How high/low do you wear your axe?

[Cary]

There's actually another Levy strap I might even recommend more for you. They make (or at least made) a checkerboard version WITH A LEATHER BACK... That's important because they also made a totally nylon version . BUT, the checkerboard with the leather back is long enough I can wear it with my Blitzbass and FBIV (IIRC, you play a Scarab bass, don't you?). And THAT one I don't have maxed out. I have it at 57" straplock to straplock, and there's room to let it out at least 2 more inches. It's marked "MPG28" on the back "The nylon version, which is too short, is "MP28".

The suede leather strap is more comfortable, though, but it only maxes out at 54", so it doesn't go as well with my "pointy" basses. Unfortunately I can no longer read the number on any of the three of that model I have.

Good luck.

[kizanski]

Thankfully, Brooks wears his at THE correct height.

[Cheap Chick]

Is this Johnson height? I don't have the proper equipment to evaluate...

[RJoseph133]

Low, low, low, baby! At least for my basses...as MCChris so thoughtfully approximated;"the way to get laid, son." Basses played high up on the chest look, to put it mildly, not rock'n'roll; or to put it harshly, dorky.

Gee-tars? I guess a little bit higher, but not much. I usually don't play guitar outside of the house, so I usually don't "wear" one unless I want to look cool in the mirror. Come to think of it, the last time I played guitar in front of anyone other than my cats was at last year's MWJ...I think I had my guitar on pretty low then.

Example in point: look at Steve Howe. Nobody can say the man is not an incredible guitarist. Not just incredible...the man is fan-friggin'-tastic. But I think that just about eveyone here can admit the man looks like a total dweeb with his axe hanging under his chin...it just ain't right, kiddies!

I honestly don't care to hear about how hanging my bass/guitar low affects my "technique" (not that I have much of one!) after all, I'm playing "My Sharona" not some obscure classical etude. It's all about how you look when you are playing in front of an audience. People like to see a rock band look like a rock band, not to look like Dream Theater.

But, to each his own. Some people like to SEE Dream Theater, too. Dunno who, but some people look at them when they play, I guess...

[Jack C]

But, to each his own. Some people like to SEE Dream Theater, too. Dunno who, but some people look at them when they play, I guess...

Even worse - some people actually like to LISTEN to Dream Theater.

[bobbymack]

Belt buckle would hit the lower half of the guitar's back (if I let it)...

[silentman]

But, to each his own. Some people like to SEE Dream Theater, too. Dunno who, but some people look at them when they play, I guess...

Even worse - some people actually like to LISTEN to Dream Theater.

Watch it.

[md2020]

Sometimes taller people give shorter people a lot of grief (like on weekdays and weekends), but shorter people are the big winners when it comes to wearing a guitar, in that they can wear it high and low at the same time!

We've all seen the rock star photos in which the guitar was just above knee level, yet the headstock was overhead! Easy upper fret access and rockin' good looks in one swell foop! Try that, Tom Scholz!

For some reason, however, this Joey Alves fellow never quite figured this out...

Dave Meniketti, on the other hand, was way cool.

[RJoseph133]

Even worse - some people actually like to LISTEN to Dream Theater.

Agreed. I was attempting to head off the argument: "Playing with your (guitar/bass) too low affects your technique." It has nothing to do with listening, per se, it has to do with seeing a rock band.

And as incredible as Dream Theater may be as musicians, they are an absolute snooze for a NON-MUSICIAN (read the caps again, DT fans, before you get all pi**y with me) to see live.

The great unwashed in just about any bar on a Friday/Saturday night want a crazy dude/dudette running around looking like a punk, not Andres Segovia.

[silentman]

Not being pissy. A good friend of mine has zero musical ability and goes to every show when they come thru. I think you could say the majority of DT fans are musicians, but there are others who just love them for the lyrics, or their love for progressive music.

[RJoseph133]

Not being pissy. A good friend of mine has zero musical ability and goes to every show when they come thru. I think you could say the majority of DT fans are musicians, but there are others who just love them for the lyrics, or their love for progressive music.

All is cool, brother...just stirrin' it up a bit, but with a smile!

[Willie G. Moseley]

I used to wear my basses chest-high, so the "belly cut" was actually a, er, "boob cut" for me. That meant reaching pretty far out there on most full-scale basses of course. I also learned quickly about a guitar-width strap w/ a bass; now my straps are a minimum of 3.5" wide.

However, several physical problems have meant I've re-thought and adjusted several former portions of my technique. Not the least of the problems was a total acromionectomy of my left shoulder in late 2001, and I now let gravity and comfort dictate where my left arm resides. Accordingly, my basses usually hang where a "belly cut" is thought to be. I also prefer body-heavy basses, where the neck is in a more vertical posture. Might be heresy to mention another brand on this site, but the slightly-upward neck tilt of a Guild Pilot feels wonderful to me these days....I just wish they came w/ maple fretboards.

I'll take ergonomics over sound or looks any day as requisite for any player who is performing for something other than simple pleasure. Sound can be adjusted if you're seeking something different, but you need to be comfortable first and foremost if you're going to do your gig in the most professional manner possible, regardless of whatever genre you're playing.

Another uncontrolable hassle is the weather---cold rainy days (like what my area is current experiencing) cause that left shoulder to hurt like hell, but said surgery had to be done...WGM

[BCR Greg]

Willie, I know what you mean about the weather! My right shoulder is the one that gets me, but a gallon of coffee and some time relaxing usually takes care of it.

I played bass for a band back in college(more years ago than I care to ponder!) and found that playing it up high lead to lower back pain.

With guitars, each guitar dictates the position for me. My Juniors and Burst hang low, the Hamer doublecuts a little higher, my Trussart Tele higher yet. Go figure.....

[Michael_]

I wear it as low as I can play it for the looks factor. I find the key is to have the right angle on the neck so you can wear it low and still have good access to the fretboard. Just look at Slash and Page, thats how they do it. I'd have to get straplocks to get that angle though, if I did it with this strap and guitar, the damn thing would fall off.

[DavidE]

What height is this?

[DavidE]

I wear mine lower than my bassist. I do wear some higher than this and my acoustics are definitely belly height.

[Guest JackButler]

Ribcage level..to stay in control.

[Sentinel]

It all comes down (up?!) to arm lenght!

I've got short arms, so my guitars hangs on (a high-ish) belly level.

And I even raise the neck to a "Bill Wyman angle" for wider fret access!

[riffpowers]

About this high, somewhere between gut and johnson.

I used to play a lot lower, but later I decided that people would be much more impressed if I played better than if I looked cooler!!

Playing not that well was not so cool I thought....

[polara]

I think, from photos, that I play it exactly where BCR Greg does. They Jimmy Page low looks rawk, but barre chords can get tiring that low, as can some lead stuff. I don't like it too high, admittedly partly for looks but I have long arms and broad shoulders and a birdcage chest, built like a scarecrow. I like to have my picking arm fairly relaxed, and I just angle the neck to suit whatever I'm trying to do with the left hand.

On bass I honestly like it low because I can keep my wrist fairly straight and comfortable. The exception is if I'm doing slap stuff, in which case wearing ti WAY high is the way to go, like most funk players wear it. I can't get that shumb slap thing going with my arm dangling down.

[StylesBitchley]

Chest high but not because of shred idols. I also try to match the height of sitting down because it feels best to me and my hybrid picking technique. One of the first that I saw with his guitar at chest level was Roy Buchanan.

[burningyen]

The trick for you chest-high guys is to tuck in your shirt and pull your pants up to your nipples. That would be cool.

DavidE, you look very fetching in that dress.

In between the gut and the peen:

[Craig S]

Low, top of the body a belt level. I have long arms so it doesn't feel that low to me. I think I'm getting some arthritis in my elbows and they start to get stiff if I keep them bent for long periods of time.

[serial]

I like it on the lower side of mid. Unfortunately, my XL straps are starting to wear and the last two or three I've purchased are too short for me, so they're virtually unused.

[guitarzandstuff]