Collin Bass

You must have the rolled edges on that Minotaur? I had a Minotaur strap, but the edges weren't rolled, they were just cut straight and sewed and I found the edges dug into my shoulder still.

G&L make FANTASTIC basses, that'd be my choice!

Have you looked into Sire basses? They make some fantastic quality basses, that sound and play great, at very reasonable prices.

I'm with @Happy Jack on this one. I've never seen strings become that kind of discolored before, ever. And I DO get sweaty hands. I think he hit the nail on the head with that theory? Where did you buy your bass? A lot of places have a 30 day return policy. It's a bit of a hassle, though. But if it has already been touched up (and not well) you should get a discount or replacement if it is still new enough. If that's what you do, don't forget to play the new one and give it a good examination before buying. Not all basses are created equally, even if out of the same assembly line.

If that knot is smooth and doesn't affect your playing, leave it! It's character! It won't turn anybody off buying it when it's time to trade it in. Those kind of quirks, the kind that don't hurt structure or tonality, are something I always prefer. Don't worry about it. Plus, the more you practice and play as you go along, the more you're going to ACTUALLY ding it up. And even still, that will just be stories and character!

I wonder if a little tape around the thumb might cushion enough to take some impact off of your joint? May not help for arthritis, though. I seem to recall a commercial where B.B. King was a big fan of Aleve!

Without a doubt,.my favorite straps are from a reverb store I found called "Well-Hung Straps". By far they are the most comfortable straps I have ever slung over my shoulder. And with a torn rotator cuff, comfort is a must. On top of that, they look fantastic as compared to other comfort straps. I currently have two from Well-Hung, but I know it won't stop there. Here are some pictures of what I have. And the reverb link: https://reverb.com/shop/well-hung-guitar-accessories Note: while I am fonder of the coral corduroy paisley, the puppers is definitely digging the black velvet paisley!

I no longer have any acoustic/electric basses, but when I did, nothing sounded nearly as loud as the bronze strings. Also they were still rather warm as compared to nickel. If you are only going to play it plugged in, or with a pick,.there is a lot that you can get away with. Flats and tapewounds sound fantastic on an acoustic bass that is plugged in... But if you're playing fingers, unplugged, and want to get enough dB out of that thing to keep up with a guitar, bronze is the only way to go!

I know my hiscox Case came with d-rings and the shoulder strap. I'm pretty sure if you contacted them they would be able to set you up with something.

I'm a big fan of old, vintage luggage! That's what I use to keep my pedal board safe. The rest of my cables and accessories are divided between that same small, older suitcase (under my pedalboard) and my bass case.

Nothing too crazy, but I've got the necessities covered.