Members Goofball Jones Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I was asked this by a non-musician friend and honestly, I couldn't answer him. You see guys when they set up their bass, they put it on their stands or against their amps backwards sometimes. Why do they or you do this? Dunno the answer. Seen it done for 30 years. Never knew. Still don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mlwarriner Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 if i'm leaning a bass against my amp, or against something else, i'll turn it backward in hopes of the rotating part of the tuning pegs catching on something to help hold it up. if it's going in a stand, i don't see any reason for putting it in there backwards... YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PaulyWally Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I was asked this by a non-musician friend and honestly, I couldn't answer him. You see guys when they set up their bass, they put it on their stands or against their amps backwards sometimes. Why do they or you do this? Dunno the answer. Seen it done for 30 years. Never knew. Still don't. No one really ever explained it to me... so I could be wrong. But for one, I'd rather lean it against the strings than the back of the neck. I wouldn't want the back of the neck to get scratched or something. Two, I would think since the strings are bowing the neck up... leaning it in the opposite direction would be less stressful on the neck. Ever seen a piece of wood that was leaning against a wall for too long? Yeah... it's no longer straight. I dunno... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrmatt64 Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 Because of the tension. Since the strings tend to make the neck bow forward slightly, laying it against your amp (or stand) backwards relieves that strain a little bit. Mr. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I do it sometimes because the board is flatter than the neck, making it less likely that the bass will slip and fall -- strings and board provide more friction than the curved back of a neck. That's why I do it at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I've heard some players do this to keep the instrument from feeding back between sets. I hit the mute button on my amp for the same reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members justinbass Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I do it sometimes because the board is flatter than the neck, making it less likely that the bass will slip and fall -- strings and board provide more friction than the curved back of a neck. That's why I do it at least. Same here, although I hate doing it. I need to buy one of those small guitar stands to set my bass into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I set my bass back-side up, mostly because its easier to get dust off the back than from between the strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 You guys don't carry it with you everywhere you go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flatball Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 Everyone is forgetting one of the most obvious reasons: Sometimes where the input jack is located makes it hard to fit the bass frontwards on the stand with the cable plugged in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 Is, 'Because I saw a few of the pros do it...' a good answer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members i_wanna_les_paul Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I do it sometimes because the board is flatter than the neck, making it less likely that the bass will slip and fall -- strings and board provide more friction than the curved back of a neck. That's why I do it at least. That's why I'd do it this way if I didn't have a stand. If you balance the back of the neck against an amp (especially one covered in tolex), you have to position it just right or it will slide due to the curvature of the neck. The fretboard side is flatter so you don't have to balance it that way. As for the feedback idea, all you have to do is turn the volume knob(s) all the down on your instrument to keep it from doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thelurker Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 according to my guitar player, the flat side of the neck (the fret-board) makes it less likely to slip and fall when it's not on the stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 if i'm leaning a bass against my amp, or against something else, i'll turn it backward in hopes of the rotating part of the tuning pegs catching on something to help hold it up.if it's going in a stand, i don't see any reason for putting it in there backwards...YMMV. Yeah, the post of the G string tuning peg will usually rest in one of the recesses of my cab's front - keeping it from sliding off, and falling down... Usually, I have a couple of stands with me - but if not, that's what I do... - georgestrings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BEAD Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 My wife's guitar has one of those headstocks that tilts back. If I lean it up against something with the back away from the wall it's a little bit more stable. If it's my bass there's probably a 50/50 chance I'll set it down either way, since I don't give a {censored} at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jackcheez Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I just plain old don't lean my basses up against stuff. I use a stand or I lay it down somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xdamagexx Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I just plain old don't lean my basses up against stuff. I use a stand or I lay it down somewhere. DITTO.. boy thats a mighty mean big right arm there... wonder how that happened????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted August 29, 2007 Members Share Posted August 29, 2007 I set my bass back-side up, mostly because its easier to get dust off the back than from between the strings. I can't believe I've never thought of that. I've got one bass that is usually on a stand and does get dusty. I've got to try this...thanks! Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goofball Jones Posted August 30, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Good to see I'm not the only one that's not too sure about why people do this. Different people do it for different reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Narcosynthesis Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Ideally I would stand it up with the strings facing outwards, as to me it isn't a good idea leaning it on the strings and pressing them into the frets. That way will stop feedback, but then again so does turning down the volume control ideally you need a wee corner or edge to prop it against though, so it can't slide off. Really I would prefer to have a stand of some sort David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mlwarriner Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Yeah, the post of the G string tuning peg will usually rest in one of the recesses of my cab's front - keeping it from sliding off, and falling down... Usually, I have a couple of stands with me - but if not, that's what I do... - georgestrings honestly, i can't be arsed to bring stands to gigs, so i'll either lean it against my amp strings-first, or lay it on it's back on top of my racks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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