My back was really hurting today during a few hours of playing. I even used my leg the second half to support the guitar some. My Ash Strat weighs in at around 8 lbs. I'm wondering if I shoud look into a lighter guitar. To all you who've hurt your back sometime in your life and are paying the price now, does a few pounds really make a difference?

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

What size strap do you use? I personally do not use a strap smaller than 2 inches wide for my heavier guitars.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

A wider strap will help distribute the weight a little better.
I believe there is also a harness type strap for electrics guitars too.

_________________
Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

at least your not playing a les paul

Good point. My strap is 2 inches wide. I'll look into a wide strap. That makes sense. It's much less involved than replacing my no. 1!

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

Yes. I love playing sitting down. It's how I practice. Does anybody remember the guy from Cowboy Junkies? Seems he sat and hung his head all the time.

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

gldf---- Even a light weight Swamp Ash body alone is going to be 4 1/4 to 5 pounds for just a body. Add the neck and tuners, electronics, bridge assembly. Well your 8lbs is not that bad. And yes weight makes a difference, most don't want a lightweight guitar.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Thaks for that CV. I found an old wide leather acoustic strap that I'm gong to try now. I do love my Strat.

Here's the reference to the brother of the sister who's singing... looks like he's playing a Telecaster sitting down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsj7MBVISsw

Enjoy.

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

I used to play my Les Paul with a 1" nylon strap. It was very annoying to wake up the next day with my shoulder hurting. Now I always use my 2" wide leather strap, and my shoulder and back aren't fatigued. Strap width, and what material the strap is made out of both make a huge difference. My Dad, who plays bass, uses a 3" wide strap that's made out of some very squishy soft material. He likes it, although it's overkill for my Strat. I have one like it that I use for my Peavey T-60, which weighs somewhere around 10+ pounds. Whoever in the 70's thought that a heavier guitar equaled better tone and told people that needs to be taken out and shot. lol

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
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I've had two back surgeries on the L4-L5 disc... one for each side of it. Still have trouble with numb legs. Add to that the complete dislocation of my right clavicle from crashing motorcycles and I have issues being on my feet and playing for extended periods.


I practice on a plain 24" stool... the kind you can get at K-Mart. Guitar rests on my leg. The Strap just keeps me from dropping it.

One of these fine days I'm buying a proper seat from the music shop, but I was thinking of making one using the stock seat off my Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic. It's had a Mustang Wide Touring seat on it since 2004. I think the motorcycle seat would be cool.

Fusions?

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I crushed 6 discs in my back from a job related injury. I bought a Fender stool and use a 3 " wide strap. Between the two its a help but I also sit and stand for short periods of time and have to constantly change positions. No fun being hurt so find what works best for you.

i was having shoulder problems. i went to a 2" strap and that helped.
then i discovered the planet waves strap pad. i believe it sells for 12.99.
it helps distribute the weight, and my shoulder is not sore at the end of the night

Indeed, it does! After a while, you will find that back pain radiating down your leg where oftentimes, your foot is cold and/or numb and if that isn't enough, a constant, nagging pain with alternating numbness at your shoulder where the guitar strap sits.

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You dig?

That pain and numbness running down you leg is from a pinched sciatic nerve. I have that in both my legs and sometimes I feel heat from it which means the nerve is being pinched bad at that time. Its like a bad toothache but in your legs. Go to a doctor or therapist that can show you some exercises to do that will seperate the vertabre off the nerve cause thats the only thing that helps me.