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Close to giving up.

Evil Undead

Evil Undead

Oct 31, 2009
3,844
587
#1
I love playing bass, but I don't seem to be able to find the right one for me.

I'm waiting on carpal surgery so my hands are a bit uncomfortable most of the time anyway but I do my best to make sure my technique is ok. I've taken videos of myself playing each bass and examined my technique and it's always constant.

Bass wise, everything I try isn't right. Long scale makes my little finger go numb and hand ache. Short scale feels cramped. Skinny or shallow necks give me hand cramps. Fat necks and wide nut give me wrist pain. Anything other than super low action is impossible to play, and that's not possible on most basses.

On the odd occasion I've found a bass l feel happy with, there's been a problem with the bass itself (one maxed truss rod, one frozen truss rod,you get the idea)

I don't want to give it up as besides the physical discomfort, I enjoy it.

Any suggestions will be read!
 
#8
I have been dealing with arthritis for over a decade. I can relate. I have spent a ton of money buying different basses and getting them setup for the lowest possible action


First tip ill give u us to learn to do your own setup. Ive had so many setup my bass and none have any idea of what I mean by super low action. I'm the only one that sets up a bass the way I need it.

Lighter guage strings make for easier playing. 35-95.

There are some basses that allow for crazy low action and that stay that way pretty well

Laklands allow for super low action

Peavey Palladium

Gibson SG

MODULUS graphite

I hear great things about Sadowsky and Lull. But ive not had the ability to try them.

You'll also want to do daily exercises to train yourself to play using as little pressure as possible and rest often during your practice. Stretches before playing are a must.

Ice every night helps lots with the swelling.

It can be managed. Don't give up.
 
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#10
Ouch. Well, if you've got CTS you'll need to get it addressed first, obviously. You may need surgery, you may not. I wish you a speedy recovery, been there.
You might try to hang your bass more vertically, like Bunny Brunel. His sig bass is designed to hang that way. Maybe even try that thing he does with his strap which tilts the bass toward you.
 
#11
!. Adjust the strap so that the bass is high enough that you don't have to bend your wrist to play.
2. Fretless
3. Tapewound strings
4. Low action
These have enabled me to play after my hand surgery. It was not for carpal tunnel, but involved many of the same parts and tendons. Take it easy - don't try to do too much, too fast. It will take time, and if you go too far, you'll set your recovery back. Let the pain be your guide, but keep playing when you can.
 
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#13
I seem to push the guy a lot lately, but you might get in touch with John Toon. He's a TBer and a luthier in Kansas City; if I remember the story right he hurt his own hands in an auto accident a few years back and started making basses that were comfortable to play for him - uses 32" scale a lot. If you described to him which necks are and aren't working for you he might be able to come up with something.

toonbass.webs.com
 
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#14
I would recommend something with:

- a ramp (makes you play with a lighter touch on BOTH hands)
- flatter neck profile (allows a lower setup)

I`d also go and try to PLEK the bass - my custom mayones is setup extremely low (0,7mm at the 12fret on the G string) and still sounds perfectly fine.
 
#15
Besides my pseudo-career as a musician, I'm a neurologist and I'm specialized in neurophysiology. If You have an ascertained CTS eligible for decompression surgery, you can close this thread immediatly.
No bass can satisfy you completely until you regain satisfactory health.
Treat the CTS first, do what you have to do, take your time to recover (very little indeed, simple surgery), and begin a new life with your basses. If you have serious health issues, CTS and maybe more, basses are not the problem.
 
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#16
I have found changing to tapewounds makes playing easier as they seem to have much less tension and play
nicely without super low action or bending thin necks with seasonal weather changes.

Benefits: No blisters for beginners. Last forever. A sound that covers most styles with amp tweaks.

BUT. That's no answer if you have medical issues.

Only take advice from qualified people for those problems.

I want to play as long as possible and I think low tension strings should help.

Good luck.
 
#17
Evil Undead said:
I love playing bass, but I don't seem to be able to find the right one for me.

I'm waiting on carpal surgery so my hands are a bit uncomfortable most of the time anyway but I do my best to make sure my technique is ok. I've taken videos of myself playing each bass and examined my technique and it's always constant.

Bass wise, everything I try isn't right. Long scale makes my little finger go numb and hand ache. Short scale feels cramped. Skinny or shallow necks give me hand cramps. Fat necks and wide nut give me wrist pain. Anything other than super low action is impossible to play, and that's not possible on most basses.

On the odd occasion I've found a bass l feel happy with, there's been a problem with the bass itself (one maxed truss rod, one frozen truss rod,you get the idea)

I don't want to give it up as besides the physical discomfort, I enjoy it.

Any suggestions will be read!
Click to expand...

Hey Evil Undead

You don't mention it specifically - but in reading between the lines in your post - I get the impression that a medium scaler may be the way to go. Like you, short scale is cramped to me - I find the mediums just the ticket. If you like Jazz Basses, the medium scale Fender Japan model is very nice - and available brand new on ebay - I LOVE mine.

Here is my Fender Jazz medium scaler in alder - also available in black, red and white:

Jazz%20Two.png


If you want to try on a medium scaler for size at your local music store, your best bet is a Fender/Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster. This particular bass is only 1/8" shy of the neck width of a 2.5" full scale at the neck pocket. If the neck feels too wide, the Fender Japan stuff is 2.25" at the neck pocket.

It might be worth your while to play the Tele, they are $299 brand new. They tend to be on the heavy side, but if you find medium scalers a fit, you can consider the Fender Jazz or Fender Japan made Fender PBasses in medium scale as well in the 1980's - which you can find on ebay or maybe here in the classifieds.

And here is what my medium scale Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass looked like off the rack:

Tele-2.jpg


And what it looks like now, after Pat Wilkens got after it:

TBass%20Side%20by%20Side.png


Maybe you are not a Fender guy - it doesn't matter - I would try the medium and if it is a fit you can then find a bass you are happy and comfortable with. It can be a challenge - not a lot of mediums around - but if you hang in there and keep looking one will turn up.

Good luck with the surgery. If you were near Connecticut - I would send you to Dr. Craig Swan. Craig is a rolfer and a former pitcher for the New York Mets. He has a special technique he has developed called the "Rossiter" technique - which he developed with another Rolfer Richard Rossiter - which repairs all repetitive stress injuries - including carpel tunnel. He has saved many, MANY people with carpel tunnel from needing surgery. His website is here:

Invalid Link Removed

I get severe tendonitis in my left elbow from time to time from playing too much - and he fixes me in one or two sessions.

Again, best of luck - more info on mediums here: http://www.innertainment.net/medium.html

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
 
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#18
Another vote for Tapewounds and low setup.....I just setup one of my Ibanez basses with that combo and it almost seems like it plays itself, I don't have to put much effort at all and actually sounds better the lighter I attack the strings. Best of luck to you!
 
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#19
sratas said:
Besides my pseudo-career as a musician, I'm a neurologist and I'm specialized in neurophysiology. If You have an ascertained CTS eligible for decompression surgery, you can close this thread immediatly.
No bass can satisfy you completely until you regain satisfactory health.
Treat the CTS first, do what you have to do, take your time to recover (very little indeed, simple surgery), and begin a new life with your basses.
Click to expand...
Pretty hard to argue with this.
 

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