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Lightweight ergonomical basses for beginners with repetetive strain injuries.

S

saurumanx

Nov 9, 2008
4
0
#1
I'm a piano player with a repetitive strain injury, but for some reason want to learn bass. I'm trying to find a bass which is very economical and light; I much prefer to stand but a regular bass I can only hold for a few minutes.


As far as tone I don't play on doing a lot of slapping and popping right away I just need a clean mellow tone, sustain isn't a big deal either; as long as I can make it sound groovy. Pretty much I finger pick using the pads of my fingers so everything I play sounds soft anyways.

I was thinking about the Ibanez SR700, 600, or 400. I'm not really very clear on the differences other that I think the 600 is luthite and seems to be no longer available. I read luthite sucks anyways. I really like how they look as well, I hate pickguards.

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That last one is a spector I'm considering. I couldn't find the weight of any of these in lbs but what I've read they're suppose to be light.


If anyone knows what would work best in this situation I'd be really great-full. I'm looking to spend less than $700 Canadian.
 
#4
saurumanx said:
I'm a piano player with a repetitive strain injury, but for some reason want to learn bass.
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My most important suggestion here is for you not to fret with your ring finger, then.

Nobody told me about this until it was too late for me, and it took about five years to get more or less over the injury.

Bass can mess your hands up...bad.
 
#5
Any of those Ibanez basses will treat you very well. Whenever I play my SR-900 after playing my Squier, it barely feels like anything is on my shoulder. Love it. The neck is much slimmer as well, easier to get around. I haven't compared hollow-bodies to solids, but I would think those would be a bit lighter as well, without sacrificing any tone. Anyone know?

You could also look into short-scale basses.

Bongo- How do you fret then? Only index and middle? I strained my hand after a gig on friday, it's still a bit sore. I usually fret with my index and ring. Do you use your pinky?
 
#8
mkbass84 said:
Bongo- How do you fret then? Only index and middle? I strained my hand after a gig on friday, it's still a bit sore. I usually fret with my index and ring. Do you use your pinky?
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There've been a few threads on not fretting with your ring finger -- which I didn't encounter until a couple of years too late. :(

I play what I call "Mickey Mouse" style (Mickey, like most Disney characters, has but three fingers and a thumb): Index, middle and ring and pinkie together.

Some people with very long fingers can fret without injury with their ring fingers, but many people (especially older players, women and those with small hands) get severe RSI problems if they do. The ring finger is rigged to the hand somewhat differently from the others and this causes trouble with long reaches. I had to completely knock off bass for a couple of years because of this and I'll never be 100% again. By the time you really notice it it's too late, too -- the damage is done.

This is less of a problem if you start bass early when your hand is more adaptable, but as a guy with short fingers who switched to bass in middle age, I got in trouble pretty quickly.
 
#10
Human Bass said:
To go easy on your ring finger is a good thing to do in any instrument whose scale is bigger than 28". But dont be afraid to use it past the 6th fret.
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I consider that guitar territory. :p

Seriously, as a traditional bassist who tries to transpose as much as possible in order to keep things low and between the nut and fifth fret plus plays long to extra-long scales, I got hammered with this ring-finger RSI very quickly.
 
#14
spade2you said:
It's your weakest finger and most upright players have adopted a 1-2-4 fingering that works quite well. Not sure why physiologically, but the ring finger is the weakest and easiest to injur.
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That's interesting. I'm self-taught for the most part and mainly use 1 and 3 , occaisionally using 2 and 3 at the same time if I'm playing slower stuff that doesn't move a whole lot, but my pinky is really under-developed then, I never use it. Guess I'll have to start playing using 3 and 4 simultaneously.


Saurumanx- I didn't mean to de-rail your thread, but at the same time this is kinda relative technical info about how to play, and it'll help you to not make that strain injury any worse than it already is. Good luck with your bass adventures.
 
#18
A little common sense helps too. Low action, lower tension strings help as does not pressing down any harder then is necessary to get a clean sounding note. I also find that I'm moving my hand more when possible instead of stretching my fingers to reach a note.

My 2¢
 

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