Bad back and electric guitar

koss59

A 335 type is so good at stopping you slouching whilst sat down. Get a 330 or casino and you could stand with it probably being one of the lightest guitars going.

thetabba

I have back issues as well. It might sound strange but I often stretch my back a bit if I know I am going to be playing for a while(seems to help).  Another factor for me that has an effect is the quality of my footwear. The guitars I fine most comfortable to play have  been my jazzmaster and my SG's. When I sold one of my les Pauls a contributing factor in that decision was the weight of it. 

Chalky

SlopeSoarer said:

Chalky said:

The difference between a normal guitar and a lightweight guitar is about 3lbs. If that weight makes a big difference to your comfort then you have postural problems that need addressing - otherwise your lightweight guitar will be too heavy by next year.  Simplest is to get someone to take side-on pictures of you while you stand playing your guitar. I'm betting that the line from the middle of your hip through your shoulder to your ear is not straight. Your back is probably hunched and your ear is well forward of your shoulder. That forward head posture adds a lot of tilting weight to your back, rather more than 3lbs. Google Youtube videos on how to correct your posture - at your age it is not easy but it is the only way of fixing your back problem and more importantly preventing it getting worse and adding more problems.

I don't know how but I missed this post.... interesting. I'll have a look.

Thanks everyone there has been a lot of food for thought!

Here's the NHS link.

https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Backpain/Pages/back-pain-and-common-posture-mistakes.aspx

Remember, it is not uncommon for fit and strong people to have bad posture that causes them problems with their back, especially as they get older.  Healthy exercise does not automatically fix back problems.

Neil

Reading this has bought forward some thinking I've been having lately about heavy guitars. Like the OP I'm in my sixties and my Les Paul just seems like hard work now compared to my Strats/ Junior. I can really feel that extra two pounds!

I have been ignoring it up until now but I guess I should really get rid of my LP Standard as it's just sitting there. 

Strat54

Leave your back, its a great excuse to keep changing guitars   There are some great lightweight guitars out there....how about a Tom Anderson Hollow T....plenty of those are in the 6lb range. Failing that send me £4k and I'll post you a 6.5lb Masterbuilt Tele from the Custom Shop   

sev112

335 style
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBZ-Guitars-IMFM-ATB-Imperial-Electric/dp/B0041T40IE


These are are astonishingly thin, and so weigh between 4.5 and 5 kg

they also get nice reviews, play well and you can pick them up from Thomann, eBay , gumtree occasionally

sev112

PS add a frozen shoulder to a bad back . Which is where I am at the moment - not fun

At least it is my right shoulder so I can plan because I keep my right arm tight in against my side. 
If it was my left arm / shoulder, which is my fretting arm, I just would not be able to play anywhere lower than the 12th fret

good luck, hope you get better

stickyfiddle

crunchman said:

Neill said:

Sorry guys you can talk all you like about posture but there comes a point/age when the difference between a small or light guitar and a big or heavy guitar makes a significant difference.  I'm in my early 60's and though I'm in pretty good shape over the last five years I've noticed increasing discomfort with certain guitars, I can't play a 335 style comfortably and though I really like my Hohner telecaster it weighs over 10lb and it isn't enjoyable to play anymore.  Conversely I also have a very heavy no name strat that I can manage with so it's not exclusively about weight.   I almost always play stood up BTW though I think that might change soon...

I'd suggest the OP tries a load of different guitars to see what feels right, there's so much to choose from these days, I had an Ibanez Artcore once that seemed to be weightless, I wish I'd hung onto it now. 

I'm actually looking at the SG.  I never got on with the SG in my younger days but I think I must give it another go, I do love the sound.  

SG has other problems.  Because of the way it is built, the far end of the neck is way off to the left.  I don't think it leads to a good playing position.  I sold my SG because I used to get wrist pain if I played it for long periods.  Great guitars but the geometry isn't for everyone.

If the OP likes his Tele then the logical thing to do is find a lightweight Tele.   That might mean finding a light solid body or some kind of thinline.

Not really, you just can't expect to hang it on a strap the same as a Les Paul.  They're super-comfy if you let it hang a bit to the right, more on your hip than in front of you.

sinbaadi

The OP prefers to play sitting.  Does weight of guitar really play such a part when it's resting on your thigh?  (Apart from cutting off the bloody supply to that leg!!)

ICBM

sinbaadi said:

The OP prefers to play sitting.  Does weight of guitar really play such a part when it's resting on your thigh?  (Apart from cutting off the bloody supply to that leg!!)

Aha, you've played a 70s Les Paul Custom as well .

andyoz

Rocker said:

An SG might work weight wise but they are very neck heavy. A chambered guitar like Anderson Drop Top is costly but will likely solve your problem. I have one and it is a lovely player and ticks a lot of the OPs problems. 

Not if you get a good one. I bought a well used 2014 Custom Shop off here that's the most comfortable guitar I own.  Also, the neck to body angle is important. For some reason Gibson had it at about zero degrees for a while and it makes the neck feel longer than the 'proper' approx. 4 degree angle does. Anyway, I barely pick up any other guitar now.

A well balanced SG will have no neck dive and you'll actually find you angle the neck up a bit to compensate for the slightly different SG geometry. I find that relaxes wrist pain compared to other guitars. I used to play alot sitting down until I got this SG.

If looking at SG, try alot out as massive differences.

vasselmeyer

sev112 said:

335 style
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBZ-Guitars-IMFM-ATB-Imperial-Electric/dp/B0041T40IE


These are are astonishingly thin, and so weigh between 4.5 and 5 kg

they also get nice reviews, play well and you can pick them up from Thomann, eBay , gumtree occasionally

Not to be picky, but I think you mean lbs, not kg. 1kg=2.2lb so those models you're linking would be 10lbs+ which is definitely not for someone with a bad back .

sev112

vasselmeyer said:

sev112 said:

335 style
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBZ-Guitars-IMFM-ATB-Imperial-Electric/dp/B0041T40IE


These are are astonishingly thin, and so weigh between 4.5 and 5 kg

they also get nice reviews, play well and you can pick them up from Thomann, eBay , gumtree occasionally

Not to be picky, but I think you mean lbs, not kg. 1kg=2.2lb so those models you're linking would be 10lbs+ which is definitely not for someone with a bad back .

Aha, typo on my part - well spotted
but seriously they are very light, and I am sure there must be others out there as well

impmann

I have incurable back problems - I do excercises etc but that just staves off being unable to move.

A good Tele isn’t heavy - there’s no need for one to be that heavy other than poor wood choice. My Tele weighs about the same as my SG.

SGs are an excellent choice. Great guitars that do much more than just Angus impersonations.

pmg

You could try an es 330 or a casino?

SunDevil

Try a Physio - they come in many shapes and sizes

Never tried to gig one but they do tend to help with backs

Voxman

olafgarten said:

SG's are pretty light, they average around 6lbs.

+1..my 2006 SG Standard is probably my lightest and most comfortable guitar that is easy to play with great balance and easy access to the high frets. And I'm 60 with a bad back (L3 and L4). Great tone too, my favourite grab and go guitar and no wrist issues.  Re the comments on SG geometry I honestly don't know what folk are on about..and to compare I have 3 strats, a L.P. Custom, telecaster US standard, PRS Cu24 and an Epi Sheraton II.  

andyoz

...and you look cool playing a good SG!

rossi

I have similar trouble .I have a Paulwonia body on my tele.Superlight and very acoustic .I hav eno idea where mine came from I bought in for twenty quid off a guy and its great .You could get one made  to spec  or get one on  ebay and sell the tele body for a goodly sum.Dont forget a light case ,foam or  gigbag .My Midtown when its in the Gibson hard case is very heavy for me  to lug around .

crunchman

ICBM said:

If you want a 335-type guitar that’s light, look for a Vox Virage II. There’s one in the shop I work for, it’s very light and comfortable to play. Also well made and sounds great.

The Vox name probably doesn’t do it any favours - they’re more thought of as an amp company, and their most famous guitars were the odd-shaped 60s ones of questionable build quality.

If you want the Gibson name, the ES Les Paul is very light.  Mine is actually much lighter than my old ES339 was.

The other guitar I had that was very light was a PRS SE Soapbar.  Technically it's still mine, but my brother in law "borrowed" it about 12 years ago.