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Tired off fighting my 34"

#41
Freddels said:
Another option is to move the pin strap (or add an additional one) to the neck plate. This will allow you to hold the bass vertically rather than horizontally. I have a friend that does this and it works for him.
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That's my preferred ergonomics and I don't even have any nerve problems. It makes playing a whole lot easier in a lot of ways. At least for me it does.
 
#47
I type. A lot. I play bass. A lot. I have little fingers. Over time, I have developed crappy tunnel and tennis elbow and other things that make my Fenders and 34 scales tough to play. I have a Douglas (Rondo Music) SPB1100 that is 32 inch that I love, two Drake basses that are 33 that fit nice and ordered a new Drake custom built. It cost a lot, but it fits me great and doesn't hurt to play. It's a 32-inch scale. I have several 30-inch, but the 32 is the best compromise between thump and low end. Best of luck.
 
#49
Two possible solutions...
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#51
stuntbass77 said:
I have a nerve problem (at least that's what I suspect as I have been to all the best doctors in Chicago with no real answer). I am 6 feet tall and not a small person but the nerve issue is a big problem. I love my jazz bass and will never sell it but I realize I may have to go to a shorter scale. I used a capo just as a test and found it made a real difference. So if my nerves problem doesn't get help soon I will need to consider going to a shorter scale. Funny thing is my Sterling by Musicman SB14 feels like it's a 33" so I think I will play it more for now. The medium scale market is pretty scarce. I know Birdsong and some others make a very nice bass but not my cup of tea. I would like something more modern, maybe a Factor bass as they are 32" and have clear tone with a bit of punch if dialed right. I also like the old Yamaha Motion basses a bit, 32" as well. Wonder how many others are in the same place as me.
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I like short scale due to RA. I picked up a 34 incher in GC the other day and could barely reach the low end of the neck.
Have you been checked for Carpal Tunnel?
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#53
pcake said:
my doctors and physical therapist completely disagree with you. i respectfully disagree, as well. i tried a variety of positions, and used to play with perfect form. but hyper extension of the right shoulder, among other things, can be a problem no amount of technique can fix. i'm only 5' 3", and it took years for the damage to develop, so those 10 years olds may have problems later in life, as i did. or they may have more natural flex in their shoulders or may end up taller with more reach.
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I was referring to stretching your hands to hit notes, not physical ailments where technique can't help... so, apples to orangutans. For your shoulder, yeah I agree (but I don't really get how scale length would help with that anyway) - but in any case, I was just trying to say in a nice way that changing basses won't help if your technique needs addressing. I can't even speak to the OP's technique, I just want to dispel any potential misunderstandings for someone who might land here from a google search or wherever.

Edit: As an example, if the weight of the bass causes all the issues and scale length didn't bother him, he could potentially end up with a short scale bass that was heavier (very bad in that case) or maybe switch to DB (much longer scale length obviously, but maybe pain-free if no weight on the shoulder).
 
#54
I have similar issues and have found that, for some reason, the ergonomics of my Lakland 4401 seem to make it play like a shorter scale bass. I don't know if it's the body shape or what, but it hangs differently than my other 34" scale basses and the reach issue that I normally have does not exist with this bass (I have painful wrist arthritis). I also have a Yamaha Motion Bass that I pull out when I absolutely must have a shorter scale bass...looks a little funny but sounds great.
 
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#55
I have carpal tunnel and tendonitis on both sides. I have been playing over 45 years now, and it started getting really bad about 5 years ago. My hands would go numb all night long, wake me, and I would shake them out, half hour later numb again. So then I started the research, started changing strap heights, modifying technique, changed to the floating thumb method,, it did not help much.. finally went to the Docs, and tried steroid shots. That helped a bit, but then like a light switch it was all back..Two months ago I went for surgery, as I could not take it anymore. I had the left hand done and the elbow at the same time. I am still recuperating but it seems to have worked. My left hand no longer goes numb, and the therapy exercises are getting my elbow back in shape..once I am fully recovered I will have the other side done. Not looking forward to that, but, nothing else was working.

Best of Luck,
I hope you find some relief.

Fred
 
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#56
If you decide to get a custom made, check with Andrew Drake. He has similar problems and carves his necks and chambers his bass bodies to help with those issues. And I recommend the semi-hollow Douglas at Rondo -- I think it's currently sold out -- for good sound right out of the box.
 
#58
Have you tried using the 1-2-4 finger fretting method on your 34"?

I don't have any any nerve issues but found that I started to get some for awhile when I played my longscale in the oft-touted 1-2-3-4 one-finger per fret method.

I abandoned that and went 1-2-4 on frets below A on the E.

Once you dial that in it's no problem , way more comfortable. On my shortscales I don't need to do that.
 
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#59
ZenG said:
Have you tried using the 1-2-4 finger fretting method on your 34"?

I don't have any any nerve issues but found that I started to get some for awhile when I played my longscale in the oft-touted 1-2-3-4 one-finger per fret method.

I abandoned that and went 1-2-4 on frets below A on the E.

Once you dial that in it's no problem , way more comfortable. On my shortscales I don't need to do that.
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This is part of what helped me too (albeit not for shoulder pain, mine was more back of the hand and forearm). Also, it really helped to angle the bass on a 45 instead of horizontally level, and headstock on a 45 away from me (so i.e. my pickups look to the right 45 degrees instead of straight ahead). This way my wrists are in a MUCH more natural position, coupled with moving my fretting hand instead of stretching - I went from 5 minutes of playing / 10 minutes of pain, to hours of play without pain.
 

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