaymie? Sounds like you're describing me perfectly. LOL
As for your suggestions, thanks. I do know about stretching and other hand exercises. I don't do them enough so that's probably something I should try to address. Traditionally I haven't had hand problems since the day I learned to use a light touch. Somewhere I heard the tip to play without my thumb touching the back of the neck and this reduced the pressure I used to fret notes to the point where all hand issues vanished.
This doesn't seem to be the same problem. I think Hazz got it right. The Tune bass sits properly while the others neck dive to one degree or another. I suspect I'm supporting the neck too much on the others. I'm going to see if I can somehow counter balance them.
I have issues like that with
I have issues like that with my BC Rich Bich. I ALWAYS have to support that top heavy thing. The action is so bad right now I have to about kill myself to play it. I had it refretted and he didn't quite get the neck right. I also had a fret pop just a bit so I had to raise the action on the "G". I would be really surprised if anyone else could even play the thing. As soon as we get a break in giggin' I got to get that thing in.
I've never played a BC Rich
I've never played a BC Rich but I like their 'scantily clad' ladies in the ads. hahahaha
Have you ever had a chance to play a Ric? It's a beautiful bass but it neck dives badly. I guess that huge paddle shaped headstock is at least partly responsible. The neck profile is shallow, I think they call it a 'D' shape. I find it isn't comfortable to my hands while I'm supporting the weight of the neck.
I guess I'm really trying to decide if I should sell the Ric and get another Tune bass. It's hard for me to sell because of it's looks, build quality and history. But crap, if I can't play it I should smarten up and sell it. Of course I could just get another Tune bass anyway and keep the Ric.......
Keep the Ric
J/K If you're not playing it and aren't going to enjoy playing it I'd suggest selling it and getting yourself another Tune bass and spend the difference on beer. No point in owning something as nice as a Ric if its not getting play time. As much as it pained me to trade the jazz I got from Roger I'm having more fun with the V, course the Carvin is getting jealous. LOL
B #
B #
Intellectually I agree with
Intellectually I agree with you. Emotionally I don't want to let go. I keep thinking 'maybe I'll be able to play it later'.
I'm going to avoid snap a decision but I'll try to make up my mind over the course of the summer. Usually I'm quite decisive but when it comes to a vintage instrument.......
What about boobs!
[quote=jaymie77]… as we are all different, small fingers, long arms, big belly ect, all sorts of things can effect how we play.[/quote]
No kidding. Imagine my problem: I've got these two things sticking out from the front of my chest that keep getting in the way of the strap when I play. The eternal question: does the strap go between them, on one, or beside one? Between one separates the twins and makes me play my bass from the right hip (think sidesaddle). That's not too bad. Putting the strap on the left one is out since it creates a unsymmetrical uni-boob profile. The strap usually ends up there anyway. And beside them gives me the push-up effect without a push-up undergarmet. That's the crowd favorite.
Someone's feeling a little silly today...
Anyhoo, I've found that I use different strap heights when playing on other basses helps but they all sit differently. And some basses are not only easier to play and are more balanced in relation to your body than others.
-Ann-
One word, Custom. Have a
One word, Custom.
Have a strap made that splits sending one part between, one part over and one part to the outside. Just a thought. ;^)
Hazz
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Multiple basses
I tend to agree with what Hazz said. Having had the distinct pleasure of playing your Tunebass it's light and exceptionally well balanced.
I've found that of my 3 basses I prefer the weight of the Carvin but the balance of the Jazz, they both have similar neck profiles and fretboard radii. I find it takes more effort now to play my p-bass but that's also probably a function of switching gears from a 5 to a 4 string.
B #
B #
I think you have a good
I think you have a good point. The Tune is exceptionally ergonomic. That alone will tend to make me gravitate toward using it. I am a little concerned though that I'll eventually get to the point where it's the only bass I can play. I don't know whether that's good or bad.
And of course I have to decide whether I need to keep the others as expensive wall hangings. The Gretsch of course I'd never sell but the Ric would buy me two more Tune basses. Hmmmmmm, have I answered my own question.
I think it's a matter of
I think it's a matter of ergonomics. Play what's most comfy and sell the rest. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!
On the other hand, you could just be a wuss!! Hahaha! Just kidding...much love fo' ya!
BoH
Bo
You don't love me, you just love my FINGERSTYLE!
Peavey T40; SX/Squier P-bass; Spector Legend 5
Roland Bass 30 Cube
LOL! I probably am getting
LOL! I probably am getting to be a wuss. I don't like pain anymore. hahahaha
I really should consider selling the Ric. I can get a good price for it and I'd love to get another Tune bass. It's hard to contemplate selling a bass though. : (
I agree. I get attached to
I agree. I get attached to basses that I like. I do think you'll fetch a good price for that Ric. Resale on those things are great.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best. Just make sure you're happy with the replacement. If not, it'll only hurt more.
Have you tried the Ergodyne series basses from Ibanez? They feel pretty good and sound nice too. They've gotten away from those awful luthite bodies and make them all from wood now.
BoH
Bo
You don't love me, you just love my FINGERSTYLE!
Peavey T40; SX/Squier P-bass; Spector Legend 5
Roland Bass 30 Cube
Last night I decided to
Last night I decided to detune my Ric to DGCF and give it another try. The lower string tension really made a difference. Even though I was still supporting the neck it was much easier to play. I went about 30 minutes before having to put it down.
So it appears that the problem is ergonomics and setup. Even though the Ric is apparently setup well I'll bet I could get the strings a touch lower without fretbuzz. That of course reduces the pressure needed to fret a note. If I wanted to drill a new hole for a strap button I could improve the balance to the point it might become quite playable. However, I don't think I'm going to do that, I don't want to adversely affect the resale value. I'll think about this a bit and see if there's something non-invasive that I could do to improve the balance (besides hanging a weight on the lower strap button). Any ideas?
I also think that playing the Fender and Tune basses has made my left hand weaker. I know I could do some hand exercises but I wonder if it's worth it. I mean the Tune and Fender do everything I want.
I am sure someone has come
I am sure someone has come up with a gizmo for this because I think I have seen one but can't recall where.
Have someone machine you a nice looking piece of aluminum about ohhhh what ever length you feel would work and about 3mm thick with a hole in either end. Remove the strap button, screw the extension on where the strap button was and secure the strap button to the other end of the extension. That way you will not change anything about the bass and if you ever sell it can just remove the extension. Maybe I should go patten this.
You could even use plastic, wood, etc. as long as it is strong enough not to bend.
Hazz
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I used to own a 5 string
I used to own a 5 string Tune and it was the most confortable 5 string bolt-on I've ever played. Each bass has it's own design and feeling and there's nothing much to do besides a good setup, new strings and some fast fret. They're always going to feel different anyway.
The Tune bass seems to be
The Tune bass seems to be vastly under appreciated. Mine is a super instrument. I almost wish all my basses were Tune basses. Then all I'd have to decide is which color to play. hahaha
I was playin' a Bongo 5'er
I was playin' a Bongo 5'er and a Corvette 5'er yesterday at the shop. Both felt nice and pretty well balanced. If the neck of the Corvette was on the body of the Bongo I think it would have been prefect.
Hazz
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"Carburetors man!! That's what life is all about."
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Buy them both and swap
Buy them both and swap necks. hahhahaha
BTW I love the Bongo 4 string. It looks and sounds great. Just the neck didn't work for me otherwise I may have bought one.
Sounds good Paul. Why don't
Sounds good Paul. Why don't you send me a credit card and I will go on down and pick them up. ;^p
The other difference between them, the Corvette was a fretless. Man I loved the tone that baby produced.
Hazz
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"Carburetors man!! That's what life is all about."
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Those are my absolute two
Those are my absolute two favorite basses. If I only had the money I would adopt them into the family. I'm into the 4's of course. They are so nicely balanced and they sound so good.
-Ann-
Curbow
My son's Curbow is an ultra-light bass, but not only that, it's neck is extremely easy. You can literally play for hours, if anything it is almost TOO insubstantial.
Fat man, fat bass.
That's sort of what I'm
That's sort of what I'm saying about my Tune bass. It's so light and well balanced and the neck is so narrow and well shaped that it's a dream to play. Maybe, as you say, TOO easy. I can't help but wonder if it's making it harder to play my others.
I cheat by playing two
I cheat by playing two almost identical basses. I love my Fender, so I bought a fretless version of the same bass. I can play both of those for quite a while w/o fatigue. You might want to examine your left hand grip, though. You want to pull from you back rather than turning your thumb and fingers into a vice grip around the neck. For me, the key is making sure my left elbow is away from my body, as this puts the wrist at a much more natural angle.
String spacing can be an issue, too. I used to get some right-hand fatigue on a bass that had fairly close string spacing. It didn't affect my left at all, though.
Wheat
bassplaying.com
It's definately not my left
It's definately not my left hand grip. I relax my hand by taking my thumb off the back of the neck periodically to 'remember' how much pressure to use. This always works for me.
I think we nailed it with Hazz' suggestion that it's probably ergonomics. My Ric and Gretsch really neck dive and I spend a lot of energy supporting the neck. I also detuned both the Ric and Gretsch to DGCF and that helps by reducing the string tension. So I may have a little setup tweaking to do as well.
I'm also considering whether to sell the Ric and get another Tune bass. It's probably better to have a couple of basses that I enjoy playing rather than a vintage instrument hanging on the wall. I just find it hard to part with a bass. : (
Try getting the Ric set up
Try getting the Ric set up again. I say don't sell it unless you absolutely have to (for example if it's chewing up your furniture or peeing all over the floor then it's time for the Ric to find a new home). Although it's not a vintage instrument, just a somewhat uncommon one, I thought about selling my nose-diving Artcore for a while. And then I started playing again and now it's my favorite of the two that I have. The reasons are because it sounds better than the Hamer and I've been told that it's looks just suit me. I also knew deep down that if I did sell it, I'd regret it. It still needs some setup tweaking and sometimes tires my hand out from playing but after experimenting with some different strap heights I got it to where it's easier to play. The lower the bass was, the more prone it was to nose diving. So I'd get a tired hand from holding her up. Too short and my hand would tire out because I'd have to reach so far to get to the 1st fret on that long neck.
Another thing to consider: some strings are stiffer than others. What kind of strings do you have on the Ric? What's the guage? Once I switched to the DR Lowriders (Med Light 45-100), that Artcore was a little easier to play. DR Lowriders are stiff strings, but when I had heavier gauge strings (45-105), my fingers kept sliding under the strings and my hand would get completely exhausted from trying to keep my fingers on top of the strings while trying to hold the instrument up as well. GHS Boomers (Med Light 45-100) were the easiest to play on with that bass because they're a little "slinker," but I didn't like the sound. And they completely die after a month of steady playing. I like the soft feel of Elixers on my acoustic guitar but I haven't tried a set on the bass yet (although I have a set of 45-105 still in the box). So try some different string gauges and see what you think. It might make a difference and it's worth a shot. I say it's easier to change out a set of strings than parting with an instrument.
-Ann-
You have some interesting
You have some interesting points there Ann. I already suspect the setup can be improved. Strap height might make a difference, I should experiment a bit with that.
I use Rotosound Swing Bass 66 stainless rounds on all my basses. They are the only strings I like. The RIc has a standard gauge (45-105) set right now. I use a light gauge set on my Fender (40-100). I might try the lighter gauge on the Ric. It should make a difference.
I'm waffling on selling it. One day I'm going to, the next day I'm not. I'm usually so discisive but on selling a bass I can't make up my mind. Grrrrrr.