Do You Use An Arm/Wristband ?

[cassius987]

Now if I only can stop scratching/cutting my finders on the bridge knobs!! [Ouch, I'm still wearing a scab from my last gig four days ago.]

File them down by hand or with a dremmel. The difference is not visible but you can definitely feel it.

[gshadoan]

Jeez Brian, maybe you should start wearing a helmet ... ROFL ....... JK JK

[henry5]

When I used to play 4001/4003 basses the binding would chafe my right forearm. Anybody ever use a forearm guard while playing one of these ? What kind ?

I don't share this personal experience. I have a groove on my arm for a half-minute after I've been playing for a long time, but I don't feel any pain or sensation there and most of the time I don't even notice it's there--especially on a gig. I must be made out of different material than other humans because the whole "binding hurts me thing" never happens to me and I gig out with bound instruments a lot...

Still, I'm not sure why the binding is hurting people. But we are all different, so maybe some of us have more or less fat or muscle or other tissue... or are just less sensitive... I dunno.

+1. I actually suffer far more with the forearm contours many basses have, which really seem to give me tendon problems. Still, I had some nerve conduction tests in my arms yesterday and the consultant advised the place that would be most painful would be the inside of my forearm, and yet it actually hurt the least. He was very surprised. As you say, I guess we're all different.

[pflash4001]

so maybe some of us have more or less fat

...ummm...yeah....not the less part...I guess I got the more part...My wife keeps telling me she's losing weight...I keep telling her I keep finding it! I have never had a problem with this issue. I guess it's the way I place my arm on the bass. I tend to play right behind the sharper part of the curve on my 4001's.

What happened with that Ric??? It looks like it was used to bludgeon someone!!!!

[FretlessOnly]

Not to sound too sanctimonius here, but your bass is simultaneously your best friend and your most worthy adversary. You've got to get on top of it to make it speak and show it who is boss. I play standing up 99% of the time, and when doing so, my right arm is at least 3-4 inches above the body of the bass. When playing sitting down, you need to fight the tendancy to be lazy by resting your right arm on the upper bout.

IMO (had to say that because someone will say it back to me) you need to be on top of your bass to make it speak. Hopefully I won't annoy anyone here by saying so, but if you are resting your plucking arm on the upper bout, you are being lazy, and that's poor technique. If you're tired and doing so, then play 10 more hours a week in your spare time and belt up.

Players who use a pick will find this more difficult (when I play guitar, I often rest my arm on the upper bout), but then again, you should learn how to play a bass properly!

How's that for sanctimonius?

Of course, that's just my philosophy about bass playing; your results may vary; to each their own; do it your own way...ad nauseum

[cassius987]

Well I've never been told not to rest my right arm somewhere or not. I don't think your rule necessarily applies to all bass players, John. There are lots of ways to do it. I've gotten lots of positive comments--in fact, the music faculty at my school, who saw me playing for a faculty picnic in support of my trombone-playing physics prof., told me I was "fantastic" and "outstanding" [and let me reiterate that I'm from the science department, and don't know these people]--and nothing negative about arm placement.

In my opinion there are so many ways to place one's right arm we are better off teaching all of them than just one, because they all have their own advantages in finding a place to set your fingers to the strings and get a certain tone.

[FretlessOnly]

Of course, Joshua; you are as correct as the next person.

I wrote that as my opinion. I've never had an issue with right (in my case) forearm fatigue because of the construct of the bass. My opinion is that one should get on top of that @#$%er and make it beg for mercy. Your results may vary.

Note that I have played in many different situations: jazz trios, quartets, and quintets (six years); big bands; a local symphony orchestra (five years); blues, bluegrass and rock gigs (off and on since '92) all with my upright. When I get an electric in my hands, I want to make it pay.

Bottom line, as pertains to the subject of this thread is: don't whine because your arm hurts. You're a bass player. Bleed for god's sake.

[VRICKY63]

I like your attitude John. I was the same way in my youth and still THINK that way, but at 58 years old and having smashed my wrists in a motorcycle accident I whine about the binding now. I do consider myself blessed to have survived the crash and still be able to play bass though. Hammer that bass and show it who's boss ! Good on ya !

[rickaddict]

I think different players and different styles and different sized players are going to do things differently from one another. For example, Chris Squire is a BIG guy. His picking hand comes in from the back by the tail piece. I'm a small guy. My picking hand hangs from above and likes to be right over the bridge pickup. I like to keep my wrist pretty tight against the body of my bass. It just helps me to reference the strings more accurately and allows me to play faster than I otherwise could. And with my wrist tight against the body of the bass, the binding bugs me. Hence, my preference for binding-free S models.

I don't think laziness factors into the equation at all for me. I mean...I would rather drink beer with my buddies, stay out until 2:00am, wake up at 10:00am and then go to the beach instead of working...but I don't think that's what you're talking about!

[cassius987]

That was a good observation about height/proportionality Jeff.

Hence, my preference for binding-free S models.

Like I said above, I can do with or without the binding, but the dot inlays really sell the S basses for me. I wish they'd come back as a standard option or something.

[cjj]

I think you might be on to something with the height thing vs. issues with binding. As I said, it's never been an issue with me, but then, I'm 6'5" so I've likely got longer arms than a lot of guys, which would greatly affect how my arm sits in relation to the bass...

[teeder]

It may have to do with how low you have it hanging too. The bass that is. Mine hangs pretty low.
So my forearm doesn't come into contact with the body very much.
Sitting down and using a pick is a different story, but it still doesn't bother me with or without binding.

[rickfan60]

That's really it Ted. I play seated 95% of the time so my forearm is on the bass binding. I love the 4001/4003s. Just looking for some suggestions from fellow players who may use the same position I do. No RIC bashing............PLEASE !

You have asked a good question. Many people have complained over the years about the binding edge.

[FretlessOnly]

I like your attitude John. I was the same way in my youth and still THINK that way, but at 58 years old and having smashed my wrists in a motorcycle accident I whine about the binding now. I do consider myself blessed to have survived the crash and still be able to play bass though. Hammer that bass and show it who's boss ! Good on ya !

Sorry to hear about your accident; glad you can still play. About seven years ago, I damaged the ulnar nerve in my fingering arm, and couldn't play for six months. Now, I'm all about straight wrists, which means keeping the right arm up off of the instrument and elbows out. It probably takes a bit more muscle effort, but it should pay dividends in the "lack of injury" department down the road.

At 45 and with a major injury in my past, I need to keep this in mind at all times. But those right hand fingers, they can still dig in! I hope my posts didn't sit wrongly with you.

[VRICKY63]

Not at all John. No problem. I've been asking myself (as I get older)"wheres the fire"! I used to kick a** on the bass. Grindey,wicked pick style,roundwound,speaker shreding. I think you still have it