Could a 5 stringer be aggravating my tendonitis?

[Fassa Albrecht]

This is a question that I've been asking for a long time. I have a Yamaha RBX375 5 string bass and although it's a nice enough bass, I think it could also be causing me wrist damage.
When I had the last round of wrist problems I was playing my 5er heavily and also playing a lot of very tricky worship tunes which required a lot of note shifting.

I love this bass for slap and also for worship tunes but I have a sneaking suspicion it's going to do me no favours.

My question is- could the wide neck of the bass be aggravating my wrist troubles? Or is it bad technique? Would it be worth me trading it in for another four-stringer??

 

[Doughd54]

Sounds like bad technique, what does your wrist look like when you play? If possible take a video of your hand and I think we'll be able to tell you.

 

[Fassa Albrecht]

Sounds like bad technique, what does your wrist look like when you play? If possible take a video of your hand and I think we'll be able to tell you.

I wear the bass with the neck angled just so it intersects my shoulder, because I slap bass easily then.

 

[Dincrest]

Hmmm... do you know anyone with a slimmer necked 5-string, like maybe an Ibanez Soundgear that you could borrow for a week or so just to see how your hand feels?

 

[Fassa Albrecht]

Hmmm... do you know anyone with a slimmer necked 5-string, like maybe an Ibanez Soundgear that you could borrow for a week or so just to see how your hand feels?

No- the only other bassist I know with a 5er has the same RBX bass as me.

 

[deBont Amps]

I had problems with my wrist as well. But I 'just' play a 4-string
However, the problem didn't come from playing bass, but an instability in my wrist joint which was already there. Because of the rather unnatural postition the wrist is in while playing bass, the problem presented itself after playing for a hour or so. My fysiotherapist gave my specific exercises to stabilize the joint and all is well now!

 

[Fassa Albrecht]

I had problems with my wrist as well. But I 'just' play a 4-string
However, the problem didn't come from playing bass, but an instability in my wrist joint which was already there. Because of the rather unnatural postition the wrist is in while playing bass, the problem presented itself after playing for a hour or so. My fysiotherapist gave my specific exercises to stabilize the joint and all is well now!

Maybe years of typing weakened my wrist and then bassplaying simply added to it rather than being the main problem.

 

[buckminster]

Any repetitive motion will aggravate tendonitis...Bass playing, typing, general wanking...

 

[andvari7]

Any repetitive motion will aggravate tendonitis...Bass playing, typing, general wanking...

It's a wonder my wrists work at all, and I'm 22...

But, is there some way to use a wrist brace, to keep it in the right position?

 

[Audiophage]

It's a wonder my wrists work at all, and I'm 22...

But, is there some way to use a wrist brace, to keep it in the right position?

A wrist brace can be a temporary fix, but to get any kind of permanent results you have to concentrate on getting your wrists in a comfortable and relaxed position while you're playing.

 

[r379]

I've got tendonitis, too. My Doc prescribed an anti-inflamatory and one of those tennis elbow straps. Ice will also reduce inflamation.

 

[TrooperFarva]

I'd say that the neck profile, nut width, string spacing, and fretboard radius are more significant factors than the fact that it has 1 more string. I'd try out a few different 5 strings if I were you, some Ibanezs for a thinner neck and some Warwicks for a thicker neck. Guitar Center is a good bet to try these out, hopefully the setups won't be too bad.