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Bass Guitar holder/stand so I don't have to have bass on a strap?

Dee-man

Dee-man

Supporting Member
Apr 6, 2004
3,376
2,669
SF Bay Area
#1
Hey TB. I'm having some physical issues with shoulders and elbows and playing with a bass on a strap is getting difficult and uncomfortable (even with light basses).

I've seen pics of some sort of stand that holds the bass in a playing position, apparently with adjustable height and ability to pivot a bit, so all you have to do is walk up to the bass and play.

Anyone know about this kinda thing? Can you recommend a brand that has these features and is solid enough to hold up to, say, a 10 pound bass and where I could buy one? Or, if not, what these things are called so I can refine my research? And, of course, if anyone has any experience with these, would love to hear if they actually work well, etc.

Thanks a lot, DM
 
#7
I use the Mbrace. It is exactly what you are looking for. I got it when I was going in for neck surgery (fusion) so that I could play during my recovery - otherwise it would have been 6 weeks of no bass.
I liked it enough that I'm still using it, 2 (or maybe it's 3) years later.

Feel free to PM me if you want more details.
 
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#8
Thanks all. Since posting, I ordered the Mbrace, so thanks Kesslari. Glad to hear the confirmation. Now I just need a good sturdy mic stand - any recommendations for solid reasonably priced ones?

Siting definitely helps, but depending on the bass, I may need to still use a strap, so there can still be some strap pull on the shoulder.
 
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#11
Yeah, Amazon was the ticket for this one (free shipping too!).

Yes, el murdoque, that's what I want (within reason price-wise). The Mbrace calls for a tripod, which makes sense. Any brand or retailer suggestions? Thanks again, DM
 
#13
Check out the Invalid Link Removed and see if you can merge its bottom (which has 5 legs) with your MBrace.
12989.jpg


I can't stand 3-leg stands 'cause they're so easily knocked down, nor can I stand one-night stands 'cause they're so easily knocked up.

Always use protection, whatever you do, and ...

 
#14
Hey all. Thanks again for all the input.

So I got the Mbrace and a Gator tripod. I'm vertically deprived, so I had to cut the tripod a bit but works great now (it's adjustable). I've used the combo maybe 10 times now and all I can say is it's awesome! Totally takes the stress off my neck and shoulders, which was the main goal (of course, does nothing for tendonitis, etc., unfortunately). The 3-leg tripod is stable enough and I like the fact that I can rock it a little while playing, but a big gust of wind or a dog running into the cord could knock it over.

It's a totally different experience than playing a strapped on bass. Much more freedom to move so I can optimize the position of my left hand and "cheat" if I don't want to stretch too much or to get a good angle higher up on the neck. Need to work on my bass spins (the Mbrace rotates on the tripod) and dance moves, but that will come. :smug:

The only negatives I have experienced so far are (1) you lose some intimacy with your bass by not having it on your body (though I'm learning to lean into it when on the tripod), (2) you can't walk around while playing (well, not without taking one of your hands off your bass), (3) the strap buckle on the Mbrace is right where I want to lean into the bass, and (4) the rubber nibs (or whatever they're called) that the bass rests on (so you don't scratch the back of your bass up) can fall out (sadly, one of them did and I didn't realize it until after a full rehearsal with my Mouse:bawl:). Other than that (well, it is a little pricey for what it is), this set-up is a real life-saver. Highly recommended (though I have nothing to compare it to).

Thanks again, DM
 
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#16
Saw this hip strap thing a while ago. Only thing is you may need to add a strap button. Steve Albini has been doing this for decades with his guitar to be weird / different, this guy is trying to market it for people with shoulder problems. May be worth a look?

 
#18
Dee-man said:
Hey TB. I'm having some physical issues with shoulders and elbows and playing with a bass on a strap is getting difficult and uncomfortable (even with light basses).

I've seen pics of some sort of stand that holds the bass in a playing position, apparently with adjustable height and ability to pivot a bit, so all you have to do is walk up to the bass and play.

Anyone know about this kinda thing? Can you recommend a brand that has these features and is solid enough to hold up to, say, a 10 pound bass and where I could buy one? Or, if not, what these things are called so I can refine my research? And, of course, if anyone has any experience with these, would love to hear if they actually work well, etc.

Thanks a lot, DM
Click to expand...

For the last several years I've used basses modded with my DIY removable mounting block to fit on a NS EUB stand.
 
#19
Thanks all. Would love to spin like ZZ!

The body (at least mine) has a way of compensating for trouble spots, and often enough the compensation creates its own problems, which is why anything attached to the body would probably not work for me (would probably lead to back issues). Would be interested in seeing your DIY though, Mongo2.

That 5-legged stand looks super stable. It would need the threading of a mic stand (5/8") to accommodate the MBrace. Plus, it might be tricky to find a place to stand so you don't step on the tripod. It's hard enough with 3, so 5 might be really difficult (once you find a spot to stand, you may not be able to move again!).

The other negative I forgot to mention above is the MBrace seems to handle lighter weight basses better. I tried putting a 10-11 pound bass I have on it and it held up, but seemed to be straining (the 5-legged stand might help with this).
 
#20
My experience was similar to Dee-man's with the added problem that playing sitting down saved my back, but didn't stop me from developing debilitating tendinitis. People on the forum helped me with that in ths thread:

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/doomed-to-tendinitis.806885/#post-11474496

But I had to quit, and a chiropractor/massage therapist who does soft tissue work was able to rehabilitate my should rather quickly. Four years later, I saw this thread, bought myself an Mbrace and tripod, and I'm back on. I wish people had known about the Mbrace four years ago. I'd call it a 50/50 chance as to whether it's going to enable me to avoid tendinitis coming back. I don't have a problem with playing guitar sitting down, but even short scale bass causes me to extend my left arm far enough that a tendon in my shoulder starts to flare up. This'll be my last shot at bass. If it doesn't work out, I'm going to get another Les Paul to use with the Mbrace. I love LP's, but sold off my last custom shop black beauty years ago because the the body shape makes them impossible for me to play comfortably sitting down. Standing, they hang at a good angle, but I can't hang any weight on my shoulder, let alone a Les Paul. But a stand would work and would be a good compensation if I have to quit bass for life because I've just never liked other electrics as much as Les Pauls.
 

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