A health hazzard question about Bass guitars

[Funky Dude]

The other night my younger brother mentioned that bass guitars make the players wet themselves when their bladder is full. Now he explained that when you hold the bass guitar you have it close to your body when playing it and the low frequency vibrations from the bass affects your kidneys. I'm kind of wondering if this is correct or not.

Is it true that if you play the bass for a long time the low frequency vibrations will cause some nasty problems to your internal organs such as your kidneys?

[maarten]

I am not a bass player myself, but a bass player who works for me in my team told me that this is a 'urban legend'.

Yes, if you have a full kidney, sound vibration can make you feel very uncomfortable. But you do not have to be, in fact are most likely NOT, the bass player.

The actual bass is an electronic instrument. Have you ever heard an electronic guitar or bass unplugged? It hardly makes any sound. This is because it misses a vital component: the acoustic chamber behind the strings. On any normal, non electric string instrument it is the chamber that amplifies the sound.

So the bass player playing his instrument will not be more uncomfortable than anyone else, unless... unless he stands directly in front of his own speaker system. And everyone else with kidney's bursting will be equally uncomfortable in front of those speakers.

I hope this makes sense...

[Funky Dude]

Thanks for the info Maarten.

7 years ago when I was in the 8th grade at high school, I remember strumming the bass in the music class with and without the speakers. Without the amp and speakers it makes hardly any sound obviously, but the electric guitar unplugged sounds a little bit like an acoustic guitar with it's metal strings pulled to it's maximum tighness.

Cheers


_________________
Australia mate! The land of many great funkateers!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Funky Dude on 2002-07-22 09:29 ]</font>