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Post by HeavyDuty on Feb 8, 2023 8:27:43 GMT -5
My hands have been taking a beating lately with enough pain that most days I am having a hard time playing. Some of this may be arthritis, but there’s a chance it could be carpal tunnel at least in part. The doc isn’t sure yet.
I was moving instruments around last week and picked up a bass I purchased a few years ago and haven’t played much, an Ibanez headless fanned fret five. Lo and behold, I hurt significantly less when I play it, and can fret easier and better.
If you have hand pain, go check out a fanned fret instrument. If nothing else it may be a solution for days the pain is particularly bad.
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Post by Taildragger on Feb 10, 2023 11:34:17 GMT -5
Have never tried one. I switched from guitar to bass 10 years ago specifically because it's less painful on my arthritic hands. I think it was all the barre chording that was causing the problem. I have mutant thumb joints which makes "correct", fretting hand positioning/ergonomics very difficult. I think that (along with just plain old age) took its toll over time. Most comfortable bass specs for me: •30" scale length •1.5" nut width •17mm string spacing at the nut •no flatter than 12" fret board radius •relatively thick (front-to-back) neck profile (narrow is good, thin is not)
If I ever run across a fan fret bass, I'll give it a go: thanks for the suggestion.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Feb 16, 2023 10:57:09 GMT -5
Interesting... I've played them a few times and never found them ergonomically much different. That said, I think anything that encourages better arm position will pay off, so there is probably something to it. Six string bass and classical guitar both helped me with hand/wrist pain a lot, because the chonky necks forced me to correct bad habits.
I wish this is something we taught kids as they started the instrument. This stuff is REALLY hard to correct later in life.
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Post by HeavyDuty on May 4, 2023 8:46:55 GMT -5
It appears a lot of my hand pain is actually caused by neck issues, I have surgery next month to stabilize that and hopefully prevent the nerve compression. After that we will be able to tell if any of the pain is “real” hand pain.
The fanned fret experiment is going well enough that I sold off some stuff and ordered a second - a Strandberg Boden Prog 5. It’s even lighter than the Ibanez and has an unusual neck profile that was very comfortable when I tried it a few years ago.
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Post by LTB on May 4, 2023 23:07:01 GMT -5
Interesting... I've played them a few times and never found them ergonomically much different. That said, I think anything that encourages better arm position will pay off, so there is probably something to it. Six string bass and classical guitar both helped me with hand/wrist pain a lot, because the chonky necks forced me to correct bad habits. I wish this is something we taught kids as they started the instrument. This stuff is REALLY hard to correct later in life. Same here. A lot of bad habits form the mid sixties. I have and am having to overcome. |
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Post by HeavyDuty on May 11, 2023 18:54:28 GMT -5
Well, the Strandberg is going back - the neck is great until I play for awhile, then it hurts more than others. Oh, well.
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Post by HeavyDuty on May 26, 2023 21:10:24 GMT -5
Trying a different approach - a short scale Ibanez fanned fret headless.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Jun 1, 2023 17:25:53 GMT -5
I may have found the golden ticket - the new Ibanez showed up. A feathery 7 pounds even, short scale and fantastic balance.
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woody
Wholenote
Posts: 245
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Post by woody on Jun 6, 2023 12:19:14 GMT -5
Which Ibanez model? EBH1000? Is it still working for you?
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Post by HeavyDuty on Jun 6, 2023 14:02:26 GMT -5
Which Ibanez model? EBH1000? Is it still working for you? This is a EHB1005SMS, my first one that I still have is a standard multiscale EHB1505MS. Yes, so far - I’m hospitalized right now but hope to get back to it in a few weeks. I’m impressed. |
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woody
Wholenote
Posts: 245
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Post by woody on Jun 6, 2023 16:30:05 GMT -5
Right. You play 5 strings. Sorry to hear you're in the hospital. Hope it's not too serious and your back at it again soon. Cheers!
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Post by HeavyDuty on Jun 8, 2023 8:53:34 GMT -5
Getting out today - cervical fusion. Fun fun! Thanks…
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Post by morrow on Jun 9, 2023 11:28:10 GMT -5
I hope things will improve.
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Post by Taildragger on Jun 9, 2023 19:28:09 GMT -5
A quick recovery to ya!
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Post by HeavyDuty on Jun 10, 2023 12:19:30 GMT -5
Thanks!
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