Is my bass causing me problems?

Evil Undead · #1 03-19-2011, 02:03 PM

I didn't know whether to post this in the technique forum or the basses forum, so I stuck it in here instead!

I'm currently playing a Warwick Corvette $$ - 2008 model with the baseball bat neck.

When I first bought the bass I thought it was my dream bass and perfect for me in every way but lately I've been wondering if the neck profile is just way too thick for my hand, as after a short amount of time my left hand starts to ache. I'm a girl, so my hands are smaller than the average bassist.

I've recently been also playing my Kramer which has a much thinner neck profile, and I can't decide whether it's more comfortable or not... even after spending hours playing them both and switching between the two.

I can't see any noticeable issues with my technique, so is it possible that the neck of the Warwick is simply too large for me? It would tear me up to sell this bass but don't want to be causing myself problems further down the line.

jarrhead · #2 03-19-2011, 02:05 PM

I'm only 15, so I have quite small hands as well. I play a spector -- just as thick, if not thicker, of a neck.

I'd say it's more your left hand technique, not the neck. If the neck were causing problems, people wouldn't buy them.

I also got carpal tunnel when I was playing my Lakland -- a super thin neck. Neck size /=/ injury.

The positioning and pressure of your thumb is the main idea.

Evil Undead · #3 03-19-2011, 02:26 PM

Ah cool. Didn't realise Spector necks were that beefy!

I'll have a look into my technique a bit, perhaps I'm gripping on the neck a bit more than I should.

D-Nut · #4 03-19-2011, 03:01 PM

You may want to try adjusting the length of your strap as well. I have a few different basses with a few different neck shapes and not one of them is the same height when I'm playing them. I found that the fatter necks were easier for me to play the higher up they were on me.

ShredderMaximus · #5 03-19-2011, 03:38 PM

I've read that you want to have almost no pressure on your thumb, and one exercise was to play without having your thumb touching the neck at all, to build strength in your fingers. Don't know how much it helps you but this helped my technique a bit, and better technique = less pain, ideally at least.

madmatt · #6 03-19-2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

I didn't know whether to post this in the technique forum or the basses forum, so I stuck it in here instead!

I'm currently playing a Warwick Corvette $$ - 2008 model with the baseball bat neck.

When I first bought the bass I thought it was my dream bass and perfect for me in every way but lately I've been wondering if the neck profile is just way too thick for my hand, as after a short amount of time my left hand starts to ache. I'm a girl, so my hands are smaller than the average bassist.

I've recently been also playing my Kramer which has a much thinner neck profile, and I can't decide whether it's more comfortable or not... even after spending hours playing them both and switching between the two.

I can't see any noticeable issues with my technique, so is it possible that the neck of the Warwick is simply too large for me? It would tear me up to sell this bass but don't want to be causing myself problems further down the line.

You need to get a Yamaha SBV like FUMI from the Polysics plays. I love the sound she gets with that, kind of a rubbery growly sound.
She F'ing rocks out. She makes it look easy.

Edit: Did not mean to hijack your thread. Also finding an SBV is hard to impossible.
But as far as your technique, try to find the most relaxed position you can for your left hand, do not force it. It takes a while to get your hand strength up without giving yourself Carpel Tunnel. Alas, we have probably all been there...

fearceol · #7 03-20-2011, 05:36 AM

While I am no expert on Warwick basses, I have read where people were finding the neck uncomfortable.

As mentioned already, it is possibly to do with your technique. Check out this clip on L/H technique from a fellow TB'er :

YouTube - Developing Safe Left Hand Technique for Bass Guitar

delta7fred · #8 03-20-2011, 05:59 AM

You don't happen to work at a PC and spend hours on a keyboard do you? If so this may apply to you, if not then just ignore it.

I have played bass since the 60s with no problems, then about 12 years ago I started getting aches and cramp especially in my left hand. I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both hands and had cortisone injections (very painful) and was booked for surgery. I then took voluntary redundancy from my 8-10 hour a day (keyboard and mouse) job. The company flatly denied that my CTS was caused by constant computer use.

Within a couple of months of leaving work the pains were subsiding and soon had gone completely, I cancelled the surgery and I am now back to full speed and mobility on bass, no matter what neck I play. I still have to be careful not to overdo it on the PC but not doing it for a living now means I can stop when I feel the slightest discomfort.

Evil Undead · #9 03-21-2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delta7fred

You don't happen to work at a PC and spend hours on a keyboard do you? If so this may apply to you, if not then just ignore it.

I have played bass since the 60s with no problems, then about 12 years ago I started getting aches and cramp especially in my left hand. I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both hands and had cortisone injections (very painful) and was booked for surgery. I then took voluntary redundancy from my 8-10 hour a day (keyboard and mouse) job. The company flatly denied that my CTS was caused by constant computer use.

Within a couple of months of leaving work the pains were subsiding and soon had gone completely, I cancelled the surgery and I am now back to full speed and mobility on bass, no matter what neck I play. I still have to be careful not to overdo it on the PC but not doing it for a living now means I can stop when I feel the slightest discomfort.

Funnily enough, I do. No option at the present though. But interesting theory there, and it's certainly quite possible...

klaus486 · #10 03-21-2011, 12:29 AM

If you practice sitting down adjust your strap so the bass is in the same position when you stand up. Stole this from Billy Sheehan. Works for me but may look a bit dorky. Who cares!

Skitch it! · #11 03-21-2011, 12:30 AM

I prefer a shallower neck profile even though my hands are quite large. It wouldn't be the first time I've heard of Warwicks being neck skimmed/profiled, they are chunky necks.

Stilettoprefer · #12 03-21-2011, 01:12 AM

I developed tendonitis from playing upright (gigantuan neck) with improper technique. I was gripping the neck way too hard. It ended up forcing me to quit playing for a few weeks while wearing a brace and lots of ice. After I started playing again I focused on my technique and got a lesson to fix it. Now I only feel pain after playing for hours at a time.

Btw, my electric is a schecter stiletto and the neck on it is pretty beefy compared to most basses I've tried. I find that I like big necks.

jollygiantchris · #13 03-21-2011, 01:27 AM

The only question nobody has asked yet is are you gripping to hold the neck up because your bass isn't well balanced? Remember you want to use the minimum amount of effort possible with the left hand when you fret.

Russell L · #14 03-21-2011, 06:12 AM

Sounds like you might wanna check your ergonomics first. Try holding the neck more vertically to see what that does (may have to lower the strap to do that, if you're playing it high, but see that even with it more vertical don't have it too low, that would create another kind of strain---think more like you're playing an upright bass, that is). To me, the worst ergonomics is having the strap way too low and having the neck too level with the ground, like I see so many younger players doing. What is it with that? Some kind of coolness factor? It can really hurt your hand.

I play my basses kinda in the middle, low enough to relax my picking hand and angle the neck up a bit, high enough to not put my fret hand in a bind.

jarrhead · #15 03-21-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

Funnily enough, I do. No option at the present though. But interesting theory there, and it's certainly quite possible...

I was on PC 16 hours a day seven days a week average the summer before I started playing bass. I never had any issues. Just like bass, a computer requires proper technique.