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Not-Too-Late

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Posted

My hand is starting to feel a bit better, but it still hurts at the bottom of the thumb when I play certain chords. I was wondering if I changed over to bass if the hand might not go through so much punishment. Any bass players out there that might be able to shed some light. I don't want to give up playing, but if the guitar keeps presenting a problem for me, maybe the bass might be a solution. Bare in mind, I have never played a bass, so it will be new learning. I was looking at the Epi Tobias base models at GC the other day, and they are awesome. I picked one up, and it felt a tad more comfortable with my hand.

 

Cheers

Wayne

Posted

Dunno what problems you're having with your hand but I do hope it improves.

 

Before you take the plunge, if you decide to buy a bass, you must try an Ibanez SDGR (Soundgear) bass. They have awesome 'Wizard' necks that are a breeze to play. I speak from experience here, having arthritis in hands and played bass in bands.

Posted

Dunno what problems you're having with your hand but I do hope it improves.

 

Before you take the plunge, if you decide to buy a bass, you must try an Ibanez SDGR (Soundgear) bass. They have awesome 'Wizard' necks that are a breeze to play. I speak from experience here, having arthritis in hands and played bass in bands.

 

Interesting. I'm heading out to GC tonight. My wife's piano lesson. While there I will check out that bass -- if they have it.

Posted

Two years ago I ruptured the distal tendon on my fretting arm and had a tough time getting back playing. My MIM Strat just was not comfortable to play anymore, the neck developed some weird geometry between the 10th and 12th frets so I decided to pick up an inexpensive LTD bass last fall to help get back into shape. My thought was the longer scale on the bass would help me stretch out and strengthen my fretting hand, fingering the bass would give me a break from the carpal tunnel, and hopefully improve my rhythm. It does seem to help on the days I do a lot of computer stuff or a lot of lifting at work and my hands/arm bother me. Some guys don't like the thinner necks, but as I get older and play more, I seem to prefer the the 60's slim taper on Gibson/Epiphone and the thin U on the LTD.

Posted

Two years ago I ruptured the distal tendon on my fretting arm and had a tough time getting back playing. My MIM Strat just was not comfortable to play anymore, the neck developed some weird geometry between the 10th and 12th frets so I decided to pick up an inexpensive LTD bass last fall to help get back into shape. My thought was the longer scale on the bass would help me stretch out and strengthen my fretting hand, fingering the bass would give me a break from the carpal tunnel, and hopefully improve my rhythm. It does seem to help on the days I do a lot of computer stuff or a lot of lifting at work and my hands/arm bother me. Some guys don't like the thinner necks, but as I get older and play more, I seem to prefer the the 60's slim taper on Gibson/Epiphone and the thin U on the LTD.

 

Food for thought. I was at GC last night, but I didn't get a chance to try out a bass as I was in with my wife while she was having her piano/keyboard lesson. She wasn't feeling well and had to leave after. She would have canceled her lesson, but without a 48hr notice you loose the do-ray-me, if you know what I mean. I'll go back and give one a play. I guess it shouldn't be too hard to learn considering my years of playing guitar. Perhaps the different neck structure might help. I'm glad it did for you.

 

Talking about thinner necks, it reminds me of when I picked up the Venture's version of the Mosrite many years ago (I'm dating myself here msp_biggrin.gif). I was taken back by it's thinner neck. I found it a bit weird trying to play it at first. How I wish I had one today though. I'm sure it would be worth an arm and a leg.

 

Edit: I went and looked to see what one would sell for -- at least a leg anyway http://reverb.com/item/78230-mosrite-ventures-1966-sunburst?gclid=CLCg_rmW5b0CFYqIfgodMXgA5A

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Dunno what problems you're having with your hand but I do hope it improves.

 

Before you take the plunge, if you decide to buy a bass, you must try an Ibanez SDGR (Soundgear) bass. They have awesome 'Wizard' necks that are a breeze to play. I speak from experience here, having arthritis in hands and played bass in bands.

 

I went back to GC last night and looked at the Ibanez models you suggested. They had two available to see. Both were the Ibanez SR300. One in orange and the other in iron pewter. When you mentioned wizard necks you weren't kidding. They were really thin and I found them much more comfortable to handle than any other bass they had, including the more expensive Fender models. They didn't have any Epi models this time to compare. Here's the one I was looking at.

 

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-SR300-Bass-Guitar-104811674-i1392771.gc

Posted

Take this as you will...

 

A long-scale bass will have some hand positioning difficulty even without a hand problem, regardless of the neck shape.

 

I got my wife an Epi SG bass and with even factory strings, almost didn't need any back pressure on the neck at all.

 

Then again, each of us is different and perceives playing technique differently.

 

But to me a short scale is the way to go if that's what you're looking for with the hand difficulty. Another great little short scale inexpensive bass is the Fender Squier Jaguar bass SS.

 

The deal is that with a shorter scale, the geometry of fretting is such that less pressure would be required to depress the strings since it would be closer to perpendicular without twisting and turning the wrist.

 

m

Posted

Hello there and sorry to hear about the trouble with playing. I do agree with milod that a shorter scale would be recommended to alleviate strain in fretting. Also since you wouldn't be reaching as far as on a long scale bass it might require less wrist twisting or tweaking in the first few frets.

 

Another thing to consider is that the shape you hold your hand in while playing on the bass can be quite different than on a guitar. On guitar it makes sense to be on your fingertips a majority of the time, certainly not always-power chords and the like. On bass you can often be more relaxed about it. Just depends on what you're playing.

 

Also agree with prior post regarding Ibanez bass necks. Very slim, very easy to play. There's also the Fender Mustang Bass. Limited pups maybe but a very comfortable bass.

 

Good luck!

Posted

Jazzwalrus...

 

In my experience the Mustang bass isn't even close to what the SS Squier Jag bass is, and not that much price tag difference. The Epi short scale SG-type basses are incredible for the price tag too.

 

m

Posted

Agreed milod.

 

The Mustang Bass is not gonna win any shootouts with the Jag SS or the Epi SG style basses.

And the Mustang costs much more. Looks like that's 3 quick strikes on the Mustang. In my mind its out.

 

jw

Posted

For what it's worth, I have the ss Jag bass, my wife has the SG. <grin>

 

Back in the '70s when we were getting her into playing for a trio with me and a drummer, I got her a Mustang bass. She hated it for some reason. So I got her a Precision. Now? She likes the short scale but on a better bit of equipment.

 

m

Posted

If scale isn't as big of a deal as a thin easy to play neck, take a serious look at Fender Jazz basses. They have a thin width, while keeping a fairly deep profile, and I find them to be very easy on the left hand for long periods of playing. Typical scale length is 34" so it's not overly long, but definitely a bit more than a 30" scale EB-0 which is another bass with a very comfortable neck (to me anyway).

Posted

Funny thing here... my wife is more comfortable with the 34-inch scale than I am. I still have one but it sits in a gig bag.

 

Then again, she has a significantly longer arm reach than I do, although much smaller hands.

 

IMHO it's all part of the "geometry" a given player may have with his/her technique.

 

m

Posted

I have been having a lot of problems with both of my hands in the past 4 years and was found to have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my right hand,Raynaud's Syndrome in both hands and an as of yet undiagnosed neuro-muscular problem with both hands.I've had surgery to correct the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome andhave been taking meds to help keep the blood vessels dilated to combat the Raynaud's.My pain specialist has prescribed an ointment mixture to help combat the pain,fatigue and stiffness that keeps me from playing the guitar so much.Like you I have terrible pain at the base of my thumb in the fleshy part of my palm and I have found that after about a month of massaging this mixture into my hands that both hands have improved considerably,especially that part at the base of my left thumb,it doesn't become nearly as fatigued or painful as it had before.He has now begun "Prolo Therapy" which involves injecting a cocktail of meds into the affected areas,this combined with the ointment really is making my problem a bit more bearable and after only being able to tolerate about 3 minutes of playing 2 months ago,I am now up to about 20 minutes before I have to put down the guitar. The ointment is a mixture of 2% Ketamine and 5% Diclofenac in a Lipoderm base.Voltaren is an over the counter med that contains diclofenac,yet ketamine is a vital ingredient of this formula and apparently the mixture is supposed to be far superior for the treatment of that type of pain.

 

As for a suitable bass guitar for a former guitar player,I have found the Fender Jazz Bass to be an excellent bass for a guitar to bass transition since it has a very slim neck.I have small hands and I find the Jazz Bass to be a perfect guitar for my type of hands.The Jaguar Bass also has a neck that's the same scale as the Jazz Bass.Hofner Beatle Basses have skinny necks as do Hagstrom necks.If you are lucky enough to track down an old Vox Bass-especially the Bill Wyman or Vox Astro IV Bass,you`ll have one of the slimmest and best playing necks in the world of bass playing,plus an incredible tone.Even the older 60s Hagstrom 8-string bass had a na eck that was slimmer than the necks of most 4 string basses of the era.Lots of luck in whatever you decide to do.

Posted

Wayne, if you do decide to stick with 6 strings, then Epiphone's very own EA250 has a thinner (back to front/fingerboard) and narrower (across the nut, and fingerboard) neck than you find on most modern guitars. They come up fairly regularly second-hand, but beware silly asking prices 'because they're vintage'. Auction prices tend to be more realistic.

 

Good luck with the hand healing.

Posted

I have been having a lot of problems with both of my hands in the past 4 years and was found to have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my right hand,Raynaud's Syndrome in both hands and an as of yet undiagnosed neuro-muscular problem with both hands.I've had surgery to correct the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome andhave been taking meds to help keep the blood vessels dilated to combat the Raynaud's.My pain specialist has prescribed an ointment mixture to help combat the pain,fatigue and stiffness that keeps me from playing the guitar so much.Like you I have terrible pain at the base of my thumb in the fleshy part of my palm and I have found that after about a month of massaging this mixture into my hands that both hands have improved considerably,especially that part at the base of my left thumb,it doesn't become nearly as fatigued or painful as it had before.He has now begun "Prolo Therapy" which involves injecting a cocktail of meds into the affected areas,this combined with the ointment really is making my problem a bit more bearable and after only being able to tolerate about 3 minutes of playing 2 months ago,I am now up to about 20 minutes before I have to put down the guitar. The ointment is a mixture of 2% Ketamine and 5% Diclofenac in a Lipoderm base.Voltaren is an over the counter med that contains diclofenac,yet ketamine is a vital ingredient of this formula and apparently the mixture is supposed to be far superior for the treatment of that type of pain.

 

As for a suitable bass guitar for a former guitar player,I have found the Fender Jazz Bass to be an excellent bass for a guitar to bass transition since it has a very slim neck.I have small hands and I find the Jazz Bass to be a perfect guitar for my type of hands.The Jaguar Bass also has a neck that's the same scale as the Jazz Bass.Hofner Beatle Basses have skinny necks as do Hagstrom necks.If you are lucky enough to track down an old Vox Bass-especially the Bill Wyman or Vox Astro IV Bass,you`ll have one of the slimmest and best playing necks in the world of bass playing,plus an incredible tone.Even the older 60s Hagstrom 8-string bass had a na eck that was slimmer than the necks of most 4 string basses of the era.Lots of luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

My hand problem isn't anywhere as bad as yours. That ointment must be awesome. I will check with the pharmacist.

 

Thanks for the info on the bass models. I will look into the ones you pointed out. All the best with your hands.

Posted

Wayne, if you do decide to stick with 6 strings, then Epiphone's very own EA250 has a thinner (back to front/fingerboard) and narrower (across the nut, and fingerboard) neck than you find on most modern guitars. They come up fairly regularly second-hand, but beware silly asking prices 'because they're vintage'. Auction prices tend to be more realistic.

 

Good luck with the hand healing.

 

The EA250 looks awesome. I wonder when Epiphone stopped making bolt on necks, or started for that matter? http://www.grouseguitars.com.au/sold/epiriviera.htm

 

The hand is feeling a bit better, but it will take time with continued playing.

Posted

The EA250 looks awesome. I wonder when Epiphone stopped making bolt on necks, or started for that matter? http://www.grousegui.../epiriviera.htm

 

There were a couple of spec change over the few years they produced them in the early 70's. The body is smaller than a Casino, and some have low output non-standard size pickups and a bigsby type trem with a wooden inlay. They are hollow, and the sound is kind of typical 60's hollow with weak pickups. Not bad, but not modern. The neck has a slightly flimsy feel. Just to let you know, in case you got interested in them.

180164703294-1.jpg

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