Worst injury received while playing bass

[Free Bassing]

I played in a band called The Fonzarelli's when I was younger, it was a dumb pop punk band.

We were playing a show at a small bar in Chicago, called the prodigal sun bar.

While we were playing the singer of the band decided to do his cool spin the guitar around punk move, which made me run for the far end of the stage. What I didn't know was that the stage ended and the next band's drums were sitting there.

I fell right on the hi-hat stand and it went up the skin on my back, I even finished the performance

 

[dalkowski]

cool spin the guitar around punk move

I have never before heard that move described as a punk move, but I'm also an old.

Glad you survived; sounds hellacious. You were wise to get out of the guitar's way.

 

[bholder]

The worst I've got is my oft-recounted horror story about unsafe 70's equipment, bad power, polarization, a bass, a mic, and aluminum dental braces....

ZAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mrcbass]

I guess I'm fortunate to have avoided the nonsense of being in a band in my 20s - there's no telling the harm I could have done to myself. And don't get me started about how I'm glad that I didn't come of age when everyone was walking around cameras 24/7.

For me, it's just OG stuff: sore feet and legs, cramps and trigger finger occur after/during every gig.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Someone said I was ugly…

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I've been pretty fortunate on not being injured in all my years of playing.

Long ago as a drummer I was trying to carry my trap case up a narrow stairway and came to a door that didn't want to stay open. I pushed the door and turned my head to get the handle on the case with my left hand. At the same time I reached with my right to hold the door open. It was some ancient handle mechanism that looked like a push bar and my fingers got stuck in it when the door slammed quickly. That sucked.

I once got the pointy headstock from an energetic guitarist to the forehead. Played the rest of the gig with half a golfball size lump in the forehead. Still hate that design.

 

[socialleper]

Luckily none.

Yet.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

The worst I've got is my oft-recounted horror story about unsafe 70's equipment, bad power, polarization, a bass, a mic, and aluminum dental braces....

ZAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I got buzzed a couple of times back in the day.

 

[Ggaa]

I was moving a boom mike stand. Grabbed the vertical part right at the pivot. It somehow released and the boom dropped and smashed/cut my right index finger(there was a mic on it for extra weight). It stopped bleeding by downbeat.
Or, when I decided to make sure those glowing tubes were seated by pushing up on one with my bare fingers, instant blisters. Right hand again but finished the gig.

 

[Carl Hillman]

Ear damage from years of loud drummers, guitar players, trumpeters, stage monitors, etc....

Paying for it now with tinnitus.

 

[Pings Bass]

When I first played upright as an eager youngin, I played until my fingers bled, and then played some more.

Before that I played rock and roll until I had tinnitus, a life-long injury that I cannot say was worth it.

 

[Free Bassing]

When I first played upright as an eager youngin, I played until my fingers bled, and then played some more.

Before that I played rock and roll until I had tinnitus, a life-long injury that I cannot say was worth it.

What happened when you got tinnitus? Did you just feel a big pop in your forearm?

 

[Killing Floor]

Had a clash with some skins when I was a kid and got hit with a flying metal pipe. But wasn’t too bad as it sounds. I’m sure I had it coming.

But my most awesome super-rock “injury” is from this swampy smelling rat hole in Atlanta back in 80s. I swung up and stoved my bass into a Par cab and lit up. I bet I missed a beat. Doesn’t matter since everyone was drunk or worse and I probably was too. But we reset and went on.

 

[Pings Bass]

What happened when you got tinnitus? Did you just feel a big pop in your forearm?

I've had tendonitis, but recovered and learned proper technique to avoid it. The tinnitus is due to lack of proper ear protection and volume management, accumulated over years of loud rehearsals and shows. The damage is permanent.

Tinnitus - Wikipedia

 

[micahwc]

repetitive stress injury in my hand that killed all my music playing for about 4 months. It took over a year for me to be able to bend my finger without tightness or discomfort. If it hurts, stop. You're doing it wrong.

I also have tinnitus but that's from shooting cannons, not playing bass. Use IEMs and ear pro.

 

[Crackle]

I don't have any specific onstage injuries. But I can tell you from first hand experience that "cold sparks" have a pretty good sting to them. If they list up to 60 degrees Celsius on the specs, that's 140 degrees Farenheit.

In the late 1990s, I had tendinitis that stopped me from playing bass altogether. It took two years to recover and even then I had to stop if it flared up. Whether the tendinitis was caused by bass playing or typing or a combination of both, who knows?

I also have chronic tinnitus and hyperacusis, which I guess is the price I pay for what I do. One stupid incident made it permanent.

 

[turf3]

A couple months ago I tweaked the bejeezus out of my shoulder swinging my DB off my back (I have backpack straps on the bag, which are a big help for certain schleps). It still hurts like hell.

 

[megarat]

I broke my foot once trying to help some move a Hammond organ. Does that count?

(Moral of the story: never try to move a heavy, awkward piece of equipment while wearing sandals.)

 

[Free Bassing]

I broke my foot once trying to help some move a Hammond organ. Does that count?

(Moral of the story: never try to move a heavy, awkward piece of equipment while wearing sandals.)

Of course it counts, if talkbass gave purple hearts you would get one.

When I was younger I had a 70s era ampeg SVT 810, we affectionately called it the refrigerator.
I'm still shocked that someone from the bands I was in didn't get crushed to death by that stupid 200 lb behemoth

 

[nickpc]

Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb