hipshot ultralites

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Greg Edwards

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I'm thinking about putting some of these on my BO thumb 5 string in an effort to improve the balance. My band's starting to do a lot of long function gigs lately, and the carrying this thing for 3 hours is getting to be hard work.

I was wondering if anyone here has tried any, and if they do indeed help.

I also note they make two sizes of the warwick gotoh style, and before I pull my headstock apart, I was wondering if anyone knew which size I'd need to get. I'm guessing it's the 3/8" as opposed to the 1/2".
 
I personally doubt whether you would actually benefit from those..........Have you tried different, more ergonomical straps ?? :idea:
 
Have you tried doing a gig Westlife style...sat on a stool and then just stand up for the key change?

I tried to persuade my band but they wouldn't let me drag my rocking chair on stage! :(
 
Yes I have one those 'comfort strapps', and I wear the bass at a sensible height (sits in same place sitting down as when standing). It helps to a certain extent, but there's still a little neck dive, the neck want to be parallel to the ground. I've also starting pointing the headstock slightly forward, moving the body slightly round my side which helps a bit.

I find it the most uncomfortable when playing tunes that are all at the nut end, my hand will sometimes start to cramp up from the stretch and supporting the weight of the neck, but mainly when doing a long show. We so a few medleys that are all at the nut end too, and you can imagine how awkward it can be after about 10 mins of having the hand locked in place down there. (BTW, I so warm up, and keep my hands supple, so it's not a technique problem). I may start using my lightweight spare El Cheapo spare bass for some of the set and see how that goes.

I have heard about moving strap buttons, putting extensions on the horn button (which sounds rather unstable), but I don't really want to make holes and risk damaging my bass. Imagine the mess it'd make if one of those home made strap button extensions ripped out, doesn't bear thinking about.

I have seen those straps that go over both shoulders, but they don't appeal in the slightest, and to be quite frank wearing a huge pair of braces isn't very rock n roll.

If there's any thing I can do to shave off some weight from the headstock it's got to be worth giving it a go.
 
I'm not totally familiar with the comfort strap,

but I use a Levy's strap, that is only 2,5" wide, but it has got a suede back. This thing is very grippy, and I don't need to support the neck with my (fretting) hand...............Really, and I also play Thumb.............Maybe you should check out this strap......... 8)
 
ThirdthumB said:
I'm not totally familiar with the comfort strap,

but I use a Levy's strap, that is only 2,5" wide, but it has got a suede back. This thing is very grippy, and I don't need to support the neck with my (fretting) hand...............Really, and I also play Thumb.............Maybe you should check out this strap......... 8)
Click to expand...

+1 to the Levy's strap. I recently got one after using a cheapo $5 music store branded strap for years. mine was wearing out and I bought the Levys for the comfort. Never had an issue with neckdive. I wear my bass about 2/3s above my belt buckle. And I also play a thumb NT5.
 
Greg Edwards said:
I'm thinking about putting some of these on my BO thumb 5 string in an effort to improve the balance. My band's starting to do a lot of long function gigs lately, and the carrying this thing for 3 hours is getting to be hard work.

I was wondering if anyone here has tried any, and if they do indeed help.

I also note they make two sizes of the warwick gotoh style, and before I pull my headstock apart, I was wondering if anyone knew which size I'd need to get. I'm guessing it's the 3/8" as opposed to the 1/2".
Click to expand...

G'day Greg,cool name btw mate. :wink:
I think the best thing to do is excersize & get a bit fitter/stronger so the long gigs are easier to do.If you want the neck more vertical,loop your strap thru a belt loop before the end pin.
 
Greg Edwards said:
I'm thinking about putting some of these on my BO thumb 5 string in an effort to improve the balance. My band's starting to do a lot of long function gigs lately, and the carrying this thing for 3 hours is getting to be hard work.

I was wondering if anyone here has tried any, and if they do indeed help.

I also note they make two sizes of the warwick gotoh style, and before I pull my headstock apart, I was wondering if anyone knew which size I'd need to get. I'm guessing it's the 3/8" as opposed to the 1/2".
Click to expand...

Hey, Greg, they are lighter for sure, and they will improve the thumb's ballance. But it will be still a Thumb, not a Dolphin if ya know what I mean...
 
Hi

the problem will hardly be cured by saving a few ounces at the headstock - if indeed the Hipshots are any lighter than the Warwick (Gotoh) tuners. What you have is a heavy wooden neck (more so with a 5-er obviously) on a long lever arm.

The issue is that on most Warwick basses, the position of the upper horn strap button is level with aobut the 14th/15th fret and not at the conventional "ideal" position - the usual for bass guiitars is level with the 12th fret, and this does give a more balanced position. The Thumb has a shorter upper horn than other Warwicks, I think, meaning the nut is further from your body than with other basses of the same scale length. It's a longer reach resulting in a more extreme hand position - causing cramp. People with long arms may find this acceptable. I'm not tall, and I'm OK (just) with a S1 or corvette, but I find a thumb is just too much of a reach for me. An extension could restore the relative positions, but how would it look?
 
Franklin straps are all i use and are great for comfort and support. But, with regards to playing the thumb in the first position, there is not much you can do about the stretch, other than wear the bass lower and tilt the headstock up towards vertical more. Like was stated earlier, the thumb has a short, small body and puts the headstock further away from you. I wear my thumb lower than the rest of my basses, so i can reach first position easier. It works like a charm.

Also, make sure you are warming up properly before you play.....this will keep cramps to a min.
 
My thumb has two sets of recessed strap locks on the body.I found that I don't like the center position,but the off set one makes the bass balance better.But it does make the neck position more vertical.
 
In answer to the original question... I fitted some Hipshot Ultralites to a US P-bass. Make no difference to the perceived weight of the bass! Save your money for a decent strap!
 
Hmm, I think I have a problem like this too with my Stryker. Wearing it high means to have the right hand at the middle of the body and the left hand stretched out to the left. I have long arms, but after maybe 1 or 2 hours I just get tired. If I wear the bass lower, I have a standing position with the right leg forward, the bass laying on the upper leg. Half an hour in such a position my left foot begins to "fall in sleep" (like it is said in german - it gets bloodless). And wearing the bass low means that I have to hold the head of the bass up. To avoid problems by sliding the neck up and down a longer time with the weigth of the neck in my left hand ... please don´t laugh ... I use handcream!
Generally I found two solutions. First: I change the straps (is quickly able because of the security locks) between normal and lowered position. Second: I change to an another bass (fender shape). This all might sound funny or strange, but I´m testing already a while how to get these problems solved. Training is important of course too, but I think 3 hours of live playing should be a lot of physical attention and can not be the only solution.
If there a other possibilities: I´m ready to try!
 
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