Talbot- No argument here. That's where you are getting your pick reaction and all- cool. Throughout the years I've heard of some guys looking down their noses at guys who use a pick playing bass. I learned - it's the sound you're looking for.... I'd use my elbow if it got the sound I wanted. bwahahaha! In other words.... it 'don't matter'.
I learned something from watching a violin teacher with the son of an old girl friend of mine. What she taught him I found most of these things I was doing... part of it being easier and part from some advice throughout the years. - 1. She had him keep his thumb dead center behind the neck. 2. push the wrist outwards. 3. Bring the elbow in to the body.
What this did is place the fingers (especially the little finger) right on top of the fretboard! Wow! So much easier to reach certain notes- especially with my short fingers! Yeah- my thumb migrates around the neck now and then especially when doing some double-stops, but when I need to go "a-reachin' " I get back to where I belong.
I guess the hanging guitar or bass is partly due to me being on the very short side- only 5'4" so it's beyond me how an axe can be played that way, but I guess they do it. What the hey.
My Fender P bass seems almost as tall as I am.
I play it through an old Sunn Concert Bass 200 watt amp with a Peavey 1820 cabinet. (18' and 2 10's) Seems like a nice combo.
I used to have an Accoustic 360 for many years. Sold it for cash to go see an old girl friend.... we all make mistakes- right?
BTW- This may seem a likely story, but I bought the Accoustic from Jack Ely of the old Kingsmen. it had a hand painting of two horses and dream catchers on the front which I very stupidly scraped off. Jack live in Bend Oregon raising horses. I e-mailed him and he remembers the amp even though he owned several throughout the years.
I used to run the volume about 1/4 to 1/3. I remember at an outdoors concert when I was in a blues band. He showed up with his band called Thanx. He walked up and asked- hey Bob- can I use my old amp? and I said why of course! Have at!!!! ...... He got up on stage- got ready - turned around and cranked that volume knob up to 3/4 of the way! Gawd I thought he was going to blow that thing sky high.
The amp never grunted or whined a bit! And here I had been babying it for years!
Well enough war stories from this side for now I guess. And you? Bob