Thick neck= less hand pain?

[CM63]

I'm getting old! My Ibanez pencil neck bass was giving my left hand pinky and ring finger tendonitis, so I traded it for a MIM Jazz bass.
I have just recently started playing again after 7 years. So I am asking if a thicker neck would be more orthopedic- you know like the thicker soled shoes?

 

[two fingers]

This is coming from someone who plays very hard. Better technique=less hand pain. At 41 I realize I will have to lighten up at some point. I can do a couple shows and be fine right now. But three in a row and I hurt for a few days. Being that you have taken 7 years off, now is the perfect time to experiment with different way of playing that hurt more/less.

Welcome back!

 

[CM63]

Thanks! Great to be back! And of course you are correct!
Still curious about ergonomics though...

 

[chris merrill]

I always find fatter necks more comfortable. My 70's P-bass is kind of baseball bat like, most comfortable for me to play.

 

[CM63]

Cool beans! Thanks Chris!

 

[t77mackie]

A Jazz has a fat neck?? Well, maybe compared to an Ibanez I guess.

I think the shape and contour has a lot to do with things also. The neck on my acoustic classical guitar makes my hand want to sit a certain way - which is totally unconducive to being able to play said instrument. I wish it had a more V shape to it rather than a C shape.

 

[hdracer]

It works for my beat up old hands.
I put a P neck on my jazz and can play it for hours without my left hand cramping up. Before with the Jazz neck my hand would cramp up after about 1/2 hour.

 

[Evil Undead]

FWIW, I find thin necks really make my hand cramp up. I prefer a P neck, and I'm a girl with silly small hands.

 

[CM63]

So clean up my technique, and get a P bass, oh, and don't get any older!

 

[t77mackie]

So clean up my technique, and get a P bass, oh, and don't get any older!

That's a bingo!

 

[miles'tone]

I'm the opposite. I've got an American Special jazz neck on my precision (really thin front to back)and I could play it for days with no probs. The large P-neck I had used to make me cramp up. I'm a pretty big guy 6'1" so I guess there's no rules.
Just listening to what our individual bodies tell us is right is the key.

 

[chuck norriss]

So clean up my technique, and get a P bass, oh, and don't get any older!

Right or switch out the neck.
I've read elsewhere that the rationale is, a larger neck requires less hand contraction--reduces risk of [tendonitis]

 

[JimmyM]

I don't believe in any of that neck size stuff. I have Precision necks, I have Jazz necks, I have a violin bass with a tiny little pencil thin neck and the strings close together, too. I get hand and wrist pains with none of them. When I hear of people getting pains in their fretting hand, it is always a technique issue. Death grips and improper wrist angles are the culprits most of the time. I'm sure I will get people arguing with me about it, so let me just head you off at the pass...you're wrong

 

[Epitaph04]

Once again, Jimmy speaks the troof!

 

[fearceol]

Once again, Jimmy speaks the troof!

I'm with Jimmy on this also. OP, while some people find different necks more comfortable than others, I doubt very much is your Ibanez neck is the sourse of your problem. IMO, it has more to do with technique and/or not warming up before playing.

 

[El-Bob]

I agree with Jimmy, but I think that there is a tendency in those using thin necks to over-exert more often than in those using thick necks. Thick necks keep the hand in a more open position, thin neck have the hand a bit more closed, and therefore a bit more strained if you are using poor technique... I might be off the deep end here, though.

 

[Hopkins]

The muscle at the base of my thumb is larger than most. I find a really thin neck causes cramping at the base of my thumb, so a thicker neck is always more comfortable for me.

 

[JimmyM]

The muscle at the base of my thumb is larger than most. I find a really thin neck causes cramping at the base of my thumb, so a thicker neck is always more comfortable for me.

Would like to see your LH technique. The muscle at the base of my thumb doesn't come anywhere near the neck when I play.

 

[JimmyM]

I agree with Jimmy, but I think that there is a tendency in those using thin necks to over-exert more often than in those using thick necks. Thick necks keep the hand in a more open position, thin neck have the hand a bit more closed, and therefore a bit more strained if you are using poor technique... I might be off the deep end here, though.

I don't think you are, but we must accent the part "if you are using poor technique."

 

[georgestrings]

I don't believe in any of that neck size stuff. I have Precision necks, I have Jazz necks, I have a violin bass with a tiny little pencil thin neck and the strings close together, too. I get hand and wrist pains with none of them. When I hear of people getting pains in their fretting hand, it is always a technique issue. Death grips and improper wrist angles are the culprits most of the time. I'm sure I will get people arguing with me about it, so let me just head you off at the pass...you're wrong

Agreed 100% on all of the above... I frequently play 4 hour shows on Jazz's, Sterlings, a T-bird, and also P Basses, 5ers, etc... and I don't run into any issues... I'm 50, and have been gigging for 35 years - my hands and wrists have seen ALOT of playing time... Proper technique, plenty of practice time, streching and warmups - and you *should* be GTG on any shape neck for the most part...


- georgestrings