Can anything else be done for a heavy bass?

[Iheartreverb]

Hello, the story is this.

I’ve got a late 70s Musicmaster bass that is by far the heaviest thing in the world, certainly the heaviest bass I own. Problem is, I really like it. Looks great, sounds great, plays “ok”. The natural thing to do would be the trade against a JMJ and move on with my life but not too sure about that…

 

I’ve started using an Ernie Ball, padded/ elastic strap and that’s made a huge difference but a 3 hour practice is still pretty rough. 
 

Is there anything else that can be done? Trying to talk myself out of looking at stupid things like having a massive route under the stratchplate.

 

cheers

[neepheid]

How wide is that strap?  How padded is it? From my days of playing 12lbs+ Gibson behemoths I can heartily recommend a Neotech Mega Strap - it has memory foam in the padded part and spreads the weight well.

 

I would advise against making non reversible changes to an old bass from a resale value point of view. Better to move it on than attack it with power tools imo...

 

[Iheartreverb]

15 minutes ago, neepheid said:

How wide is that strap?  How padded is it? From my days of playing 12lbs+ Gibson behemoths I can heartily recommend a Neotech Mega Strap - it has memory foam in the padded part and spreads the weight well.

 

I would advise against making non reversible changes to an old bass from a resale value point of view. Better to move it on than attack it with power tools imo...

 

 

thanks for your reply. I’m aware that any massive changes would be a bad idea, I’m just out of option beyond moving it on.

 

The straps is 2.5” Ernie Ball Neoprene comfort strap. As I say, it made a massive difference but maybe not enough. Also trying to stick with a strap that looks pretty normal and not some of the super wide or padded things. 

[neepheid]

10 minutes ago, Iheartreverb said:

 

thanks for your reply. I’m aware that any massive changes would be a bad idea, I’m just out of option beyond moving it on.

 

The straps is 2.5” Ernie Ball Neoprene comfort strap. As I say, it made a massive difference but maybe not enough. Also trying to stick with a strap that looks pretty normal and not some of the super wide or padded things. 

 

When it comes to spreading the load, it's go wide or go home really.  Also, no-one even notices that we're playing bass (or even there, frankly!) - no-one's going to give a monkey's what strap you're wearing, if that's what's fuelling your dislike of wide straps.

[Woodinblack]

15 minutes ago, Iheartreverb said:

The straps is 2.5” Ernie Ball Neoprene comfort strap. As I say, it made a massive difference but maybe not enough. Also trying to stick with a strap that looks pretty normal and not some of the super wide or padded things. 

 

I have some 4" straps that spread the load nicely. Ultimately though you still have to carry that weight, so this just stops it cutting in.

[Iheartreverb]

19 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

- no-one's going to give a monkey's what strap you're wearing, if that's what's fuelling your dislike of wide straps.

Nah, not at all, I just don’t like the look of them. Ideally would want something that looks as close to a 2” cotton guitar strap as possible, which the EB strap I’ve got kind of does 

[neepheid]

Just now, Iheartreverb said:

Nah, not at all, I just don’t like the look of them. Ideally would want something that looks as close to a 2” cotton guitar strap as possible, which the EB strap I’ve got kind of does 

 

You cannae change the laws of physics...

[itu]

Ordered two custom wide leather straps with padding (both sides seen here). Life couldn't be easier: feels light, cotton and padding keep left shoulder dry and cool, the friction keeps basses in one place. Around £100 per strap (excluding materials) but that money was really well spent.

 

[Beedster]

The answer is in identifying the problem, does the weight cause pain, or does it cause fatigue, does it impede your technique, or does it simply annoy you? 
 

And BTW you’d be amazed how little difference a massive route under the pickguard actually makes 👍

[kodiakblair]

Just now, Beedster said:

And BTW you’d be amazed how little difference a massive route under the pickguard actually makes 👍

Aye.

 

You measure the difference using wee kitchen scales marked for grams not bathroom scales marked for lbs/Kg.

[Pinball]

Hmm sounds like an excuse to sell and look for a a lighter replacement. There are so many wonderful basses out there!

[chris_b]

It's a heavy bass. You can make it more comfortable but you can't take away the weight. If the weight is a problem, and it probably is because you've started a post about it, there is only one answer. . . . sell it.

[snorkie635]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

 

You cannae change the laws of physics...

Laws of physics, laws of physics, 

You cannae change the laws of physics, laws of physics Jim.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

If you can source a spherical balloon with a diameter of 6.12 feet, fill said balloon with 162 cubic feet of helium and attach it to the bass, you should find that most, if not all of the weight is relieved.

[Grahambythesea]

Planet Waves sell a pad you can put on your strap and does really show. It does help not only with weight but neck dive. I’m surprised a Musicmaster is heavy, I had one in the 70s and it was much lighter than my Precision.

 

The option is sell that one and buy another of upgrade to a Mustang.

[Osiris]

2 hours ago, Iheartreverb said:

Nah, not at all, I just don’t like the look of them. Ideally would want something that looks as close to a 2” cotton guitar strap as possible, which the EB strap I’ve got kind of does 

 

You can get a strap that splits into 2 parts, one for each shoulder to help distribute the weight, although I have no idea what they're called. But if you're not keen on wide straps I'm guessing you're not going to be tempted by something that makes you look like you're wearing a bra...

[Terry M.]

4 hours ago, Iheartreverb said:

Also trying to stick with a strap that looks pretty normal and not some of the super wide or padded things. 

Why don't you like the wide padded straps out of interest?

Edited Saturday at 16:47 by Terry M.

[Terry M.]

Just now, Terry M. said:

Just this sentence alone means you need to get rid of the bass as there's a reason wide padded straps exist? I use them. 4" wide and very padded and I wouldn't be without them for my heavy Warwicks. Also consider how your bass balances as that can exacerbate the problem.

 

Play seated? 

 

[BassBiscuit]

2 hours ago, snorkie635 said:

Laws of physics, laws of physics, 

You cannae change the laws of physics, laws of physics Jim.

What a great 'fun track' that is...! 

[Woodinblack]

8 hours ago, itu said:

 Around £100 per strap (excluding materials) but that money was really well spent.

 

What is there apart from materials?

[bremen]

35 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

What is there apart from materials?

Some holes?

[bassbiscuits]

6 hours ago, Osiris said:

 

You can get a strap that splits into 2 parts, one for each shoulder to help distribute the weight, although I have no idea what they're called. But if you're not keen on wide straps I'm guessing you're not going to be tempted by something that makes you look like you're wearing a bra...

I’ve had a couple of those double straps and never really got on with them. Instead they just seemed to pull my head forward, which wasn’t ideal. 
 

[SumOne]

A 'walk up' stand holds the Bass for you. Looks odd though, and must feel quite odd too play like that.

[Geek99]

TBH if it’s too heavy to enjoy playing, just move it on. Just because it’s old doesnt make it perfect for you 
 

Playing a bass you don’t enjoy is like marrying a person you don’t love and refusing to divorce them 

 

I love playing my cheapie Vintage Stingray clone, it’s as light as a feather and it’s plays itself (almost), like buttah, as they say. I wouldn’t sell it ever. Go figure. 

[Geek99]

8 hours ago, snorkie635 said:

Laws of physics, laws of physics, 

You cannae change the laws of physics, laws of physics Jim.

Scotty was actually Canadian. He lost a finger on d day and regularly used a prosthetic finger or proxy hand