Jezyorkshire Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Am having issues with weight around shoulder which is causing problems, will be 54 next month and 30 years of wearing a bass is taking its toll ! Has anyone played stood up with bass on a stand of some sort? thanks, Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 I have seen bands that, for songs that require changing from an acoustic guitar to electric, have the acoustic on a stand so they can play it while having their electric strapped on as normal, and can walk away from the acoustic without hassle. So, while I can't give any more detail I can say that stands do exist. Personally, if it was bothering me so much, I would use a tall stool and sit down. A stand is going to hold your instrument rigid, where as sitting down you can still move with the music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezyorkshire Posted April 20, 2014 Author Share Posted April 20, 2014 Aye , was thinking of that, but as some of my work is doin corporate gigs dont think that will go down to well ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlapbassSteve Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Get a Kala U-Bass or similar! Not the same as a real bass I know, but they weigh nothing, take up no space and can be made to sound pretty close to a P-bass with flats if you have access too a decent EQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezyorkshire Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Would definitely get sack if i played a corporate gig on one of them lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 There are plenty of hollow bodied basses on the market. Or if you don't like the look of those then you can get more common shapes with hollow chambers in them. Something like that and a nice wide strap should help. You can get straps that hang over just your neck, too, they attach to the bass with just one strap pin, might help by shifting the weight. I don't understand how the previous suggestions would be more likely to effect what jobs you get than using a stand would. But then I have no idea what a corporate gig entails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 (edited) KB is right - I use an 11cm (4")-wide Minotaur strap and that helps a lot. [url="http://www.minotaur.gr/index.php/cPath/25/osCsid/1bpm1nbqeouj2mqvt5bbom3tmp01sae3"]http://www.minotaur....5bbom3tmp01sae3[/url] You can also get a two-strap harness which distributes the weight better - let me find a link... [url="http://www.gruvgear.com/duostrap"]http://www.gruvgear.com/duostrap[/url] Edit: Also I've seen Jack Bruce play while half-sitting, half-standing on some kind of shooting-stick arrangement, but I can't find a pic or video of him using it. Perhaps I just dreamt it! Edited April 21, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 [quote name='Jezyorkshire' timestamp='1398036103' post='2429823'] Aye , was thinking of that, but as some of my work is doin corporate gigs dont think that will go down to well ! [/quote] If a tall stool wouldn't be acceptable, I shouldn't have thought that a stand would go down well, either..! There's been many a band, in many genres, with various players sitting, or using bar stools. The hollow-body suggestion is good, too, imo (I play a hollow Verithin; there are several modern alternatives, such as the Coronado, or Starfire...). Good luck in your search, and good health... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Slightly different tack. Have you tried lessons in the Alexander technique ? It'll help you to be mindful of how you hold your shoulders / neck / upper trunk while playing, where prolonged muscle tension can lead to pain. Also, basses like the Hohner jack weight next to nothing and sound huge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1398062504' post='2429886'] Edit: Also I've seen Jack Bruce play while half-sitting, half-standing on some kind of shooting-stick arrangement, but I can't find a pic or video of him using it. Perhaps I just dreamt it! [/quote] He does it on the Albert Hall reunion gig dvd. He's had a stellar career and a liver transplant. I'm not sure the rest of us would get away with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Buy this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Shoulder-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0958269254/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398072874&sr=1-1&keywords=treat+your+own+shoulder You won't regret it. Sell the Trace Elliot 1x15 combo (assuming that, or similar, is what you use) and get a lightweight head and cab. The choice available these days is staggering. Then buy a neoprene Comfort Strapp (spelling intentional). The Bass Gallery usually has them in stock and you can buy over t'Interweb thingy. I've tried loads of wide, comfortable leather straps and the Comfort beats the lot IMHO. Finally, buy a [u][b]proper [/b][/u]lightweight bass, not a P-bass that "only" weighs 9.5lbs but something genuinely light. There's a headless, fretless Miller in carbon fibre for sale right now on Basschat. It weighs just over 5lbs. That's not a typo. If you like shortscales, buy a vintage Hofner - they mainly come in below 6lbs. There's probably a Status Streamline available if you ask around. They weigh 7lbs. If you need a more 'traditional' bass, each of my two Mike Lulls weighs 7.5lbs and sounds every bit as majestic as an 11lb boat anchor from the 70s. The whole weight / dodgy back / dodgy shoulder thing can be sorted, or at least managed, as long as you have a plan. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I had exactly the same problem and am a bit older than you. A Chiropractor identified the issue and has hopefully sorted it, (including a posture problem that was one major concern), but we agreed that lightweight was the way to go. Already using a Markbass/Zoot rig so all the >8lb basses were sold. Although I have 2 gorgeous ACG's, I seem to be using my "around 7lb" Bass Collections more. Result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 You don't say what bass you play at the moment but, if it isn't lightweight, changing to one that is the single biggest difference you can make. It cannot be overstated what a difference there is between an 8 lb bass and a 10 lb bass. For me anything over 9lbs is out of the question but, between 8-9lbs that still leaves an awful lot of choice. Below 8lbs reduces the field somewhat but, as detailed above, there are a fair range to choose from. I have several, some have been mentioned, some not. I'd add a Fender Precision Lyte to the list at around 7.5lbs. Hohner B2A and equivalent also. I also have Shergold Marathon that is under 8lbs although I believe not all are that light. Just under 8lbs - Ibanez SR800. If shortscale is acceptable my Fender Musicmaster is under 8lbs, as was my Epiphone EB0. I am sure your Corporate Clients won't point and laugh if you turn up with any of those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezyorkshire Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Thanks guys for all the advise, i play a Fender Jazz through a markbass cmd112, any weight on shoulders is out of the question it is that bad, i have got a book with stretching exercises : http://www.amazon.com/Conquering-Carpal-Syndrome-Repetitive-Injuries/dp/1572240393 There is a lot of locked up tension in my upper back,neck and shoulders more so on the left where the weight has been carried, on top of that i have a previous frozen shoulder on the left from about 3 years ago. I cant chance aggravating it anymore, i had done 2 weeks of stretching proir to last gig and was feeling benefit which was completely undone by a one hour set and actually made it worse, thanks, Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Alexander technique, physio, posture. Headless, or shortscale bass. Oh, and don't play like hookie on stage. Is the strap length the same sitting down as standing ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezyorkshire Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 strap length exactly same sittin or standin, but no longer an issue as i cant bear to stand with weight on shoulder , i am in process of doing physio of which some is exercises for when i had frozen shoulder that i got given from hospital and others from book on rsi that i listed earlier, 2 weeks of exercises have been undone by just 1 hour of playing stood up, im no longer prepared to play stood up with any weight on my body hence my initial post, im felling sore on my left side( shoulder and upper back) from exercises and i get tingling in my left wrist and elbow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I doubt such a thing exists, but what if you could install some kind of strap lock system to a belt or belt buckle, have the belt take the strain. Obviously you'd have to have a strap button fitted in the right place. With any luck something like it is already out there and this might remind someone that has already seen it.. Or tickle the senses of an inventor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Nice idea, but it won't work I suspect. One thing I've learned the hard way is that it really is all connected. Transferring some of the weight from your shoulder to your hips (because your shoulder hurts) may make sense in the short term, but you're now carrying an unnatural weight on your hips plus adopting an unusual posture to support the bass. What you'll probably end up with is hips that hurt too. When you stand up with a bass slung around your neck and play a set, you're actually using your whole body. Thinking in terms of fingers / forearms / shoulders / back / etc. is very misleading ... using your whole body requires a holistic approach. 10 years ago I might have read that last sentence and muttered "bloody New Age nonsense" and filed it under The Healing Powers Of Crystals. No longer. I've spent the last two years doing Pilates and trying to re-integrate my body. It hasn't turned me into Superman (yet) but I feel way better, especially when playing. Reverting to jezyorkshire's OP, the only person I've seen using a stand like that is Junior Brown: [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/JuniorBrown4_zps419fc188.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/JuniorBrown4_zps419fc188.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I suspect you're right. While I was typing it I was thinking you'd probably need braces too. When I was at my biggest, 26 stone, my gut was rather large and heavy. One day my wife and I went out to a local, disused quarry to collect rocks for vivarium and terrarium displays. I had a back pack on that ended up with 100lbs of rocks in it. Rather than weigh me down it actually improved my posture, balancing me by pulling me more upright. The walk back to the car was about four miles along a rough path, those miles were the most comfortable I had been in ages. You know how sceptical I can be about medical claims, but what you said doesn't sound odd to me at all. I think core strength is a well recognised thing. And Pilates is something I very much believe in and would encourage people to try, even though I don't do it myself, though that will hopefully change if current medical investigations prove fruitful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Woodcock Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 The guy in the video below seems to be using some sort of stand, I've never seen one anywhere else though: [url="http://youtu.be/JrtoaB-hy5g"]http://youtu.be/JrtoaB-hy5g[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 (edited) A bit more radical, but could inspire some thought..? How about an end-pin support, derived from EUB playing..? [attachment=160871:Gibs_Elec_Bass.jpg] [attachment=160865:Bass_End_PinJPG.JPG] [attachment=160872:Elec_Upri_Bass.jpg] ... Maybe not these exact models (more details [url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/orchestral-strings/ns-design-end-pin-stand-for-bass"]here...[/url], though...), but something along those lines..? Some early electric basses were designed with end-pins... The stance would have to be adapted, surely, but at least the weight would no longer be on the shoulders directly..? It's true that there would still be muscles in play, of course; EUB and DB players have their own set of posture rules to avoid strain. There's not much really 'free' to be had, I think. An ultimate suggestion: I once gigged with a band whose bassist had busted his arm. His solution, whilst in plaster..? A pedal-board. He played sitting down. Sounded very good indeed, too. Edited April 22, 2014 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezyorkshire Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 Mbracestand.com Thats the support in the video, i messaged the guy on facebook, said he got it from ebay, though they only look to be for sale in USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I like the look of that - I may not need it this week or next, but when my back chooses to go out again ... USA, Canada and Japan. Wonder why no European distribution? Also, the reviews are all from 2000. Can you tell whether the website is up to date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 (edited) What about from here, then..? [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/NS_Design_WAV.html"]Bass Direct (UK...)...[/url] Scroll down the page. They may have other solutions to offer, too. I'm sure something could be made up from a mic stand and some strap locks, though... Edited April 22, 2014 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diablo Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 [quote]It hasn't turned me into Superman[/quote] well you've reached spiderman status so not too far to go! surely a hollow body is the way to go, I personally love the Coronado and Gretsch http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2411412805 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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