For the last few days I've been practicing standing up with my strap. When I use the strap I get shoulder pain with in a half an hour of playing. Today, I have uncomfortable neck and shoulder pain from playing and I was wondering if I have a bad strap, a heavy guitar, or both. Should I try a new strap? I have a Fender MIM Stratocaster.

A wider strap will disperse the weight a little better, but it will take a little time for your muscles to get built up, to where you won't feel it near so quickly..
Good luck

Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

Another strap thread? Oh, it's about guitar straps this time...

Anyways, back to being serious. What strap are you using now? A nylon strap or a narrow strap will hurt more than one that is wiper and made out of a better material like leather or one that has nice squishy stuff in it. I used to get some shoulder pain after long gigs, but I haven't been since I switched to a wide leather strap and Strat's are fairly light. MIM's are kind of on the heavy side though, I play one.

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Well the strat really isn’t heavy. You may need to develop those mussels a bit by playing that way more….Is your current strap narrow, or nylon webbing with no padding. I would try a wider strap with more padding may help you out a bit. Soft leather or perhaps get one of those wool fuzzy add on pads you can get at walmart that is used for you vehicle seat belt.. May help by not putting so much pressure on the nerves and what not.. My shoulder gets that way every now and then after I have my 10lbs Les Paul slung for a couple of hours…..

Cheers
Bill

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(80’s Hair Metal) = A snapshot in time before Grunge ruined Rock & Roll forever!!!!

I love that pain I get after a long show, but I wear my guitars low, and that doesn't help either.

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