loweringthetone Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 (edited) [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]The problem[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I've developed a neck, back and shoulder problem. [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I suspect its age, wear and tear, and too much repetitive computing/driving/lifting. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By January it had become serious : it became too painful to support my bass on a shoulder strap. I had to cancel 6 gigs.....ouch ! I'm waiting on x-rays, doc and physio advice.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Other forum members clearly suffer bad back neck problems - you see many queries about the weight of basses in the For Sale section, .[/font] [b][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A possible solution ?[/font][/b] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I thought I would try to get rid the strap altogether, and design a stand which could : [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]- Allow me to play the bass without supporting it on my shoulder[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]- Allow the bass to be played in a normal position[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]- Can be built easily and.... [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]- Out of things we can buy in music shops[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Here is my Mk1 design :[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]What you need to build it[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A. A rather solid 'conductors' type music stand. Mine was made by Stagg. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The [b]key feature[/b] is that when dismantled, the top of the pole should have a sturdy metal ring with a hole in it.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]B. A Quiklock electric guitar stand .[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Assembly[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] 1. Drill a hole in the Quiklock stand (in the picture the hole is lower centre )[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]2. Attach the Quiklock stand to the top of the music stand using a bolt, washers, rubber washers, and ( preferably locking type) nuts. Tighten to taste .[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]3. The assembled stand looks like this [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]4. I shortened the two back projections of the guitar stand to spare my genitalia, and so I can get in close to the bass. I kept the front projections though - they are useful for attaching things[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Useful features[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]5. You can play the bass upright[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]6. Or, by rotating the Quicklok stand to one side, you can put the bass into a normal position. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]7. Different basses have different body shapes and these can [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]often [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]be accomodated by adjusting the degree of rotation[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]8. I used a small velcro strap as added security, to keep the stand in the fully rotated position [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]9 You can put [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]any weight [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]of bass on the stand. Yippee. No problems with late 70s Fenders anymore ![/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]How did it work in practice ?[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]10. I did my first gig for many months a week ago, and it worked a treat. The P bass was surprisingly stable on the stand. At the end of the gig my shoulder was sore, but this was from the movement of my arms in playing. There was none of the dreaded back and shoulder pains[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Possible downsides[/b] [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]11. The Stagg conductors music stand isn't that high. At full extension the whole assembly worked for me (I am 5' 7")but I guess tall people may need a taller stand [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]12. Bass falling off stand = possible neck break= catastrophe = broken foot/ death in the audience. My P bass was remarkably stable on the stand, but even so I took it down during the interval, just in case somebody knocked it. Can't be too careful......[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Unexpected audience surprise [/b]![/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]13. If you wear black clothing, the audience don't see the stand. It looks like you are wearing the bass. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]But when you move away .......the bass remains suspended in mid air.......freaky ![/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]FInally [/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b] [/b]14. If you want to try this at home, it's at your own risk ! I'm not a professional design engineer. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]15. Maybe someone can design a Mk2 version that dispenses beer, tea and coffee ? [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]16. Glad to answer any questions[/font] [b][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I hope this is useful . Have fun !![/font][/b] Colin [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A BIG thanks to the Forum mods Dad3353 and Hazbeen for teaching me how to post good pics ![/font] Edited March 18, 2016 by loweringthetone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loweringthetone Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 [b]The Slinger Hip strap - another solution ? [/b] http://www.slingerstraps.com/ This strap supports the weight of the guitar/bass on the hips, rather than the shoulder If it works for you, its going to be a bit more portable than the idea above. I'll get one and report back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Ingenious! I've seen such a thing for accordion, also classical guitar, but never electric things. Refinements like clamping spring to mind.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Great prototyping - I know when I saw the Yes rig rundown vid I saw Steve Howe with something like that for his guitar: [url="http://youtu.be/bsGjl6kP0SI?t=1584"]http://youtu.be/bsGjl6kP0SI?t=1584[/url] Watch from the start for a pretty facinating discussion with the late, great Chris Squire and some of his extroridary gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 You can get one off the peg - mbrace stand. [url="http://www.mbracestand.com/"]http://www.mbracestand.com/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Ingenious! I think I'd rather play sitting down if that were an option, rather than using a stand. Or move to an Ashbory bass... it's an entirely different instrument but so much fun, and it can sound great... not nearly as versatile as an electric, 'though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loweringthetone Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share Posted March 25, 2016 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1458306159' post='3006421'] You can get one off the peg - mbrace stand. [url="http://www.mbracestand.com/"]http://www.mbracestand.com/[/url] [/quote] Excellent Paul. I thought someone must have done this. I just couldn't find one. Ill pass these details onto my guitarist who has the same problem. Nothing new under the sun eh ? C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted April 1, 2016 Share Posted April 1, 2016 You could reduce the probability of a dropped bass by passing a strap from strap button to strap button round the back of the stand and tightening it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 1, 2016 Share Posted April 1, 2016 Ingenious solution. I'd go for a semi acoustic bass and a waist strap. I saw John Patitucci with Chick Corea's Elektric Band playing a bass fixed on a stand so there must be something like this already on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted April 1, 2016 Share Posted April 1, 2016 [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...
Happy Jack Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 In other news: http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_double_bass_balalaika_m1083.htm http://youtu.be/HV66fWWzs2c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 (edited) So why hasn't somebody developed a two shoulder strap like the one on my golf bag? http://www.intheholegolf.com/IZ-ds/Izzo-Golf-Dual-Strap.html Edited April 11, 2016 by TheGreek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 [quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1460409393' post='3025550'] So why hasn't somebody developed a two shoulder strap like the one on my golf bag? http://www.intheholegolf.com/IZ-ds/Izzo-Golf-Dual-Strap.html [/quote] http://www.gruvgear.com/duostrap-signature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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