Guitar straps for injured backs

[NewYorkDave]

I once saw (in one of those "American Musical Friend" catalogs) a special type of guitar strap--a harness, really--that distributes the weight of the guitar across the back rather than concentrating it on the shoulder area. But it's no longer offered in the catalogs, and I don't see it online. If you know what I'm talking about and you have an idea where I can buy one, please let me know.

[CabreeToe]

This isn't quite what you had described but I think that its in the right direction. Distributes weight around the waist.


http://www.bassbrace.com/

[Electricide]

does that mean he has to look like this

[CabreeToe]

Could work as a cummerbund. Exellent choice for a waiter/house musician

[NewYorkDave]

Well, it might look stupid, but it beats not being able to play at all. The condition of my back makes it hard for me to play for more than a few minutes at a time--well, at least standing up. For someone who used to gig every week, it's quite a downer.

[fear of texas]

maybe you could just put your pussy away for a few minutes and play the damned thing?

no pain no gain!

[I'm Painting Again]

thats real smart..then he can fuck up his back even more..

I'm in the same boat I cant use a strap because of my shoulder..luck would have it that in my live band I don't play a guitar..

[Flight Feathers]

you have many options

you can look like this guy:


http://www.slider-straps.com/STR/guitar.html


or this guy:

http://www.idare2.com/instructions.html


or this site (no funny looking dudes on this site):
http://pages.infinit.net/ystrap/1234/an ... eV2-a.html

ayan

[I'm Painting Again]

haha the guy in the white looks funny!

[awolski]

I don't have any suggestions for straps, but I did want to say I remember seeing Steve Albini wearing one of those "cummerbund" type guitar straps in a Big Black video once. He did look sort of geeky, but it's Albini so it can't be all that bad, right?

[supafuzz]

hey dave
for my les paul I have a "COMFORT STRAPP"
IT'S HEAVILY PADDED AND SPRINGY AT THE SAME TIME
makes the les paul much more managable

hope this helps

otherwise get a chair and sit

[JaredEll]

There are(were?) these guitar straps the Grateful Dead endorsed for a while called Wand Guitar straps. I think they were inflated with air or something. At the very least they were big and looked like they distributed pressure over more of the back.

[horacesqueeze]

Man! I was just gonna post a question about this! I am still recovering from a back injury and my bass strap is just killing me. Sitiing really isnt an option for me as it totally screws up my technique. I have a padded strap like the ones previously described but it still pulls me in one direction. For that reason alone, I think the slider is for me. Thanks for the all the info.

[JES]

Hey Guys,

I had back trouble a couple years ago (it comes back once in awhile but only as soreness -- not really as bad as before). Here's what I did. It's a little GASsy but I haven't looked at another axe or rig since.

Got rid of my heavy-as-shit Peavey combo and replaced it with two Flite cabinets and an Eden WT-400. Very light. Sounds like a superclean fusion rig but I run a fulltone bassdrive in front and it can get SVT-like enough live that nobody gives a shit. And it's all lightweight stuff. Much easier to haul, especially when you're tired and don't want to drag a bunch of shit home after a gig. Even better would be a sansamp bassdrive straight into the PA -- no amp at all!

Got rid of heavy-as-shit 5-string bass for not-all-that-light but very well balanced 4-string bass. The string count and brand doesn't matter, but some instruments are well-balanced and others aren't. You NEED a well-balanced instrument if you've got back trouble. It makes all the difference in the world. If lightness is your thing, there's always Reverend Basses if you like 'em.

Finally, the strap. I checked out the comfort strap and all that fancy stuff and never found one that was totally comfortable. So for christmas one year the spouse (then girlfriend) took me to the local custom leather shop. The guy took one of my old leather straps that I liked, and made three more modelled on it but much WIDER in the shoulder. Plus I got custom colors. Between that and the balanced bass it makes a WORLD of difference.

No back problems from playing since then. And it's more or less permanently satisfied my GAS on the bass rig. I'm sure I'll add and subtract, but I don't think I'll ever use another cabinet, and I love my bass now too.

Best,
--JES

[NewYorkDave]

maybe you could just put your pussy away for a few minutes and play the damned thing?

OK, tough guy... someday, when you're moving an amp or whatever and you hear that "pop" in your back, and you find yourself lying on the floor, unable to move, I want you to remember that wisecrack.

Thanks to everyone else for the more or less helpful replies.