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Torn between two lovers
- Thread starter Flatwound
- Start date
That is Midnight Wine. First time I ever saw that color, it was on a MIM bass, and I had thought it was strictly a MIM color. But not so. In this era, both basses and guitars were made in this color, as well as Midnight Blue.
Yeah, I’m looking at that idea. Well see.
Flatwound .......
Lightweight tuners can drop 5 or 6 oz. Alloy neck plate (Fender makes them). Aluminum pickguard screws. Titanium bridge (expensive, on eBay) vintage design.
You could change the control plate to alloy (if it exists) or replace control plate with pickguard material. You can also get aluminum strap buttons.
Remove the guard.
I don't know, you might be able to knock off 12 oz........perhaps one lbs.
Only other option I can think of is.........be proud of your age and sit on a stool when you play! Nothing wrong with it!
You might be able to get some weight off of your '92 J.
Lightweight tuners can drop 5 or 6 oz. Alloy neck plate (Fender makes them). Aluminum pickguard screws. Titanium bridge (expensive, on eBay) vintage design.
You could change the control plate to alloy (if it exists) or replace control plate with pickguard material. You can also get aluminum strap buttons.
Remove the guard.
I don't know, you might be able to knock off 12 oz........perhaps one lbs.
Only other option I can think of is.........be proud of your age and sit on a stool when you play! Nothing wrong with it!
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Yes, try to stay as active as you can. Injuries have robbed me of a lot of mobility, flexibility and playing 4 hour gigs late at night and having to stand the entire time are completely out of the question now. While I do my physical therapy working out with weights, stretching, light yoga, qi gong, massages, etc. I still need a tall stool I can sit on during rehearsals or gigs.
I can stand for brief periods, and I do when I can, but not for an entire set. I prefer a tall stool where I can adjust how I sit/stand for a gig. Sort of more like leaning on it...half sitting, half standing.
Also I bought a lighter Ibanez 6 string with a smaller body, wide but very thin neck, and adjusting my technique which allows me to play low notes higher up on the low B to help with the tendonitis, shoulder damage and other physical issues.
It isn't just a matter of exercising, but a combination of a good diet, exercising properly (as much as one can) in addition to getting a bass that works for you. And only you will know what does work for you. There are no cookie-cutter, black or white answers that work for everyone.
I'm currently unemployed, but that shouldn't last long. As a plumbing foreman and more recently QA manager and inspector, I've been pretty active. I also continue to do mechanical work of various kinds such as auto repair and the occasional plumbing repair for friends. Not going to the gym these days, although maybe I should.
My main problem is that there is a currently undiagnosed issue with my upper back, that seems to be beyond the usual arthritis and age-related degeneration we experience. Hence the upcoming MRI. I can play bass standing, and do the 3+ hour gigs, it just hurts for days afterwards. I'm experimenting with the Gruv strap, and so far, getting some positive results.
Another issue is that I've wanted to try one of these "longhorn" Jazzes for a while, and this one's a great bass, but it's heavy. And yes, I'm thinking of getting a lighter bass, but I think I'll see what info the MRI brings. The Jazz Plus is a pretty good bass, and relatively lightweight. I've heard that the German Hofners can be sub-5 lbs., but I'm not sure I'm ready to go that route yet. Both of these basses do have heavyweight tuners, so there's that.
Between the slightly (partially) torn rotator cuff and separated collar bone I'm healing from on my fretting arm/hand (thus using the low B on my 6 string so I don't have to reach out as far) and tendonitis in my right elbow and nerve problems in my wrist on my plucking hand, I have been playing around with how my strap is on my bass.
I now tend to keep my bass up higher because I can basically play everything from the 5th fret on up. I installed a strap button on the back of my bass, above the bridge. This keeps the body of the bass tight to my body (without it wanting to tilt or lean outward away from my body) and I can completely let go of my bass and it doesn't move in any direction. This helps me relax more because I don't have to also "hold" it while I play it. I also have back issues (degenerative disks between my shoulder blades (upper back/lower neck area) as well as my extreme lower back as a result of past injuries).
Experiment with your strap adjustments too because it can "feel" lighter even when it's not. Far less muscle fatigue.
I've posted this elsewhere, but perhaps it might help you. My bass feels lighter than it actually is. Strap button on the back, up high.
No neck dive, no tilt away from me...what it looks like when I look down (hands free)...
When I let go of the bass, it stays like this on me now...
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The two Fender style basses I have left clock in at 7 1/4 lbs except for my Yamaha BB 5 string which weighs a little over 9 lbs. Once I got the 4’s playing as I like, the others, which were a reasonable 8 3/4 lbs, went to happy new homes.
As for a more comfy strap, they can help a little, but I found that the only good solution is to lighten up.
As for a more comfy strap, they can help a little, but I found that the only good solution is to lighten up.
I bought a SB MIM Fender body on sale cheap for my MIM classic 50s P which was fiesta red. I wanted TTSB. The new body is much lighter. After the swap, I noticed no change in tone or feel, well maybe a bit more sustain. 
Maybe you could buy a MIM jazz Body and get it chambered to lighten it? You’ll lose the B.ig O.ld N.ifty E.xcessive R.edundant
top horn but is that a deal breaker?
Maybe you could buy a MIM jazz Body and get it chambered to lighten it? You’ll lose the B.ig O.ld N.ifty E.xcessive R.edundant
top horn but is that a deal breaker?This is the truth with padded straps - you cant change the physics of a heavy or neck dive-y bass; your results may vary with how well a different strap helps with the symptoms but your results will not vary with a lighter & balanced instrument.
