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Beloved bass that's too heavy?
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I once tried a technique using two straps - one in the normal position, and a second one attached to the pin on the bottom of the bass, then wrapped around my waist like a belt, then back to the same pin. I had read about it somewhere.
The load-reducing effect on my left shoulder was undeniable. I didn't do it for long because it caused the bass to hang in a somewhat more vertical position than I prefer - but that might not be an issue for someone else.
The other thing is that, with this approach, you end up with three strap ends competing for space on one pin - my Yamaha has an extra pin on the bottom that some owner before me installed, so I was able to use that. If this approach proved useful for you, perhaps you could have an extra pin put on your Alembic.
See also - http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1482228. Slightly different idea than what I described above, but may help.
The load-reducing effect on my left shoulder was undeniable. I didn't do it for long because it caused the bass to hang in a somewhat more vertical position than I prefer - but that might not be an issue for someone else.
The other thing is that, with this approach, you end up with three strap ends competing for space on one pin - my Yamaha has an extra pin on the bottom that some owner before me installed, so I was able to use that. If this approach proved useful for you, perhaps you could have an extra pin put on your Alembic.
See also - http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1482228. Slightly different idea than what I described above, but may help.
It's not "weight", per se, which is the issue. It's PAIN 
, or worse still, the real threat of a long term disability 
.Think of it like a see-saw; just a couple of pounds can make the difference between flying high in the sky, or sitting on your butt on the floor of the playground
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indeed you could always do a Robert fripp and sit down.. however to be fair the shape of that bass is not lap friendly.. maybe a cousin or something?
it;d be unique
it;d be unique
I've had the Kramer 450 B since 1979, but now its just too dang heavy for any period of time. I bought a fishing scale, 13.5 lbs, put the big neoprene strap on, better but still too heavy and the neck dives. Back pain was getting to be too much.
I'm a carpenter and we carry too much stuff. I put my bags on the fishing scale, all decked out with the saftey crap: 35 lbs. All day long. So puttin on the kramer for rehearsal was a real drag.
I got a Zon vb4 off a great TBer. 8 lbs. No more pain, super sound, perfect balance. I haven't played the kramer for more than five minutes since. I'll probably sell it though I spent lots of time and money getting it hot rodded.
Now I just need another job or retirement.
I'm a carpenter and we carry too much stuff. I put my bags on the fishing scale, all decked out with the saftey crap: 35 lbs. All day long. So puttin on the kramer for rehearsal was a real drag.
I got a Zon vb4 off a great TBer. 8 lbs. No more pain, super sound, perfect balance. I haven't played the kramer for more than five minutes since. I'll probably sell it though I spent lots of time and money getting it hot rodded.
Now I just need another job or retirement.
I've switched over to light instruments for extended playing. The guitar strap and resulting posture are fundamentally flawed in terms of ergonomics.
Id ponder commissioning a another bass specifically built to be balanced and light...a heavy bass will only make things work.
Id ponder commissioning a another bass specifically built to be balanced and light...a heavy bass will only make things work.
I still play my Travis Bean, but I wouldn't last four sets a night/5 nights a week. I would switch between it and another bass as needed (assuming a second is available).
My new bass, a Yamaha bb404 was chosen because it is light before I even considered it's tone and build. Its amazing what a difference a few pounds can make like someone mentioned before. My G&L-L2000 was always the worse bass for me, its was too uncomfortable but now I feel good when I'm playing, I even practice standing most of the time. It's ultimatly more satisfying to play when you put your back first imo.
My Buzzard is 10.6 pounds and my LB76W is 9.5... the plain ol LB76 I have is probably around 9 so the exotic wood on the Buzzard (Zebrano) makes a lot of difference...
I played one of the thru-neck Buzzards at UK Bass Day in Manchester; boy was that thing heavy, quite a bit heavier than my Alembic. I wasn't wearing it, needless to say.
The thing with the Triple O shape is I always wanted a Triple O specifically, not just an Alembic....I blame it on John Paul Jones! There's a thought, I could always send him my chiropracters bill...I'm sure he could afford it
BTW, done all the chiropractic/physio route. Chiropractic actually helped my lower back somewhat but made my upper back/neck worse.
The thing with the Triple O shape is I always wanted a Triple O specifically, not just an Alembic....I blame it on John Paul Jones! There's a thought, I could always send him my chiropracters bill...I'm sure he could afford it
BTW, done all the chiropractic/physio route. Chiropractic actually helped my lower back somewhat but made my upper back/neck worse.
For me its my Ray, never weighed it but id guess its somewhere about the weight of a Ford Cortina!
No it wouldn't man... it'd be like selling an awesome bass whose body shape and weight hinder your enjoyment of playing--and that reason should be enough to overcome any reservations of selling it. Look, sell it, get another Alembic or some other nice bass that you dig, but this time make sure its comfy playing sitting and/or not as heavy. You might even grow to love a new bass even more than your current one, something you could never say about a child.
No it wouldn't man... it'd be like selling an awesome bass whose body shape and weight hinder your enjoyment of playing--and that reason should be enough to overcome any reservations of selling it. Look, sell it, get another Alembic or some other nice bass that you dig, but this time make sure its comfy playing sitting and/or not as heavy. You might even grow to love a new bass even more than your current one, something you could never say about a child.
Ok, something of an overstatement on my part, but you know what I mean.
I thought about selling and getting another Alembic but the only ones that seriously interest me are the Triple O and the Small Standard (Stanley Clarke shape). Had an SC and it was worse by far than my Triple O; the neck dive actually caused me to tear a muscle on my collarbone. So that's an SC out!
Another Triple O would now cost twice as much as I'd get selling mine and there's no way I could make up the shortfall and have another built (the shortfall being about £2000 or $4000). And then there's the question what would I replace it with? Another Sei bass? Possibly, but I do have 1. The only thing I've never had is a 60s Ric but again, even the Alembic wouldn't pay for a decent example. There really isn't anything else I'd even consider replacing it with; I'd like a Jerzy Drozd but even they come second (not saying they're worse, only that I don't want one as much). Ah well, decisions decisions......several months ago my back had improved slightly and I thought everything was getting better. Unfortunately it's now taken a turn for the worse again, hence the thread.
Thanks for the input everybody! Is there anyone out there who's been in this position and actually gone through with a sale? How did you do it?
Yamaha makes a bass designed to be light. I tried one, was about 6 pounds, maybe. Sounds just like a good Jazz Bass. They now make a 5 string version as well. Would be a good option is you don't want to break the bank.
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I had a Stingray 5 that was great in every way but weight. Probably about 12 pounds. My shoulder would fatigue after about 30 minutes, even with a wide, neoprene strap. Ended up selling it because of the weight.
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I had a Stingray 5 that was great in every way but weight. Probably about 12 pounds. My shoulder would fatigue after about 30 minutes, even with a wide, neoprene strap. Ended up selling it because of the weight.
!
Hey David, might that have been the vintage sunburst I sold you last year? I loved that bass, but yeah, the weight is why I sold it too (I weighed it before I sold it and got 11.5 pounds, so your guess is a good one). The one I have now is 1.5 - 2 pounds lighter and is much easier to handle, though it's not quite as pretty as that one was
I also sold a MIM Jazz Deluxe V that has since been sold to quite a few people here at TB. It was a *very* well made MIM, sounded fantastic, but at 13.5 pounds I just couldn't handle it any longer. Seems like everyone who had it after me felt the same way.
The heavy, heavy one I mentioned above was actually a regular SR5 H. The one I bought from you was only heavy.
Both were beautiful sunbursts and sounded great, but alas, too heavy for me. I know, lift weights...
