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Bass weight wimpiness?

#61
It seems almost universal reading through this thread and others that for those with significant chronic medical issues, 8.5lbs has proven to be a fairly firm limit on weight. This is what makes my Sterling at 8.4 "just ok" and keeps me searching for even lighter weight instruments.

steve_rolfeca said:
Just to reiterate what has been said in previous pages, medical conditions can change all of this preference stuff in one stroke.

Pain of the "I pushed a little hard at the gym last night" variety is one thing. But any kind of medically-related chronic pain or discomfort that has even a hint of neurological origins (numbness, tingling, etc.) should NOT be ignored.

For that reason, I now have a hard-and-fast 8 1/2 lb rule for basses that I'm going to play standing up. I just can't afford to let my chronic back problems escalate any further than they have over the last 40 years.

I am still enjoying a busy gigging schedule, I love playing almost as much as life itself, and I'm not ready to be forced out by another injury. That's it, that's all...
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#65
Watchootognbout said:
It's not so much about the weight on your back.The strap rests on your Carotid arteries and/or Jugular veins.Too heavy a bass CAN pinch off your neck arteries/veins and restrict blood flow to the head.

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In order for it to restrict blood flow to or from your head, the strap would have to come closer to the midline/spine than it does. There really is no mechanical way a strap will compress a normally situated carotid artery or jugular vein unless it cuts across the base of the neck. The vascular compression that is in play here is local compression of tiny blood vessels within muscles of the shoulder itself.
 
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#68
My main bass weighs in on the nasty side of 11 lbs. Gigged it for 10+ yrs. I appreciate the songs where I have to switch to my Rob Allen mb-2 (weight = nothing) more and more as the years go by...;)
 
#69
lomo said:
In order for it to restrict blood flow to or from your head, the strap would have to come closer to the midline/spine than it does. There really is no mechanical way a strap will compress a normally situated carotid artery or jugular vein unless it cuts across the base of the neck. The vascular compression that is in play here is local compression of tiny blood vessels within muscles of the shoulder itself.
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I'm pretty sure that the arteries and veins descend down the FRONT of the neck.On both sides of the trachea.Not anywhere near the SPINE. carotid_arteries_pic.jpeg
Anyway.If I'm wrong.I'm wrong.The strap wouldn't have to cut across a whole lot to constrict the vessels.
 
#70
Watchootognbout said:
I'm pretty sure that the arteries and veins descend down the FRONT of the neck.On both sides of the trachea.Not anywhere near the SPINE.View attachment 437309
Anyway.If I'm wrong.I'm wrong.The strap wouldn't have to cut across a whole lot to constrict the vessels.
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No need to belabor it, but the illustration you included is 2D. The trachea is actually significantly more anterior (frontward) than the carotids, which run intimately associated with and in parallel with the spine in the tracheoesophageal groove. A strap that pinched off the carotids would pinch the trachea well beforehand. I have never seen someone wear a strap that chokes him/her. The only large vessels that might be affected by
a strap might be the external jugular, which does not carry any significant return blood from the brain (that comes out via the internal jug), or the subclavian artery and vein related to the arm. In any event, brain blood flow is not going to be affected unless there are other underlying vascular abnormalities that have already changed the flow dynamics. BTW, if you look at a transverse cross sectional image of the neck, you'll see that the spine and carotids are, indeed, very closely related. The neck is a crowded space, with an enormous number of vessels, nerves and other conduits converging.
 
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#73
Yeah, looking at and analyzing/ consulting on normal and abnormal anatomy is what I've done as a radiologist for 20 odd years, and shoulder, brain and spine disease accounts for much of my work. Your case may well be different from "standard" in some way. Regardless, it's wonderful that you have found a way to be comfortable and focus on the playing!
Happy thumpin' :)
 
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#75
CaptainWally said:
I've been playing Lull basses for a while, most recently a couple of M4Vs that weigh 8.00 and 7.95 lbs.

I recently purchased a Fender CS Classic from a TB'er, and I really like it. The only thing that I'm not crazy about is the weight. But here is the kicker: it's only 8.75 lbs.

My shoulder experienced a small bit of discomfort after an hour of rehearsal, and I'm wondering if a 3 hour gig would send me running back to uber-light. Of course, I was hyper-aware of the Fender CS weight, as I was "testing it" to see if it would bother me during the rehearsal.

Anyone have any similar dispositions and/or experiences to share? All thoughts are welcome.

Yes, I know that many of you happily shoulder 10 lb. basses all night long without batting an eye. Let's put your picture on a Brawny Paper Towel package. ;)

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You are weak! No I'm kidding :) I like the heavier basses because I like 5+ string basses. And I'm a tuba player, I need to be ok with heavy, and I embrace it. :)
 
#76
I play 5 string basses. They all weigh about 9.5 lbs.
I'm 62 and a small adult. My basses are killing me.
I played a 4 string P-bass recently. Wow, what a difference.
I do a have a bass that balances really well on the strap and is comfortable
Going Duo strap soon and hoping for real relief.
 
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#78
CaptainWally said:
I've been playing Lull basses for a while, most recently a couple of M4Vs that weigh 8.00 and 7.95 lbs.

I recently purchased a Fender CS Classic from a TB'er, and I really like it. The only thing that I'm not crazy about is the weight. But here is the kicker: it's only 8.75 lbs.

My shoulder experienced a small bit of discomfort after an hour of rehearsal, and I'm wondering if a 3 hour gig would send me running back to uber-light. Of course, I was hyper-aware of the Fender CS weight, as I was "testing it" to see if it would bother me during the rehearsal.

Anyone have any similar dispositions and/or experiences to share? All thoughts are welcome.

Yes, I know that many of you happily shoulder 10 lb. basses all night long without batting an eye. Let's put your picture on a Brawny Paper Towel package. ;)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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20 years ago my 5 sting MM. Weight 10.5 lbs no problem doing a 3 or 4 hour gig. Now my sadowsky is perfect weight at 8 lbs.I don't gig my MM classic 4 because of the weight. 9. 4 lbs. Not wimpiness just old
 
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#79
I traded some basses I hadn't played much for this new Fender American Standard Jazz. I hope to get it back tomorrow from the Luthier doing a setup. I thought for a stock Jazz this was doing pretty good and I'm excited about it.:)
7D82E6AE-8F40-499C-A3F0-A449155B023E_zps6mmil3wj.png
 

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