Shoulder soreness and strap question...

[Lichtaffen]

I did search the forum, but my situation seems to be unique. I had been playing a Musicman Stingray 4 for about a year with no shoulder pains. I use a $60 leather strap from GC that felt fine. Then I bought a CIJ P-Bass that has great tone, but very poorly balanced. The headstock falls forward and I need to keep my right forearm rested on the body to keep it in position. Within a week of playing the new bass I started getting shoulder and back pains. The MM is much much heavier than the P, but it feels much better balanced and the nut is closer to my body than the P. It feels like I need to angle my left forearm out to the side more to play the P. I play mostly in the first position.

I went to my doctor and she told me it was because of my desk and chair position at work. She said the rotator cuff muscles are sprained. I've been in the same position since I started this job in August, so I'm not sure if she's right. My thinking is that the P bass is not balanced correctly, thus I am compensating by putting more weight on the body with my right forearm and the strap is digging into my shoulder. I played the MM yesterday for about 3 hours straight and today I feel fine. While I was playing I did, in fact, feel the strap pushing down onto a certain spot in my shoulder. I'm thinking that I need one of those neoprene straps that relieve the weight of the instrument and distribute it evenly along my shoulder. Has anyone else had a similar problem?

I used to have a Neotech strap that I used with my heavier cameras and the cameras felt light as a feather. They make straps for bass. Has anyone had experience with these? Should I just stick to the MM? Thanks in advance for your advice.

[jnewmark]

I have had similiar problems with shoulder pain, and I have used both Pbass and Jbass instuments. I went to the widest strap I could find ( leather ), and then had a thick, fake lamb's wool pad glued to the underside. I'm sure balance of the instument has alot to do with it, but I don't really recall a difference betwee the P and the J, other than the narrower neck of the J. Neither one had the diving headstock problem you described, both sat very nice on my shoulder without support. I use the J all the time now. I also started a stretching routine and exercise, workout regimen because of lower back pain. I don't seem to have the shoulder problems anymore.

[etoncrow]

You check this thread for a solution:

ultimate cure for shoulder/back pain