Back problems anyone?

[Kilgore_Trout]

I've been playing bass for 10 years but damaged my back about a year ago. Since then various things have become harder work, not least standing up with 10lbs of solid wood slung round my neck for 2 hours at a time!

Has anyone come across any kind of weight distributing harness in their travels? It's either that or take up the ashbory...

[scottbass]

I tried one of those both-shoulder harness straps (EDIT: yes, it was from www.slider-straps.com) a few years ago. While it did help my back a little bit, it didn't allow any leeway in where your bass is positioned relative to your right hand. And I wasn't happy with the locked-in position of my right hand relative to the pickup. I since spend relatively big money ($50+) on a wide, thick, well-padded conventional leather strap. It seems to be just as good for my back as was the harness. YMMV

[etoncrow]

I have severe spinal stenosis and scoliosis. I will have L1-L5 fused in a four weeks. I use a stool because 90% of my pain is in my legs. If your pain is in your back I am not sure the stool will work for you. I have seen guitards use a stand to support their instruments.

[markkoelsch]

Originally Posted by Kilgore_Trout

I've been playing bass for 10 years but damaged my back about a year ago. Since then various things have become harder work, not least standing up with 10lbs of solid wood slung round my neck for 2 hours at a time!

Has anyone come across any kind of weight distributing harness in their travels? It's either that or take up the ashbory...

Sit down when you play. I was in a band, and I injured my back. It hurt like hell to stand with my bass. The band gave me a hard time about sitting down on the job, but my job was to play bass...not dance around like some retarded monkey. Heck, most people play better sitting anyways.

mark

[lefty007]

Welcome to the forum. (FYI, this thread belongs in miscellaneous - the moderators will move it).

I also play two hours a night. I get back pain with any bass over 9 lbs. or so. My solution has been a 4"-wide strap, and bass lighter than 9 lbs. ;-)

There are these straps:

http://www.slider-straps.com/

I tried it and found very uncomfortable.

These are the best straps I've tried:

http://www.italiastraps.com/indexcart.html

Their service sucks and they take about a month to deliver, but they are worth it.

I've tried neoprene straps, like the Comfort Strapp, and I still think a true 4"-wide strap is the only way to go.

But still, no strap can make up for excess weight. You should definitely look into getting a lighter bass.

What kind of bass are you playing?

[Baryonyx]

Try getting your hands on an old graphite Steinberger. If this fails, try getting a headless Status Graphite bass.

[etoncrow]

Originally Posted by lefty007

Their service sucks and they take about a month to deliver, but they are worth it.

Too bad all of the hippie leather workers have vanished or slipped into the woods. Any one of them could make you a 4" strap in less than an hour that would last a life-time.

[VroomVroom]

Good advice above. If you love your instrument, buy an hour of professional time with either an ergonomic expert or a physical therapist. They'll offer great information on posture, balance, etc...that might be very helpful.

I've suffered from back pain for many years and have found good posture and balance - when I remember to practice their principles - to be very helpful. I also use a stool (Roc-n-Soc keyboard throne), but I greatly prefer to stand. Personal preference, obviously, but I can say this - there have been gigs on which I sat the entire time...and went home with worse back pain than I would have if I'd stood for the gig. Gets back to posture & balance - for me, anyway - keep your weight distributed evenly, stand straight, yada yada... Good luck with this.

[spade2you]

Maintaining proper posture is a good thing to remember. One thing to remember is that even the best of straps don't change how much weight is being exerted on your back.

[etoncrow]

A thought just occurred to me. I am in pain if I am just standing, not holding anything. If I am sitting I am much more comfortable. If your situation is that you are in pain from holding the instrument regardless of posture why not switch to EUB or DB. It supports itself. Just a passing thought. If you like it try an Azola. Incredible instrument!

[davidjbass]

Ditto on the 4" wide strap. Padded makes it that much better. I also have developed a bad back and neck over the past couple of years from bad sleeping habits(sleeping on my stomach) and hauling heavy gear for most of my life. My favorite bass is my Spector NS 5XL weighing in at 10lbs 6oz and though I love the sound of it my back feels it at the end of a 3 set night. My other 2basses are in the low 9lb range so I tend to use them more often now. Proper posture really helps. I also found that strecthing before during and after the gig helps as well.

Lighten up the load was the advice from my doctor. So I went and bought a Mark Bass head and Avatar cabs. Believe me when I tell it makes a difference on your back when you go from hauling a 100lb cab to a 60lb cab. Hope you feel better.

[nad]

My back used to ache after about an hour of playing. Since dropping 40 pounds, I can go hours on end without a break, including engaging in far too many jump-kicks for someone my age.

I realize this might not be an option for some, but it helped me tremendously in this and other areas.

[cadduc]

i used to haul svt's
i have owned five of them
my back is not what it used to be

get a tall stool,

i am only 5'9" but the stool i use gets me to within an inch or two of the 6'2" standing guitard players so it doesnt look like i am sitting on a folding chair and it looks almost as professional as standing up, plus i am old, bald, and fat so the audience expectations are not as high as they were when i was a young man, as in i can understand why he is sitting, he is old, bald and fat

and a wide strap is an ok temporary fix, but the fact is you are still hanging 9 lbs. of stuff off your shoulder, the cantelevered leverage will tweak you, either today while you play, or tomorrow morning when you get out of bed

get a tall stool man

[oldrookie]

There is a nice TBC Jazz in the classifieds. Very light bass. It isn't mine, and no personal interest at stake, but I just bought a TBC fiver and can't believe how much lighter it is than my G&L Tribute.

I'm using a 2" nylon strap with no discomfort.

[Kilgore_Trout]

thanks for all the replies, i'll look into both 4" straps and those double shoulder thingies as well. Apparently I need to exercise more, if I wanted that I would've played the drums! I've been given lots of advice on core strength and ways of strengthening it like swimming and pilates, but where do the hours of the day go??? thanks again

[Fishheadjoe]

I suffered a herniated disc playing ball hockey, oh, back around the mid 90's. I had corrective surgery, actually it's called a Microdiscectomy (SP). (This is a 20 minute procedure- day surgery!!!!)
The disc material in my spine busted up and the parts floating in my spinal column were hitting the nerve roots and causeing me all kinds of pain. The surgery fixed all that. Ok, to my point...
WALK! Walking is an excellant way to get yer muscles moving properly, the more I did, the better my back felt... even to this day, if I play the role of the coach potatoe, I will have back pain... stay active and no pain.
To the poster who is having L1 to L5 fused... I assume you explored every other avenue of treatment before you agree to this procedure? I know of no one who has had a good experience from this procedure! Admittedly, I don't know your diagnosis and no, I'm not a doctor, but that procedure (my Dad had it done) was nothing but grief... no loss of pain, no increased mobility, just a huge doctor bill.
Please get a number of opinions before you agree to this procedure.
Sorry for going a little off topic, you may now resume regular programming!
fishheadjoe

[Stumbo]

I was in acupuncture and deep massage therapy for my back for 11 months. Then chiropractic treatment for 6 more months till I got relief from pain all over my back and muscle cramping in other places.

I had a very small back injury on the lower left side. I wasn't severely injured or anything but I had been in physical therapy and other treatments for a year before I found treatments that helped me. YMMV.

[Rugaar]

Originally Posted by Kilgore_Trout

Apparently I need to exercise more, if I wanted that I would've played the drums! I've been given lots of advice on core strength and ways of strengthening it like swimming and pilates, but where do the hours of the day go??? thanks again

+1

No need to go nuts on the exercises or equipment. Look into some good body weight resistance exercises, aka calisthenics. Believe it or not, 15 minutes of exercise in the morning will do a world of good. I shoot for daily but rarely make that. Even 3-4 days/week will help a lot and you'll definitely notice the difference in a week or two.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by Kilgore_Trout

I've been playing bass for 10 years but damaged my back about a year ago. Since then various things have become harder work, not least standing up with 10lbs of solid wood slung round my neck for 2 hours at a time!

Has anyone come across any kind of weight distributing harness in their travels? It's either that or take up the ashbory...

I have similar problems and tried several light bass solutions including DIY-ing an early style P and a J in the 6-6.5 lb range

Recently I just scaled down...literally. I now gig using a 30 inch scale, 6 lb Squier Bronco I've fitted with an active EMG SA pickup. It's very light, much easier to play and it sounds as good as any other solidbody I've owned and way better than the $225 I spent on the bass and the EMG.

[Calebmundy]

I would also suggest Yoga. I have a lower back injury, and the knots have never been as loose as they were after the second class. It's been a very gentle, but very streching and strengthening experience for me.