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Bass comfort and long gigs
- Thread starter redshot
- Start date
I do have a wide one, but not very comfortable after a couple hours playing, so a better one is in order
That's what Sting said!
That's fine if the comfort issue is the shoulder. Strap width won't change how heavy a bass is if it's a lower back issue.
I feel as though I am an expert on this issue. I used to feel the same as the person who said that they did not get this "bass is to heavy" thing. Well 20 years of feeling and acting that way resulted in me having a bad back and shoulder. I have always been in good shape, so that's not the issue. Its like someone who types all day and develop carpel tunnel syndrome. Let me suggest several items for you to consider: first, Gruv Gear offers a Duo Strap that was developed by Damian Erskine and tweeked by an orthopedic surgeon who is also a bassist. The Duo strap evenly distributes the weight of the bass over both shoulders. It is adjustable and makes a huge difference and greatly reduces the stress on your back and on your shoulder. It looks a little weird, but who cares as long as you are not in pain at the end of the night. Second: I sold all of my heavy basses and worked with Pete Skjold and Mike Tobias and ordered basses from them that are both light weight and sound incredible. Recently I ordered a Basslab Soul V. This company is out of Germany. The bass is made out of a space age composite material, no wood at all. It will be completed in a couple of weeks. He sent me a bass to check out before I oredered mine, and it sounds incredible. I allowed several people to play it, never telling them that is was made of composite materials, and they all thought that it was made of wood. The amazing thing about this bass is that it weighs about 5.5 pounds. It disappears when you put it around your neck on a strap. Don't be foolish and ignore your body telling you that it is being traumatized, that will only cause you much more pain and discomfort in the future and may reduce your performing life. This advice is for women and men; pain is pain; nothing femine or masculine about it.
What a typical TB response. One size fits all. If I can do it why can't everybody?
For the record, I can play four sets without a problem, but at 55 I understand why some people can't.
I don't have any problems, but basses don't need to be really heavy. My right shoulder is a little torn up, so I'd have problems if I played lefty.
I have no problems with weight But I only play 4 stringers. Get yourself one of those nice wide padded straps I think nanotech makes one and calls it the mega bass strap or something like that.
Same here. Even today being gimped up, I still play extended periods with no problem using a Fender j bass on a standard web strap.
I did however recently experience some pain after playing. it came from playing for my brother when we did a professional studio recording of some of his original music. I was so worried about making a mistake I tightened up like an effing drum head and never moved anything but what was absolutely required to make the music. For several days afterward I was sore across my chest and upper back from standing so tightly wound for the 4 hours we played that night.
- Oct 18, 2012
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- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
Calebmundy
Supporting Member
- Apr 5, 2007
- 1,135
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- Endorsing Artist: DNA Amplifiers, Lākland Basses
I regularly play 3-4 hours straight through with a not-so-light Lakland 55-01. I get sore, but it's not bad. I think unless you have back problems, it really isn't as big a deal as gets talked about here on TB.
Obviously personal opinion and dependent on style and genre...but also agree
There's a strap called a "Comfort Strapp" which I use on my 2 heaviest basses. It's 3.5" wide thick neoprene with double layer heavy elastic over the neoprene and it has nylon ends with the lower adjustable. It' makes life a lot easier with a heavy bass. Like a shock absorber.
I went from playing bass with a band to playing keys and rhythm guitar for the same band. Now, playing keys 2/3 of the night and a strat 1/3, I have more soreness in my shoulders and back at the end of a night than when I played bass.
by the way, my keyboards are on a stand. No, I'm not playing a lead keytar.
by the way, my keyboards are on a stand. No, I'm not playing a lead keytar.
Absolutely not. I can get a decent sound out of anything, and the lighter the better. Being in pain with two hours to go because you chose the heavy axe who's subtle tonal nuances are totally lost on the audience (and probably the band too) is no way to spend an evening.
Calebmundy
Supporting Member
- Apr 5, 2007
- 1,135
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- Endorsing Artist: DNA Amplifiers, Lākland Basses
32, so also not maybe old enough to have developed issues over time. I've only been gigging long gigs for about four years, but it is sometimes several times a week. I'll have put in 14 hours on stage this week.
