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My shoulder is killing me!!
- Thread starter Andre 1964
- Start date
Go for a lighter bass. I recently played a friend's NYC Sadowsky 5 that was under 8 lbs and it felt and sounded great. A Dingwall ABZ will be quite light too and they also sound great as well as having great ergonomics.
that's the whole entire reason i bought a beatle bass! wasn't a hofner, though...just a jay turser. but i liked it a lot
but fenders are my thing and i do most of my gigs with one. can't take most jazz basses anymore, so i had to sell mine. i can use most precisions as long as i use a wide strap. it gets tough sometimes on bad days, though.
I wondered if we'd ever see a thread on this topic. I'm turning 50 this summer and I play a 5-string P and I get some pretty serious shoulder pain on longer gigs and at rehearsals. I just sent a note to these guys asking how thick the pads are. I already have a four inch wide strap that I customized with momentos to each of my three kids and I don't really want to part with it, nor do I want to cover the front of it (I had thought about one of those lambskin seat belt covers like Steve Harris uses). Depending on how they answer my questions, I'm leaning toward picking up some of these and affixing them on the inside of my strap.
4" Square Neoprene Pad w/ Adhesive<br>NEO-4S
We'll see...
4" Square Neoprene Pad w/ Adhesive<br>NEO-4S
We'll see...
- Apr 6, 2010
- 54
- 1
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD Kingston Basses
I have chronic shoulder pain also. Interestingly, the pain is on the upper right shoulder. I heard that people on their feet alot should change their shoes frequently to prevent problems. I take that concept and constantly make changes. I use the Levy wide neoprene strap, PM48NP3 and that helps. I change the length of the strap frequently. Lighter basses help me. I change basses every set. My lightest bass is a Carvin with tung oil on mahogany. It's super light and very ergonomic, but the look of the bass is all wrong for the 80's tribute that I play in. So, I use that bass for rehearsals only. For shows, I use a Highway One P-bass and a couple other Fenders. The lack of the thick gloss finish on the Highway One actually makes a difference. It totally feels lighter. All these things help some, but I still have pain. The doctor gave me a prescription to 600MG Ibuprofin, but it doesn't seem to help at all. Massages help for a few hours but the pain comes back as soon as I strap on the bass.
that's why i feel the ultimate solution is to just use a lighter bass, although the wide strap can help a lot. i could almost stand my old jazz bass with a wide strap, but lightening my load ended up being the only thing that really worked.
i had similar problems when i was gigging a lot. i had my shoulder dislocated when i was 14 and its never been the same. between that and my terrible posture, my shoulder and back were always killing me. 6 hour marathon practices back in high school were torture. i just took fistfuls of IBU and dealt with it.
i got a 3 inch leather strap. later switched to a 4 inch leather strap. a little better, but if i stand too long with my OLP, ill be in a tremendous amount of pain. havent found a permanent solution, other than playing guitar instead.
likely need a lighter bass, better posture, and to sit when i know ill be playing a while.
i got a 3 inch leather strap. later switched to a 4 inch leather strap. a little better, but if i stand too long with my OLP, ill be in a tremendous amount of pain. havent found a permanent solution, other than playing guitar instead.
likely need a lighter bass, better posture, and to sit when i know ill be playing a while.
A good strap and a light bass are all very well, but I was lucky enough to play violin before I played bass, where a lot of importance is placed on posture and how you stand. Playing a light bass is all very well, but if you're stooping or lop-sided or tense or overreaching while playing, you're going to have problems.
I'd just REALLY encourage any young players to get a good posture now to save years of trouble later on. No Peter Hooks, thank you.
I'd just REALLY encourage any young players to get a good posture now to save years of trouble later on. No Peter Hooks, thank you.
that's the whole entire reason i bought a beatle bass! wasn't a hofner, though...just a jay turser. but i liked it a lot
but fenders are my thing and i do most of my gigs with one. can't take most jazz basses anymore, so i had to sell mine. i can use most precisions as long as i use a wide strap. it gets tough sometimes on bad days, though.
Yes, I've a Beatles bass as well, a Eastone. Luckily I've no problems with my shoulders. But yes Jazz basses are heavier, my Geddy is way heavier than my CV P bass. Butt guess the CV P bass is light due to the basswood body. I've also a Westone Thunder 1A fretless which is as heavy as the Geddy, but due to balance (bad one) it tend to be neck "heavy" something that I think have almost as much bad effect on straining the shoulder as just being heavy.
I will still suggest exercise as some kind of treatment/ measure in order to help with this kind of problem. Swimming, aerobics, basketball, badminton, tennis, rowing (on a rowing machine in the gym) and all kind of activities that utilizes the whole body, or at least the back, stomach and upper body will help.
Otherwise, lighter bass is obviously the easiest solution, but I guess there are some compromises as some basses turned out to be too heavy, ie. Jazz, EBMM ray, Rickenbacker 4008.....
Some light weight basses looks too strange for many, Steinberger or "Hofners" in mind.
I've been dealing with back spasms the last few years in part from playing my Ken Smith for 5 sets. So first I backed off using it except for the songs that "needed" it and played my American Deluxe jazz bass the rest of the time (the downsized body makes this bass come in at about 8.5 pounds). Then I started doing a little research and found that I could indeed build a P or J bass to be under 8 pounds without a chambered body. So now I have a very light custom P bass as my #1 (using parts from USACG), my American Dlx jazz as my #2, and my Ken Smith only comes out on special occasions and recording sessions. I've also been a Comfortt Strap user for at least 10 years now and I swear by them.
To the OP, if you're dealing with knots in your shoulder it may be time to see a doctor and a massage therapist. They will probably tell you alleviate the pressure entirely for awhile and play seated if that's even possible at your gig. Deep tissue massage and ultra sound are pretty much the only non-surgical treatments unless your doctor relegates you to electric shock treatments and muscle relaxers.
In the meantime, adhere to the basics: stay hydrated, make sure you're getting enough potassium & calcium (helps prevent muscle cramps) and try to improve your playing posture. There's a good chance your shoulder is unusually tense because your core (ab & lower back) muscles aren't keeping your spine straight when you're playing.
I hope you find a solution that works for you, and soon.
To the OP, if you're dealing with knots in your shoulder it may be time to see a doctor and a massage therapist. They will probably tell you alleviate the pressure entirely for awhile and play seated if that's even possible at your gig. Deep tissue massage and ultra sound are pretty much the only non-surgical treatments unless your doctor relegates you to electric shock treatments and muscle relaxers.
In the meantime, adhere to the basics: stay hydrated, make sure you're getting enough potassium & calcium (helps prevent muscle cramps) and try to improve your playing posture. There's a good chance your shoulder is unusually tense because your core (ab & lower back) muscles aren't keeping your spine straight when you're playing.
I hope you find a solution that works for you, and soon.
Well if your name suggests correctly as we get into our 40's, stretching becomes increasingly important. The old adage, use it or lose it seems to fit.
My whole arm was slowly seizing up last year and cramping up to where my fingers would stop moving. My pinky and the finger next to it would go numb and tingle all day. shoulder pain and forearm screaming.
I tried lots of things but it wasn't until i found a sliding scale community acupuncturist that thing started to turn around. I've also found an asian foot massage place that will do full body and these guys are absolutely brutal. fairly inexpensive and worth it. I've only been a couple times but plan to return.
You might also look into active relaxation. swimming, sauna, jacuzzi, walking. Keep moving.
As far as straps go levy's has a real nice stretchy neoprene strap. I like it a little better than the comfort strapp as it a little more polished and stylish. Very comfortable.
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My whole arm was slowly seizing up last year and cramping up to where my fingers would stop moving. My pinky and the finger next to it would go numb and tingle all day. shoulder pain and forearm screaming.
I tried lots of things but it wasn't until i found a sliding scale community acupuncturist that thing started to turn around. I've also found an asian foot massage place that will do full body and these guys are absolutely brutal. fairly inexpensive and worth it. I've only been a couple times but plan to return.
You might also look into active relaxation. swimming, sauna, jacuzzi, walking. Keep moving.
As far as straps go levy's has a real nice stretchy neoprene strap. I like it a little better than the comfort strapp as it a little more polished and stylish. Very comfortable.
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Ken Smith #41 is brutally heavy- worst neck dive I ever experienced. I created a double strap system just for that bass when I was still gigging it-almost like a harness. Needed an extra straplock mod right into the back of the body!
Gotta love the young dudes suggesting "dude just go to the gym" when us old dudes likely get more exercise then they do!!
There are two types of days in my "old dude" kinda life- the days I can go to the gym or do calisthenics, and the "Disabled List" days where my lower back is pulled out so much that just moving and working is all I can hope for.
LMAO at you young dudes without a clue-I hope your back holds out better than 95% of us whom are 45 and older!
Gotta love the young dudes suggesting "dude just go to the gym" when us old dudes likely get more exercise then they do!!
There are two types of days in my "old dude" kinda life- the days I can go to the gym or do calisthenics, and the "Disabled List" days where my lower back is pulled out so much that just moving and working is all I can hope for.
LMAO at you young dudes without a clue-I hope your back holds out better than 95% of us whom are 45 and older!
"I feel your pain" - literally.
Funny I should come across this - its almost 6am and I've been up all night with a migraine stemming from cramps in my trapezius muscle, the usual source of these things for me (and nothing will aggravate that more than the heavy basses I seem to just love).
All I can tell you has already been said for the most part: water, potassium, calcium, exercise, lose the gut, wider strap - all of these these things have helped me and they all help just a little on their own, but it adds up.
Some specific exercises I would suggest are the military press (best), shoulder shrugs, butterflies, and anything else that focuses on the back or core muscles. If you're already having shoulder problems I'd avoid upright rows, as they can exacerbate an existing problem.
Funny I should come across this - its almost 6am and I've been up all night with a migraine stemming from cramps in my trapezius muscle, the usual source of these things for me (and nothing will aggravate that more than the heavy basses I seem to just love).
All I can tell you has already been said for the most part: water, potassium, calcium, exercise, lose the gut, wider strap - all of these these things have helped me and they all help just a little on their own, but it adds up.
Some specific exercises I would suggest are the military press (best), shoulder shrugs, butterflies, and anything else that focuses on the back or core muscles. If you're already having shoulder problems I'd avoid upright rows, as they can exacerbate an existing problem.
90k said:
My US Lakland 5s and my Skyline Lakland 55-02 fretless have all been below 9lbs, w/ the exception of my custom-bodied "one of".... its huge and weighs a ton.
A wide strap can help a bit, but it doesn't make the bass lighter. It just spreads the weight more evenly. Many times I have played gigs with 10+ lbs basses and by the 3rd set my shoulder is killing me. I have had to resort to light weight basses. I keep my 5 string Jazz though for theatre gigs/shows because I am sitting usually
