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My shoulder is killing me!!
- Thread starter Andre 1964
- Start date
I have to use a wide, thickly padded Onori strap when I play with my Warwick. That being said, I wouldn't trust this strap if I didn't have strap locks....
Onori Distressed Leather Guitar Strap
Onori Distressed Leather Guitar Strap
Roy Vogt
Supporting Member
- Sep 20, 2000
- 4,433
- 537
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Kiesel Basses, Ampeg Amplification, Hotone Ampero II effects
I use a Comfort Strap-it was a gift from Grasshopper (Scott Reiter) at Bass Central back when I was playing my Conklin/Groove Tools Bill Dickens for 2 hour shows with Engelbert Humperdinck. It really helped out. I've got some L and M straps that are wide and padded and that seems to do the trick. When it's possible I'll bring a stool for really long gigs and sit as well as stand-that helps as well. Finally, I tend to use lighter basses for live playing. The Carvins fit the bill nicely, although I opted for Swamp Ash for my SB5000 and it's not a light bass.
+1 on a Licensed Massage Therapist. I'm married to one and a good one can really unlock those muscles and the connective tissue. I've seen (and experienced) miraculous results there.
+1 on a Licensed Massage Therapist. I'm married to one and a good one can really unlock those muscles and the connective tissue. I've seen (and experienced) miraculous results there.
I have an idea for a strap...it's called a barstool. I like playing sitting down.
I had arthritus msp? in my left shoulder for 15 years, sports injury. It got so bad I couldn't get to the F without pulling the bass almost in front of me. Couldn't rotate out. A bass strapped on that shoulder just killed me. Got the whole joint replaced. I can even sleep through the night now.
I had arthritus msp? in my left shoulder for 15 years, sports injury. It got so bad I couldn't get to the F without pulling the bass almost in front of me. Couldn't rotate out. A bass strapped on that shoulder just killed me. Got the whole joint replaced. I can even sleep through the night now.
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
I was thinking along the same lines, also hear that acupuncture is very effective. My chiropractor can fix just about anything. I'm wondering if the upper back ribs and clavicle are getting yanked and tweaked in the process of playing with a heavier bass, producing pinching and nerve interference?
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
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- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
I have a torn Labrum in my left shoulder (and maybe my right as well).
EVERY bass hurts to play these days except my 65 Hofner Club Bass.
Wide strap or not it hurts.
But I do like the Comfort Strapp the best out of anything that I ever used. I have 4 of them.
Wouldn't use anything else.
EVERY bass hurts to play these days except my 65 Hofner Club Bass.
Wide strap or not it hurts.
But I do like the Comfort Strapp the best out of anything that I ever used. I have 4 of them.
Wouldn't use anything else.
I have my straps ( all Comfort Strapps) outfitted with straplocks. I got this new Traben that I have yet to convert because I don't want to buy the whole lock when I just need the buttons. Anyway, I set the bass up with super low action ( I had to file on the first fret a bit) and it plays and sounds great. I played it all night last night (4 hours) with a regular strap. My shoulder hurts right now. I guess I'm going to have to break down and buy the whole set of Schaller locks.
For those with real bad pain there are very few options other than a lighter bass and a really wide padded strap. I wish someone would design a strap with sufficient padding that is wide enough to actually work as promised. I have a comfort strap. And to be honest, it SUCKS! The problem is the part that goes through the middle holds all the weight. It actually made my pain worse. The best straps i have used are Italia and Levy's 4 inch straps. The Levey's is padded so I kinda like that one better, but it takes a while to break in before it softens up. Shoulder pain really sucks and Ive spent a lot of money on straps and they all fall short of the goal (for me) My best strap now is a 5 inch custom Italia that I glued a 1/4 inch thick piece of neoperne pad to. It looks funky but it really works. and it doesn't take away the natural feel of the bass. You can buy neoprene sheets on line and cut to size, then super glue it to your strap and BINGO less pain!
+1 I used to sit on a stool when we did the acoustic thing w/o a drummer. That said, classic rock + a bar stool = lame.
i might do that. i have an italia that i really like the looks of, but the levy strap is more comfy to me.
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
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- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
Eh to each his own.
I've discovered that with leather straps, when they do break in, they stretch as well. And over time the weight pulls more on the "centerline" of the strap. Making a slight concave from side to side (width).
Thus actually making the pressure distribution far less than the original width.
I could make a leather strap 10" wide, and yes, for a while it would be wonderful.
But the strap buttons being centered on the material will cause elongation on that "centerline" if you will. And thus the total width of the strap becoms nothing more than usless flop.
The soft and supple straps are nice, but I have found that they actually start to feel worse quicker than others made out of thicker "harder" type leather.
Suer your leather strap feels great. It formed to your body and your body to it.
The Comfort Strapp I found takes the weight off a centerline and transferrs squarely onto the plastic piece and thus to the elastic part of the strap.
Problem is the elastic part isn't the best at holding it's shape.
A combination of the two would br IMO a perfect solution.
I've found there isn't a good strap out there to make holding it up easier.
Just gotta find what works for your body.
be a man, and play a t40 with a $5 nylon strap like me.
....
Yea? Say that when you are approaching 50
My problem with the comfort strap and others like it is the center piece that the foam or neoprene is stitched to actually is the load bearing piece. And while the strap feels great at first, the center piece starts to dig into my shoulder after a while. I have found that a good wide, (stiff) leather strap with the neoprene glued to it works much better for me. Anyway, until someone pulls their head out and makes a strap that spreads the weight evenly (like they are supposed too) I'll keep using this method.
I got one of these and so far I like it more than my Comfort strap
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They also make a slightly wider one. I'm curious about this one though:
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They also make a slightly wider one. I'm curious about this one though:
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I got one of those too. They are better than a comfort strap for me, but the same principle applies. That 1 inch strap bears all the load. I fixed it with some of my neoprene padding and it's a whole heck of a lot better now
Use a wide strap(Levy's) AND for those really LONG gigs(i.e. yesterday we played from 11~3 and then went to a 2nd gig that was from 6~12) I bring one of my lighter basses(wooden Steinberger OR a solid body short scale Greco violin bass that weighs almost nothing but kills in sound). I had 4 basses yesterday to keep myself challenged, the Greco was one of them.
