Help? My neck and shoulder is killing me.

[Skinnytwotimes]

Any advice? Thanks.

[Prosebass]

[quote name='Skinnytwotimes' post='292210' date='Sep 25 2008, 09:35 PM']Any advice? Thanks.[/quote]

Physio, cushion strap or a lightweight bass. Sit down whilst practicing.

or go to the gym......

How old are you ? and where is your bass slung ?

[TDM]

A wide and thick leather strap is good.

[martthebass]

Tried Comfort Straps, thick straps you name it. Sometimes the only solution is a lighter well balanced bass or shorter sets.

For me this means my MIA Precision (8.5lbs) gets the long gigs and my Ray4 (9.25lbs) gets the shorter sets.

Oh - and avoid Thumb basses like the plague......

[warwickhunt]

Are you sure it's your bass?

What's your age/vocation/profession and have you changed car/office/sofa/girlfriend lately? What bass do you play and what sort of height is your strap at? If you are indeed 'skinny' (as your username implies... unless being ironic, in which case ignore/reverse the 2nd part of following advice) try going to the gym or eating a few pies/Greggs stotties

[steve-soar]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='292295' date='Sep 25 2008, 11:15 PM']Are you sure it's your bass?

What's your age/vocation/profession and have you changed car/office/sofa/girlfriend lately? What bass do you play and what sort of height is your strap at? If you are indeed 'skinny' (as your username implies... unless being ironic, in which case ignore/reverse the 2nd part of following advice) try going to the gym or eating a few pies/Greggs stotties [/quote]Yeah, what Dave Grohl said.

[YouMa]

Smoke a nice herbal mixture and get deepheated/ralgexed up,no pain no gain,I know what you mean though its not pleasant after a long session playing.

[Rogueporn]

[quote name='Skinnytwotimes' post='292210' date='Sep 25 2008, 09:35 PM']Any advice? Thanks.[/quote]

Are you new to playing? I got bad neck and shoulder pain the first few times I played with a strap, But is soon dissappeared.

[Mr Fudge]

My grandfather was at Dunkirk. He would turn in his watery grave if he heard grown men whinging about back ache! Saying that since I got my Marcus Jazz I wouldn't fancy a night banging away on my standard US.

[Skinnytwotimes]

Lol,im not skinny my nick name is skins for my old hair style. I had muscles,havent had time to go to the gym,i can still lift heavy.i think like the guy above me said,most probably cos im new to the bass.

[Skinnytwotimes]

Speaking off people moaning about pains,a friend has also started playing bass,rang me a couple of hours ago moaned about his fingers and i was like 'what the f***,that happens,your useing your fingers,its gonna hurt,your skin will get harder,keep it up!' Bit of a wimp me thinks

[KERMITNT]

I have back problems for long period of time and the only solution is to sit in 90 degree position, lose the strap when you play seated in a while everything will go better. Light bass is the dream of anyone who plays stand..

[phil_the_bassist]

I found it helped me to keep my back straight when playing the long sets...no more rock&roll poses/balls-out moshing cos that really f***s my neck/shoulders up! Now I take a leaf outta John Entwistles book, stand in the back and look bored

[quote name='steve-soar' post='292312' date='Sep 25 2008, 11:36 PM']Yeah, what Dave Grohl said. [/quote]

lol!

Edited September 26, 2008 by phil_the_bassist

[neepheid]

Just to throw my (limited) experience into the mix, last night I played for an extended time standing up for the first time really (2+ hours at a rehersal) and my shoulder was really sore where the strap lies on it. Still a little tender the next morning (but easing). I think it's because I was really tense because I was nervous, being the first practice with a new band and all that. I'm trusting that experience will help me to relax in time.

[LukeFRC]

get a job using your arms.

[ezbass]

You're probably hunching your fretting hand shoulder (possibly poor bass balance or just tension through concentration) as I get this some times. Do some shoulder, trapezius, upper back stretches and if the problem persists see an osteopath or physio.

[MuseMatt]

and watch out for too much headbanging!

[JimH]

[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/carts3/frames/frame1.htm"]Possible Solution?[/url]

[MuseMatt]

expensive solution though

[bassmerchant]

Hi all

I have had these Aircell Straps in the shop for a while and have been using one for the last couple of months and even with my pretty heavy
vampyre have had no pain at all !

Bit cheaper than a new bass (£24)

Drop me a PM if you would like one

All the best

Darren
The Bass Merchant

[attachment=13975:DSCF1029.JPG]

[MuseMatt]

If you would want a new bass look out for a Fender Precision Lyte.. the name says it all! It's LIGHT!

[foal30]

Posture.
Weight of Instrument.

maybe try the slider-strap, this is a harness that goes over both shoulders.
lift your music stand higher, takes the bending neck position away.

the bottom two ideas have helped me considerably, although the surgeons diagnosis was not what I wanted.

[BigBadBass]

sounds really stupid but make sure your disributing weight evenly on both feet, that really makes a difference. if you putting more weight on one foot you spine isnt straight.

[kdphysio]

You need to buy my lovely little MM Sterling from me!!.......complete with new neoprene wide strap.

(i'll even throw in some free physio sessions!! .......i'm just too generous!)

[BassBus]

[quote name='BigBadBass' post='293337' date='Sep 27 2008, 11:09 AM']sounds really stupid but make sure your disributing weight evenly on both feet, that really makes a difference. if you putting more weight on one foot you spine isnt straight.[/quote]

This is not stupid at all. Very wise advice. A lot of the advice here might sound a bit boring but face it what's more boring that or being a cripple. No joking. I have had a lot of trouble with my back over the last two years all due to bad posture and working practice. Now an ostiopath checks it over every two months and releases any spasm. Playing the double bass for any length of time was causing real pain now that has gone.

As you are new to the bass persevere for a while and if the problem continues then consider an osteopath. Often pain like you describe can come from bits of the body being out of balance due to bad habits we all develop throughout life.

Edited September 27, 2008 by BassBus