tom1946 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Hi, I'm getting on a bit and am having backache problems after playing, my main bass is a Musicman stingray, I also have a USA Precision + a mex jazz. These are all pretty heavy but sound just great for me. It's looking as though I'll have to sell these, or some of them in favour of something lightweight so am I alone with this or does someone else have this problem too? Looking for suggestions on makes and models really, (I have bought a Danelectro 63 and it's very light but the sound leaves me a bit cold) Thanks for any suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 (edited) You could do exercises and stretches to strengthen your shoulder, core and back muscles as well. Solving the root problems (poor back and core strength) rather than just getting around it by buying lighter equipment. Just an option mind you. Good choice of avatar as well chap. Edited March 30, 2009 by Buzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 (edited) Depends what's causing your backache. I have prolapsed cervical and lumbar discs (amongst other things) which are causing nerve root compression; I'm currently seeing a neurosurgeon and hoping to avoid surgery. I just sold my Alembic (which took me 20-odd years to get) and my Rick CS for exactly the same reason. Doing what you can to strengthen your core muscles is good, but I'd simply go lighter; some things are just more important. Weight-wise something like Ibanez or certain Status basses (eg Streamline) would be an option, or you could consider having something made. Edited March 30, 2009 by 4000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARGH Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 (Whispers)....Headless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 (edited) I've also got back problems (at the age of 19! i ask you!) I had to go to physiotherapy for about a month last year, where they basically got me to do the same thing umpteen different ways. Sit halfway forward on a chair, and use the back of your hand on your back to make sure it is straight. Then, pull your bellybutton in as much as you can and hold it there. Try to make sure you keep breathing! This exercises your transverse abdominal muscles (i think) and should help to hold your back straight when you're standing and playing. I find it's easy to do it when driving, but it needs to be done pretty often. Edited March 30, 2009 by allighatt0r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 +1 on the exercises. I had a problem and the Physio gave me a bunch of exercises that eased things - some of them can be done really fast between numbers in a gig without looking like a dork.. Some are about core strength and I now do a lot at a gym. Pilates could help with core strength Alexander Technique has a long history of working with musicians to helps your learn to do things differently and to work better with your body. As well as that you could try a wide strap, Comfort Strapp or Planet Waves Squid, For light basses there's the Steinbergers of various types - original Graphite ones and the Synapse, and the bat copies like the Hohner. The Fender P Lyte is a light weight bass too. They come up on ebay now and then. Or have a custom made, plenty of ways to get a great sound from a light bass there .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I had a series of lower back issues and had a few sessions with a sports' injury specialist. He told me about a set of muscles I had never heard about - transverse abdominus (TVA) - that run underneath the front set of ab muscles and wrap around the centre of the body, anchoring into the lower back. He considers these to be one of the most important muscle groups you can exercise, affecting posture and pretty much everything you do, but are largely neglected which can, if you are prone to back issues, lead to problems. Certainly since being made aware of this and doing the exercises until the right posture becomes second nature I have had far fewer problems. It wouldn't hurt to make a few enquiries. A few weeks ago I bought a Hohner B2A from a fellow Basschatter (Hi Steve) and am currently in evangelical mode about it. It is [i]incredibly[/i] comfortable to wear (with a slight mod to move the front strap button to somewhere sensible) and lightweight. I can hold it up by one finger when it is in it's case at arm's length (engaging the TVA first, of course) which, coupled with the Liliputian proportions, make it so easily portable. But, more importantly, it plays like an absolute dream - a [i]really[/i] comfy, fast neck. And the active preamp give a great growly tone - it certainly punches way above it's weight. Aesthetically you love 'em or hate 'em - personally I think the economy of the design is actually effortlessly cool and will seek out the Hohner G3T (6 string equivalent) for when I want to noodle about with such a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnylager Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 One of them core stability exercise balls and a Spector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 [quote name='Paul S' post='449217' date='Mar 30 2009, 08:15 AM']I had a series of lower back issues and had a few sessions with a sports' injury specialist. He told me about a set of muscles I had never heard about - transverse abdominus (TVA) - that run underneath the front set of ab muscles and wrap around the centre of the body, anchoring into the lower back. He considers these to be one of the most important muscle groups you can exercise, affecting posture and pretty much everything you do, but are largely neglected which can, if you are prone to back issues, lead to problems. Certainly since being made aware of this and doing the exercises until the right posture becomes second nature I have had far fewer problems. It wouldn't hurt to make a few enquiries. .[/quote] Yeah that's the "core" people rave on about in Pilates and other fitness classes ... Try doing "The Plank" - after checking with your doctor that it's OK .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I only usually suffer with a mild annoyance between the shoulder blades, due to too many years of long concerts with the arms forwards as either a cellist or double bass player. If you've ever done the 3-4 hour stints of the Messiah or Elijah you'll know exactly what I mean. I can report that the Streamline is a bass you can play for hours. I'm loving mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I had the same problem with my MIA Jazz. I sold it in the end to do my back a favour! The Ibanez SR series is very light, but the lightest bass I own is a little Hohner Steinberger copy. I hardly know its there. The only problem is our guitarist taking the p*ss about how 80s it looks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shonks Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Warwick Corvette body is a lite bass with a brill sound - its definitely aback saver! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 +1 to all the suggestions of exercises, particularly the TVA and Pilates. What's worked for me (following a herniated disc in my 20s) is walking, walking and more walking. But if you're set on a lighter bass, I have a Hohner B2A for sale :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom1946 Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Wow! thanks for the multitude of replies, this forum rockz I have loads of excu err reasons why I can't do exercises so I'll have to look out for a light bass or swaps with cash either way. Hohner B2a sounds interesting, never seen one so I'll go and have mooch.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Similar issues here. +1 to the Pilates & the other exercise regimens but the quickest fixes are to play lighter basses, and to play sitting down wherever possible. I sold my Ibanez and both my Rics and moved to Laklands (7.5lbs instead of 10.0lbs), and I'm playing what remains of my Hofner collection more, too. If you like shortscale basses, I still have some Hofners I'm selling BTW. I always take a stool to rehearsals these days. It's one more thing to be carted about, yes, but it makes one hell of a difference by the end of the session. If you're having shoulder issues separately from the back problem, then definitely try the Comfort Strapp (spelling is intentional) or even better one of the double straps which spreads the weight across both shoulders. OK so it looks funny, but your shoulders will thank you later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I'm suffering greatly at the mo with my back.... (anyone wanna buy an Eden Metro and extension cab) and I've found Swimming to be the best medicine by far.... really helping at the mo!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Really just to do the "me too" thing. It won't get better it'll get worse if you don't do anything and, trust me, back pain can be incredibly bad. See a physio and/or go and do Pilates or whatever but do something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 [quote name='crez5150' post='449433' date='Mar 30 2009, 12:15 PM']I'm suffering greatly at the mo with my back.... (anyone wanna buy an Eden Metro and extension cab) and I've found Swimming to be the best medicine by far.... really helping at the mo!![/quote] Blige! You really are a fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 You're concentrating on the bass, have you already gone for neo cabs? After I've loaded the car, driven to the gig, unloaded and set up I feel much better to start the night now I'm using light cabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Me too - terribly bad back esp directly between and just above my shoulder blades (stretching this area is really tricky!) Cant but give a huge +1 to the Roscoe Century Standards, my 5 is lighter then my old 4 (the Vester) which was always a light bass by anyone's standards, a Roscoe Century 4 would probably be lighter than air Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassicinstinct Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Chiropractor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Same problem here, but there's lots of solutions. I changed my trace rig to markbass and the lightest 15 cab I could find (flite). The lightest bass in the world must be the Ashbory, it's now my main bass since my old jazz started to feel too heavy. Hard to play at first, but great sound if you like the double bass. I'd like to try a status streamline or steiny too because I miss frets. Some light basses [url="http://www.playawayguitars.com/"]here[/url] It's nice to wake up after a gig with no back pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlthebassist Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I've got an old Aria Pro II that's as light as a pack of fags. Don't know if that's true of all similar Arias, but I remember playing a what I think was a SB1000 and that was very light too. Loooovvvveryl neck. Sounded ace too. May be worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 [quote name='crez5150' post='449433' date='Mar 30 2009, 01:15 PM']I'm suffering greatly at the mo with my back.... (anyone wanna buy an Eden Metro and extension cab) and I've found Swimming to be the best medicine by far.... really helping at the mo!![/quote] Swimming (along with many of the exercises mentioned) actually aggravates many of my problems so be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 [quote name='karlthebassist' post='449723' date='Mar 30 2009, 06:01 PM']I've got an old Aria Pro II that's as light as a pack of fags. Don't know if that's true of all similar Arias, but I remember playing a what I think was a SB1000 and that was very light too. Loooovvvveryl neck. Sounded ace too. May be worth a look.[/quote] Pretty much all the SBs that I've played (quite a few, I was around when they first came out) have been [i]extremely[/i] heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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