Problems with my Playing Style and the Binding

[VRICKY63]

Stephan. I had the same problem with the binding and my right arm that you are having. I've now been playing Rickenbacker basses for about 10 years and have found my right arm position has adapted (evolution ?) to a more comfortable position away from the binding. I don't think it was a conscious effort, just a gradual repositioning until I was comfortable.

[cassius987]

And now that I've re-read this thread...I'd like to apologize to Joshua. My initial post with John Entwistle's photo reads like an attack on him and his earlier post. Sorry Joshua...I should have worded that in a less smarmy way! Such are the dangers of non-face-to-face communication. If we were in the same room, I would hope that I would have made my point more smoothly.

No worries Jeff, like you say this is the nature of text-based communication sometimes. I have to admit I felt a bit defensive but I see now where you were coming from and appreciate the point you were making.

Sláinte!
joshua

[crawlspacestefan]

Just an update:

I seem to have naturally adapted and this doesn't really seem to be a problem anymore. If I'm playing more aggressive or faster stuff, I'll often use a sweatband just in case, but with everything else everything seems ok. I also figured out another component of the initial problem: I broke my arm when I was younger, and the break required surgery. The part of my arm that was reacting most to the rubbing on the edge of the binding was the scar left from the surgery. For some reason that scar was extra sensitive to the friction or whatever.

One area where I have noticed the adaptation is where I pick. When I first began playing my Rickenbacker, I had a bit of a hard time picking closer to the neck. On my old P-Bass I picked pretty close to the bridge, and and I play pretty hard. I found the strings on the 4003 to somehow have less tension, and at first I struggled a little bit to adjust playing the bass generally, but specifically closer to the neck where the tension seemed the loosest.

Anyways, I guess I've adapted because I dont' really notice these issues anymore and all is going well with the bass (minus the potential saddle issue - but RIC is supposed to be sending me a replacement). I've stumbled into three more bands right now, which brings the total to four (although one is in sort of hibernation right now because of my other musical commitments). I've been spending well over ten hours a weekend in full band rehearsals, and then hours more through the week working on learning all these new songs. I played four shows this week alone. The Rickenbacker is being used as it should be!

[Tigger]

Hey Stefan, I know exactly what you mean with your original post! My first Rick was a 1976 Mapleglo 4001, which I parted company with for a number of reasons, including anaemic tone and the binding on the face of the body – just couldn't get comfortable with that right-angle digging into my right hand around the wrist. However, what I really wanted was a Rick bass that sounded like those used by the classics whose tone drew me to the Rick bass in the first place – McCartney, Quaife, Calvert. RIckenbacker eventually solved the tone problem for me by releasing the 4001V63, a recreation (within reason) of the 4001S as exported to the UK in 1963, with vintage-style toaster and horseshoe pick-ups. This also solved the discomfort problem for me because the bass has an unbound body and dot markers on the neck, rather than the "deluxe" binding on the face of the body and large triangular markers on the neck, which don't appeal in any case. Although discontinued a few years ago, near-pristine examples can be found second-hand, and I'm now running a 1993 Mapleglo 4001V63 and a 2001 Fireglo that I bought in February – the tone I want and the feel I want! The smooth roundness of the top edge of the body, more akin to a Fender, is a constant joy, as you'll find out for yourself if you get a chance to try one. Glad to hear that things seem to have worked out somehow with your current bass, but I hope you might get a chance to try a 4001V63 and appreciate the difference!

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

i had the same problem with the forearm and the sharp edges with pic or finger. i like my '64 the best as it is contoured like the 4000. still ,the slightly rounded edge bothers me sometimes. it's usually the result of friction again and again on the same area of skin.

[beacon]

The advice Joshua gives about not resting the arm on the bass is IMHO technically correct for all of the reasons given in other posts. Meaning that if you were just beginning to play and had a good instructor, he or she would try to get you to not rest your arm on the bass along with the one fret per finger technique for fretting, etc.

That being said, many players, including many great ones play this way. I catch myself doing it all the time and make an effort not to. I play finger style mostly though and I think anchoring the thumb makes not resting the arm on the bass easier. Frankly, when using a pick I am certain I rest my arm on the bass and am not sure I could play with a pick very well otherwise....be interesting to check this out next time I'm using a pick.

Welcome to the forum.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

best thing to do is low sling it like the bassist from nirvana or original alice cooper band...you'll never touch the edge of the bass again !!! lol.

[daveman]

The fact that the Ric has an uncomfortable binding edge forced me to have better right hand technique-- when I bought the Ric at age 16, I adjusted to the edge by holding my elbow a little further away from my body, slight arching of the wrist and hand, etc. -- it wasn't an intentional process, just a natural adjustment, but it has served me well, lo these many years (38-1/2.)