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MY BACK!!

Let me start this story. I am 17 and can not afford to start having back trouble this young.

I have been doing a lot of playing and was unhappy to find that the show i was going to play was up 2 flights up stairs. With one hand on my svt 3 pro (25+ pounds) and the other on my Epifani pl210 (40 pounds) I went up the stairs no problem, the way down was a different thing. I woke up the next morning in PAIN!

What should I do, especially to keep costs down?

Thank You!!
 
i have a similar problem with torn ligaments in my shoulder. my solition was a markbass head, and avatar cabs. the ray still gets heavy, but thank god its my right arm (plucking), so i can kind of contort it to get it out fo the way comfortably.
 
Dude, stop whining, your stuff ain't heavy!

Im using a flightcased SVT 410HE, which, combined weights about 70 kg (150lbs) and a rack of about 50 lbs. I've got to get it up some stairs and am not complaining. For a good sound you need heavy stuff.

Eh, get yourself a slave or a drummer?
 
but really that sounds like relatively light gear i mean my head alone is 75lbs along with a 30lb cabinet. up and down stairs i move it about at least 3-4 times a week. I'm 21 6 foot even and 140lbs so im a small dude.

final say either go with the 1st suggestions or buckup buttercup, grab a wahburger and some french cries maybe a whineiken.

lift with the legs
 
I'm thinking you like it loud and gritty...I'd say MarkBass r500 for the head. Also, lift with your brain, not your body! Dollies are a must! I'm 43, and I've been laid up since Friday morning, when I woke up with my back out. DO NOT let the "Big Sound Requires Heavy Gear" thing take hold in your brain! For the cab, loud would be Schroeder 215L or 410L. Only need one? Make it a 4-ohm, and you'll have 500 meaty, gritty, LOUD watts going through it. Need a second cab in the future? Get 8-ohm, then you can add a cab (also 8-ohm) when you need to, and you'll still be pumping 300 LOUD watts through the cab. Back pain is not worth it, my friend, you can trust me on this one. Once you blow out a disc, you'll NEVER be the same. It's a great time to be a bassist, with the plethora of light, loud, toneful gear. Let the guitards have their all-tube rigs. We can get by with SS, or in the case of the r500, a tube in the pre! Still gives you grit and grind for when you need to play with much rock fury! :D
 
Or.... Try taking one part at a time. Use both hands on each one. Hold it close to your center of gravity. Another thing you can do is get help. I've seen a bunch of guys get injured by trying to save trips up the stairs. If you are that young you should be able to go up and down the stairs about 217 times before you get tired! Take ONE part of your rig each trip. Or get help from a bandmate. But be prepared to help them as well. Do MORE trips with LESS weight per trip. Good luck!
 
couple choices here:
-work out. if you get stronger then 65 pounds of gear won't hurt.
-take two trips
-get someone else to help.

I carry my small rig all at once when i can. adds up to about 100 pounds of gear (40lbs each hand, 25lbs on the back). Stand up straight, lift with your legs- it's not so bad.
 
In my teens I used a Bruce bass amp with two 15's and had to carry the powered bottom which weighed between 100 and 120 pounds up 3 flight's of stairs! I would have to stop after every landing and catch my breath then continue. I had to lean down and "bear hug" the cabinet so I could get the wheels above step height! That was the start of my back problems!!! Get lighter gear for those type of gigs and rehearsals, get one of those two wheel cart thingies with the handle that comes out. Back problems DON'T GET BETTER!
 
haha, I've carried my Ampeg g-60 (Which I've learned recently is a GUITAR CAB) up and down what seems to have been an endless amount of stairs.
That thing is not light.
My advice is to help out carrying in everything. Then when it's time to take YOUR stuff in maybe your band mates will help you out. That, or complain to the other bands. They'll make you feel like a pussy and you'll never complain again!
 
lift with the legs

thats not back trouble, thats your back asking you to work it out. hit the gym, work your lower back muscles, never pick anything up with a bent back. use your body the way its meant to be used. I used to load trucks full of glass sliding doors (~180 lb each) and i've never had any trouble with my back. you're doing it wrong of your neglecting your muscles.

or, suck it up, p***y its only going to get worse.
 
Let me start this story. I am 17 and can not afford to start having back trouble this young.

I have been doing a lot of playing and was unhappy to find that the show i was going to play was up 2 flights up stairs. With one hand on my svt 3 pro (25+ pounds) and the other on my Epifani pl210 (40 pounds) I went up the stairs no problem, the way down was a different thing. I woke up the next morning in PAIN!

What should I do, especially to keep costs down?

Thank You!!
Squats.
Three sets.
I'm a 5'3" and would have no problem with that load. You read that right.
And, I'll be 50 in two weeks. Hit the gym.
While you're at it, try a Carvin BX500, LMII or Ashdown LG1000--these new light-weight amps are killer, they can fit in your gig bag with the bass* and you will have two hands free for your speaker.
*My LG1000 won't fit my bags, but the ads say they should, so ...