Played bass for a few hours with my friends last night. This morning I was crippled and sick with a sore back. Lower back area. My bass is heavy, as are all basses, so is there a strap that goes around ones waist - a strap that pulls the guitar in close to the body to minimize the leaning over that is necessary to see the fretboard? Hard to describe what I am looking for but some waist strap that works in conjunction with a shoulder strap is what I need.
I cannot be the only person who suffers from back pain after playing the bass. What solutions are out there to solve this problem? Thanks.
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My Jazz weighs around 9lb IIRC, and you can get even lighter than that, especially if you look at something with a smaller body like an Ibanez SR - pretty sure those can be under 8lb which is getting close to typical guitar weight.
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I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
http://basschat.co.uk/topic/304220-heres-a-new-strap-for-those-with-bad-backsnecks/
And here's one for £40...
http://www.bassgear.co.uk/product/slingers-hip-strap/
- Not all basses are created equal. Some can be light. I have a P bass which is just over 8lbs - similar to a strat or tele.
- The headstock weight and balance can make a big difference to comfort. It affects the way you hold and grip which may be hampering your ability to see and play
- Get a good strap. I recommend the Mono straps - wide, chunky and very comfy - makes a big difference
- Try wearing it a bit higher - I know it's counter intuitive, but it encourages a more upright position.
- Now this may sound facetious, and I don't mean it this way at all, but if you are prepared to put the time in, playing with reference only to the side dot markers and playing by feel is so much more comfortable
- Are you playing with your thumb behind the neck rather than to the side? - if you do it gives a natural twist to your playing position which makes it easier to play
Just a few thoughts to start you off...
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Status Streamline?
I will mock it up tomorrow and see if the height [70 cm] and the footrest [28 cm from floor] would suit.
The Status Streamline looks the biz @axisus but I would expect it is way out of my price league. Good suggestion though.
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http://www.statii.com/forum/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=6309
Or or a lighter bass.
https://speakerimpedance.co.uk/?act=two_parallel&page=calculator
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_beatbass.htm?glp=1&gclid=CLa1ouOMxNMCFWUq0wodbD8L3Q
https://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_viola_bass.htm?ref=search_rslt_epiphone+bass_152095_1
(The HB has the more complex and vintage-accurate controls, the Epi a simpler 'Jazz Bass' set up.)
The body is small so they naturally sit closer to you with the neck pointing up a bit, so it's easy to see what you're doing. They do have the slight disadvantage of being a little neck-heavy so they can be less of a relief on your left shoulder than you might expect, but they're not too bad.
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These were designed for people with back and shoulder problems. I think they were originally made by a small company and Planet Waves took over the design and made them cheap. So they do, apparently, fall apart eventually but they are relatively cheap and seem to work.
https://www.gak.co.uk/en/steinberger-spirit-xt-2-black/38803?gclid=CKP526yXxNMCFQsTGwodxlcL4g
Or find a used Hohner version - the B2 or B2A (Active)
https://speakerimpedance.co.uk/?act=two_parallel&page=calculator
I was able to mostly resolve the problem by moving the strap button to the side of the body at the top where the neck meets body. Worked well.
Hohner also used to make The Jack bass which was light and headless but with a more conventional body shape.