Old injury combined with increasing age

[Zwitsal1989]

Have you spoken to your doctor about this situation? I remember getting a Kenalog shot for a sinus issue, and it nearly eliminated my back pain. I don't like Steroids, but- I'm 73- and pain, with most of us in this bracket- is constant companion. And, Steroids WORK. Sometimes, my friends tell me they got a Cortisone injection for issues like you describe- and it really helps them. It can only help- at this stage, what have we to lose?
May your pain subside....

When my shoulder has been pinched for to long they give me a shot of cortisone with painkillers to help reduce the swelling but it's a temporary solution.
I just have to prevent swelling.
My left hand hurting was just poor angle work and building up to RSI.

I'm glad i have a solution now before my wrist got long term issues.

Thank you, and stay tough

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Depend on the range of motion you have available.

Things to try.
1. Bass that balances with headstock at a higher angle. IME, the height you wear the bass sets up a compromise between your left and right wrist. Too high is hard on your plucking wrist and too low is hard on your fretting wrist. Due to your injury, there is no good compromise with a typical bass guitar.
2. Bass that sits vertically on an end pin

a. upright (fretless)​

b. electric upright...these come in upright scale and bass guitar scale. Caveat: Most EUBs are fretless.​

c. Takamine TB10 (also fretless)​

3. Not certain, but a bass with a longer reach to the nut may help in some ways...and may make it worse in others. Some basses mount the bridge away from the edge of the bass's body. This pushes the reach to the nut further out.

This is an old Daion PowerMark XB (notice how far in the bridge is on the body)
View attachment 7394318

The extended reach to the nut makes it harder on my body, but I wear my basses fairly high. No idea if the extended reach would help you or not.

Wow, and it is a beautiful instrument on top of that.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Depend on the range of motion you have available.

Things to try.
1. Bass that balances with headstock at a higher angle. IME, the height you wear the bass sets up a compromise between your left and right wrist. Too high is hard on your plucking wrist and too low is hard on your fretting wrist. Due to your injury, there is no good compromise with a typical bass guitar.
2. Bass that sits vertically on an end pin

a. upright (fretless)​

b. electric upright...these come in upright scale and bass guitar scale. Caveat: Most EUBs are fretless.​

c. Takamine TB10 (also fretless)​

3. Not certain, but a bass with a longer reach to the nut may help in some ways...and may make it worse in others. Some basses mount the bridge away from the edge of the bass's body. This pushes the reach to the nut further out.

This is an old Daion PowerMark XB (notice how far in the bridge is on the body)
View attachment 7394318

The extended reach to the nut makes it harder on my body, but I wear my basses fairly high. No idea if the extended reach would help you or not.

You could probably get a full scale length travel guitar or Steinberger style and replace the strap button with something that allows you to interface with a stand, for example a microphone holder female part from a broken holder, to mate with a suitable height microphone stand. That then allows you seated or standing options and no need to brace the instrument, or at least not as much - it'll still potentially wobble slightly on a stand.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I was going to suggest that you try playing a real upright bass - no weight on your shoulder and a much more ergonomic left hand position. Some definite learning curve, but lots of reward!

For most, the action and tension will be higher so may bring its own issues. I'm trying to build a 34" scale one but an option would be the Ibanez, and you could probably get someone to fret one if necessary.

 

[VintageOldMan]

@pingvuiini I had never considered one of these and I genuinely think that should work.
Ima say not my style? But I'm not passing on a solid option and I will be trying one.

@dmrogers i have tried some different sizes yeh it's funny enough how I ended up with thunderbirds, somehow their ergonomics worked for a long time.
And I'm definetly going to give that Robert Deleo stance a shot.
I haven't played fingerstyle in some time, but being able to play beats not being able to play at all.

Thanks for your responses, and im optimistic about being able to keep doing what I love.

If you play DeLeo style, I make copies of the "Well Hung" strap locks. If you want a pair send me your address and I will get them in the mail asap.
I have black, mahogany, red, or can leave them natural. They wanted $54 shipped from Canada so I just bought the materials to make my own. I needed nine sets for my own stuff so I am ahead of the game. These will never allow the strap to pop off unless you break the strap itself. My bass has had the same set on it since 1985.

 

[VintageOldMan]

These have never failed but I might replace them just because I have so many already made that just need color if I choose to do that. Black always goes with everything. Lol

This is the second bass I ever bought. The first was a Sears $57 Kent Mark III. When this was in the paint shop for a black finish I rented a Fender that was later made famous by the Duff McKagen. I bought it for short money months later but it lacked the punch of my Ibanez. Over the months it was hanging in the music store the pearl white turned really yellow. Should have kept it after seeing the prices they get for it now. I have one pic of it from a recording studio.