Dealing with heavyness...

C

Casey

Guest
Alrighty... Just wondering how you guys deal with a HEAVY bass? I'm using a wide Franklin strap and it's still killing me after playing a 30min set... Any suggestion's? or strap modifcations?
 
maybe tapping foam of sorts onto you strap?

Never tried it but might work lol :lol:
 
You might try one of those strap systems where the weight is distributed between both shoulders...




It's not an endorsment of those particular products, just an example...
 
I might have to get one of those my streamer is really heavy herts my shoulder in practice and I havn't got to stage use yet but i can imagine it will kill me after awhile.
 
I found that the weight of my arm resting on the body while playing or waiting makes a difference and if my posture is bad when I start, I wear out faster. Either way a 6 string Thumb has gotta be heavy. For me it was either get stronger or get a kickstand :wink: and I only have a 5 string.
 
I dont find my basses to be all that heavy, really. Then again, I spend half of my day wrestling, restraining and lifting up kids qith Autism, so my shoulders and general upper body can take a beating.
 
Casey,your as thin a match with the wood scraped off.Do some exercise or wear the bass on it's strap & get used to the weight.
 
I thought about the dare strap. I put some duct tape together to make one to try it out. It supported the weight OK, but it put the bass at more of a 45 degree angel to my body. My fretting hand elbow was in front of me more than to the side. It makes it hard to see the fretboard. You may like it, but I did not like it enough to do it.
 
King David said:
I thought about the dare strap. I put some duct tape together to make one to try it out. It supported the weight OK, but it put the bass at more of a 45 degree angel to my body. My fretting hand elbow was in front of me more than to the side. It makes it hard to see the fretboard. You may like it, but I did not like it enough to do it.
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real mean dont need to see the fretboard :wink:
 
boston asphalt2 said:
King David said:
I thought about the dare strap. I put some duct tape together to make one to try it out. It supported the weight OK, but it put the bass at more of a 45 degree angel to my body. My fretting hand elbow was in front of me more than to the side. It makes it hard to see the fretboard. You may like it, but I did not like it enough to do it.
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]

real mean dont need to see the fretboard :wink:
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So that makes LED's sissy. :lol:
 
Maybe it's just me... but I think playing in a band is a real physical thing anyway (maybe depends on the type of band)... but if you're really going for it, you should feel bloody knackered the next day!
 
saxonbass said:
Maybe it's just me... but I think playing in a band is a real physical thing anyway (maybe depends on the type of band)... but if you're really going for it, you should feel bloody knackered the next day!
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And that`s before the booze & hookers.
 
I used to have an inflatable strap made by D'Addario - they don't make them anymore and tbh it looked like a nappy!

I had to have chiropractic treatment for a couple of years after finishing my 3 year stint - I couldn't watch a film without having to lay on the floor. Which made for a few funny looks down the local cinema.

I now make a great effort to do loads of weighted crunches and 'the plank' to strenthen my core and try and be more concious of my posture while playing.

G
 
Man I just used an el-cheapo leather strap playing about 3 gigs a week back in the day with my Ric. And it's solid maple end to end. You get used to it.
 
Increase your BMI! I use ~26 and that's comfy for playing bass. :D :D
 
I switched to a comfort strapp and it has helped me a lot playing for 2-3 hours at a time...
 
thumperton said:
Casey,your as thin a match with the wood scraped off.Do some exercise or wear the bass on it's strap & get used to the weight.
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sounds rude but +1
 
I use a Warwick RockStrap



with an added shoulder pad (don't know who makes it, but D'Addario, Dunlop, and Planet Waves offer similar ones) that the strap slides through - that way, the bass is free to move with the strap, but the pad remains in place on my shoulder.

I also have a wide and heavy padded Levys strap - as comfortable as a Comfort Strapp and better made IMHO.
 
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