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Bass comfort and long gigs

#41
Calebmundy said:
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.
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I'm 29 and I have to limit my playing time most every week due to neck, shoulder, back, and wrist issues. I'm glad you don't have to deal with it, but it is every bit a problem for some of us as it is made out to be.
 
#42
MCS4 said:
I'm 29 and I have to limit my playing time most every week due to neck, shoulder, back, and wrist issues. I'm glad you don't have to deal with it, but it is every bit a problem for some of us as it is made out to be.
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I mean, I did say "unless you already have back issues," but that sounds awful. Sorry to hear. :hmm:
 
#44
hover said:
You better be getting damn good pay for 4 hour / no break gigs.

I do regular 3.5-4 hour gigs, and we take 20 minute intermissions. 8 people in the band, most likely someone's gotta pee.
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On the circuit I'm in, it's just the norm. A lot of the groups have some kind of system where the singer will do 1-2 acoustic tunes to give everyone a quick pee break. A few of my regulars are just plain old straight through no breaks. I just make sue I go twice before we start! I make about $150-250 for these deals.
 
#45
Personally I would rather have a decent sounding bass (like Ibanez) strapped on my shoulder for a long gig than an amazing sounding bass that weighs like a boat anchor for a long period of time. No matter which one you choose you will never please everybody else unanimously, so try to please yourself.
 
#49
Lol! The moral of the story is to find the bass you like and learn to wear it. I had no issues lugging my american fender jazz on a 4 hour gig, but I was used to it. What you really need to do, is find the bass that you like the most, and find the most accommodating strap to deal with the gig volume. That's were you will find true happiness. And dear god, to that dual strap solution; I'm not trying to offend anyone, but that looks hideous.
 
#50
It's funny how many people I see in this thread saying, "I don't get all the complaining about heavy basses," are many of the same folks I see in the amp section saying, "No way I'm moving a 30 lb. amp and a 50 lb. cab when I can move a micro and a little 20 lb. neo cab."

I go for lightness in my basses because of a recurring shoulder problem that's finally been starting to lighten up now that I've lost weight and started exercising regularly again, but I'll dang sure move an SVT and 810 without complaint unless there are lots of stairs. The amp moving takes but a few minutes but some of my gigs last hours with very few breaks.

But I must say I am quite shocked and surprised how so many of you throw us light bass lovers under the bus for being wusses when you wouldn't dream of moving an SVT. Seems like I've got you beat in the manliness department, eh?

:D
 
#52
JimmyM said:
It's funny how many people I see in this thread saying, "I don't get all the complaining about heavy basses," are many of the same folks I see in the amp section saying, "No way I'm moving a 30 lb. amp and a 50 lb. cab when I can move a micro and a little 20 lb. neo cab."

I go for lightness in my basses because of a recurring shoulder problem that's finally been starting to lighten up now that I've lost weight and started exercising regularly again, but I'll dang sure move an SVT and 810 without complaint unless there are lots of stairs. The amp moving takes but a few minutes but some of my gigs last hours with very few breaks.

But I must say I am quite shocked and surprised how so many of you throw us light bass lovers under the bus for being wusses when you wouldn't dream of moving an SVT. Seems like I've got you beat in the manliness department, eh?

:D
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I always figured you just levitated those god-awful giant cabs through sheer audacity and manly willpower Mr. M :D
 
#55
It's always amused me that folks are engaging in macho posturing about an instrument that was invented to be less physically demanding than the instrument that it replaced, and that uses electricity to produce its sound. ;)

Granted, I also prefer lighter electric basses and a wide strap. But I also think that balance is a big issue.
 
#57
None of my current basses (Gibson) hit the 9 pound mark. I've had heavy basses before, but they never seemed to bother me. What bothers me is if a bass isn't well balanced. That makes for a long gig if a bass is neck heavy.
 

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