How do you hold up your bass?

[Merlin]

How do you hold up your bass sax?

[Helen]

None of the above. I play it out of a stand. :mrgreen:

[Merlin]

I wish I could have edited the poll - I was sure I put stand as a third option. :?

[paulwl]

With the greatest of difficulty. :lol:

[Media Lint]

Oh I thought you were talking about the bass guitar for a minute ... which I play with it on my lap, flat, tapped, two hands. Yeah, that's that kind of musician I am. Results, not technique ;)

I hold my bass in modest savings. If only I could afford to own one... but maybe one day :D

[MusicMedic]

On it's side with my leg bearing the real weight. I wonder if anyone out there holds the thing to their right with the strap or harness taking the pressure? That would be hard to play....But it would look bad :twisted:

[paulwl]

It might work better in that sub-subspecialty application, the multibass sax choir. Playing with 3 other basses I found it awfully easy to knock bows, loops, etc., with all the others who had the horn at the typical 30° or so angle to the floor and resting on the right thigh.

[averageschmoe]

just like i hold my tenor. ah the joys of being young and stupid.

[hornstar]

I saw Fishbone the other night. Their wild frontman Angelo Moore played it with a neckstrap, positioned between his legs. He's not a big guy, but the horn didn't touch the floor, and he was badass with it.

[Randall]

I have a Couf Superba and I got my tech to fashion an adjustable brass rod with a rubber "foot", just like the Selmer bass has. It is attached at the ring where the bell meets the bow.
No need for straps nor a harness when sitting down.
My tech is now working on modifying one of those tripod type collapsible PA speaker stands with a U-brace for the bell put on top to allow me to play it standing up without holding it and also without worrying about it tipping over.

[john]

Forget the horns, I want Randall's tech!

I have to ask is that Sarge or one of the Japanese localsl?

john

[Randall]

John, it is my guy here in Japan....but I am fairly confident Sarge could fashion the same thing for you if he's willing to do the job. Of course I can't speak for Sarge, but I have confidence in his abilities!
You would really be amazed at some of the customizations I have seen my tech here come up with for brass and woodwind players. The guy is a true genius and is very very skillful.

[hornstar]

oops, correction to my prior post! I saw Fishbone again, and got up close this time. FWIW, Moore was using a harness for the bass, and off to the side not between the legs.

[Christoph]

Do you know this:

http://www.saxophon-service.de/homep/infozube/freeneck.html

It really works!

Christoph

[Randall]

Christoph,
I had one of those for a bari once...good idea and works well...but it is not for "big" people.....

The belt won't make it around your waist! :lol:

[cbcohick]

Well, first you get him close to the bank/boat then you stick a thumb in his mouth and lift him up outta the water. :roll:

/got nothin really

[Paul Coats]

On it's side with my leg bearing the real weight.

Exactly what I do, too. I use a neckstrap. My right thigh bears most of the weight, the neckstrap just stabilizes it.

[SaxPlayer1004]

my school is borrowing one from one of the local universities, and I play it much like I play bari. about 70 degrees off vertical, with either my neotech harness *the original clip broke off and I sent it back, got a new thick plastic clip, with a metal restraint, if my bari bends it, the bass would tear it to shreds* or my modified sling. I took a thick leather guitar strap, and took a U blot with a screw in the open end and a thick fishing clip and attached it through the holes where the pegs on a guitar are. works fine for me, but I'm a big guy so it's definetly not for everyone. another guy tried playing it, and had to use a pillow on the floor under the bow, because he could barely pick it up, and have enough breath and energy to play it.

[paulwl]

I use the Gemini (http://www.studiospace.com/rcsq/harness.htm) bari/bass harness. It's far and away the best solution I've found - I can play in it for hours (longer than my lip lasts!) Well made, rugged, and highly adjustable. And they take PayPal!

[bariman]

Paul,
I know this is really off topic, but I have been wanting to learn how to do that thing where you put the link (randomsite.com/pointless) of a site into one word like "here", so when you click on it it takes you to that site. I am pretty literate on the computer, but would really like to learn how to do this.

Thanks,
Bariman

Edit: Thanks Paul!

[Bar-Ron]

I'm comfortable with a harness as I find the Conn bass only slightly heavier than a Buescher Bari. I tried playing it sitting down resting on a towel but I can't find a comfortable angle.

I might try to experiment with a home made stand that has an adjustable angle and height.

[Martin Williams]

When I had access to one in HS, I used the modified guitar strap with the most success. It was great for the Bass, but was impractical on any other horn (IMO).

Martin

[SaxPlayer1004]

i have my guitar starp adjusted so i can use it from tenor down to bass, i keep my alto in front and usually play without a neck strap anyways, so the guitar strap doesnt work. i love that thing though.