Ouch! My wrist!

[Fergie Fulton]

I just recently started playing my new/used 2004 Stingray. My other primary basses are an American Performer Precision and a Sterling Ray34 (which, in theory, the new Ray will replace). To date, I've had no issues with any of my basses in terms of impacting or damaging my hands or wrists. However, after doing a couple of practices with the new beast, I experienced some pretty severe tendonitis in my left (fretboard side) wrist. Swelling in the forearm, could barely rotate my arm to playing position. So it's been several days of no playing, icing the wrist and keeping it elevated all of which is helping.

Now, I'm wondering is it likely something distinctive about the bass that lead to this or would it have happened no matter which bass I played? I never had the issue with the Sterling, which is VERY similar.

Is there anything specific about the Ray's neck/shape that could account for this? Maybe need to raise the bass height so I play it higher? I play low-ish, but not that low (body is centered just a notch below my belt).
Thanks for any enlightenment!

In answer to your main question...NO.
The bass is not the issue, it is in somehing you are doing, maybe playing a lot more than you usually do because you have a new instrument, or just coincidence.
You are doin the corrct thing, rest and let the issue heal/pass.

 

[bolophonic]

I wonder, is it possible you were excited about your new bass, and practiced longer hours than usual? The most common cause of tendonitis is simply overdoing it, too much too soon.

If you post a video or some "hand selfies" over in the Technique forum, I'm sure you'll get some good advice on wrist-safe techniques.

Good question.

This is definitely a possibility, have had quite a few gigs lately and have been practicing a bit more than usual. maybe that combined with a slight change in left hand position (maybe even without the position change) could have overworked the tendon/ligament.

Almost every time I develop an unexpected tendon pain in my arms/shoulders/back, it is a result of overuse due to being so stoked about playing that I fail to stop in time.

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

Neck profile shape, fretboard Radius differences and straps can be a factor.

I have 35" scale, 5 string Devon basses that are fine. [ I do have Devon shave down my necks, slimmer than his normal profile choice.] Mid 2000's, Fat Fender Deluxe 34" scale necks = No.
35" Scale Modulus Genesis 5 string bass, with a wider nut and fatter neck = Hand/Wrist Problems. I purchased an Ovation Elite 4 string in April, so I could do some outdoor Acoustic gigs during the spring and summer. The 34" fat neck profile started to give me problems by mid-July. Purchased an Epiphone Masterbilt Acoustic Bass, which also has a fat neck, but its a 30" scale = No Problems.

Neck Radius issues - I cannot play basses that have the 7.25, 60's style necks. The curvature of the board tends to work against me and the nerves of my middle and ring fingers. I imagine, If you're used to playing on a more curved fingerboard, then switch to playing on something flatter, that will surely alter your normal muscle memory and normal playing comfort.

I went to see a specialist some years ago, because I was having elbow, wrist and middle finger, "Shock" feeling issues. He had me bring my gear to his office and watched me go through the motions. His first suggestion was to ditch the small, 2" - 2.5" straps. "The small straps and heavy basses are sitting on your shoulder nerve.". I switched to 3.5 - 4" straps and have not had any of those "Shock... I want to scream" issues in years.

Good luck!

 

[dkelley]

Might make sense, just seems weird after almost 40 years to suddenly have this happen. While it was most likely from the new bass. Thinking there might be some other source of the problem, but don't want to take that chance.
A refresher with a teach might not be a bad idea on several fronts though. Good suggestion.

after 40 years, your technique is just fine. it's not that.

it's gotta be the subtle muscle changes that come from playing a different shaped neck etc.

also, check where first fret is, distance wise, from your belt buckle (Assuming buckle is centered on your body).

No matter the scale of the bass, lots of things change where the playing areaof the strings actually lies.
bridge location (distance of string saddles from end of the bass body), size and position of the horn (Which typically changes where your strap attaches to)....

maybe you're stretching an inch or two further to the left playing this bass? That's enough to really screw you up, to the point where some players use custom strap hook addons to move the hanging position over.

no idea if that is your issue, specially when comparing two relatively similar basses, but it's possible all the same.

 

[Swampish]

I used to own a 5 string Peavey bass that would flare up my carpal tunnel syndrome, big time. I ended up selling it because I wasn't thrilled with it anyway. It wasn't worth it to me to take the chance of it doing permanent damage.

But one thing that did temporarily work for me, was to practice while wearing one of those over the counter carpal tunnel wrist braces on my fretting hand. It forced me to see where I was straining my wrist and I modified my technique. If you're determined to keep the offending bass, that is the first thing I would do to sort out what is actually causing the issue.

Yeah, as I mentioned, this is a first in MANY years. Could be age combined with playing on the new Ray that has a slightly different profile and weight balance, so it hangs a bit differently. I've been playing more on my P bass as of late, just until my wrist is 100%, but I've also been using a brace for tendonitis which seems to be doing a lot of what your brace was doing and forcing some re-adjustments.

 

[Swampish]

after 40 years, your technique is just fine. it's not that.

it's gotta be the subtle muscle changes that come from playing a different shaped neck etc.

also, check where first fret is, distance wise, from your belt buckle (Assuming buckle is centered on your body).

No matter the scale of the bass, lots of things change where the playing areaof the strings actually lies.
bridge location (distance of string saddles from end of the bass body), size and position of the horn (Which typically changes where your strap attaches to)....

maybe you're stretching an inch or two further to the left playing this bass? That's enough to really screw you up, to the point where some players use custom strap hook addons to move the hanging position over.

no idea if that is your issue, specially when comparing two relatively similar basses, but it's possible all the same.

Agreed!