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Jazz bass that is too heavy...
- Thread starter Gruff
- Start date
Bro….my 77 Jazz bass sounds awesome, very Marcus Millery…plays like a dream, but it’s like 13 pounds. Instant back ache and numb fingers. This is the best strap Ive found that make it remotely tolerable…that’s not to bouncy.
UltraStrap 3.5
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I just use a regular guitar strap on mine. This thing is so comfortable.
Not much to add, there are several options mentioned, wider strap might do it, if you are otherwise physically able I would suggest 4 sets of 20-25 push-ups on the daily it only takes a few minutes, 9-ish lbs is pretty average weight if you want to play a full scale jazz bass. GL!
If you need something lighter, I could sell you one of my T40s.
I've never seen a strap like that before. Do you think it would solve a neck-dive problem? I've got a Squier jag that drops like a guillotine.
I had a '78 ( from '85 to '05 ) that was in the 6kg range ( 13lb + ) . I swear at the end of every gig I'd lost a cm in height due to disc compression.
It been in the family for decades, was my older brothers…a great bass other than the freakishly heavy weight
You wouldn’t like my 11 lb Stingray. Are you hunching your shoulder unconsciously? I really focus on relaxing both shoulders and I can play that Stingray all night long. But if I start hunching my shoulder to try to “lift” the bass then I’m done for.
I’d say it would help out with neck dive but it wouldn’t necessarily resolve it. I used my double strap with a bass with neck dive and although it made it easier on my left shoulder, it still didn’t eliminate the pressure it was emitting. And since my body’s more on the sensitive side, I couldn’t use that bass.
My advice is don’t try to learn guitar. A good Les Paul is a lot heavier than your bass. Mine is 12#.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
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That's the most comfortable strap you could buy. A good strap, will never make your bass any lighter than it is. Removing wood, and using light weight hardware are your only options.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
No. It will just yank your shirt down with it. Light weight tuners, and moving the front strap pin are the only things that cure neck dive. Try the tuners. It might just work by itself.
My bass doesn't dive, and it's the same shape.
Why not sell it and watch Sweetwater for a very light Jazz? I've seen plenty in the low 8s. They list the weight of every instrument they sell.
re: Any suggestions?
I've played a 76 Fender J since 1978
the boat anchor
with upgrades and time its become a mojo tone master
now in my 70s I continue to play it
present gig-gear-to-take, I include a tall padded seat
a wooden stool that I sit on while playing
the 76 and I work comfortably on top the padded stool
shoulder (and all) discomfort gone
I've played a 76 Fender J since 1978
the boat anchor
with upgrades and time its become a mojo tone master
now in my 70s I continue to play it
present gig-gear-to-take, I include a tall padded seat
a wooden stool that I sit on while playing
the 76 and I work comfortably on top the padded stool
shoulder (and all) discomfort gone
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For my 10.3 lb Alembic Europa (which is similar shape to a Jazz but brass hardware), I use a 4" Moody leather strap and it works well. Frankly, 9.3 lb is not bad for a solid body Jazz bass. If that's not comfortable with a good 4" strap you may want to consider getting a different/lighter bass.
Definitely the shoulder / neck area, and not back. As @Bass4ThePublic says, maybe working out would help. It wasn't a problem in the past and I had a mammoth 5 string.
