Ever pick up a guitar that just feels right and wonder why they are not more popular. Bought a 1981 G&L F-100 last week after I picked it up and played it. It not only felt right but what a sound from the MFD pickups. I know there are other guitarists on this forum and wondering if others have found guitars outside the usual suspects that are worth looking for.
"My 2014 Melody Maker Les Paul is pretty unique piece. "
why do you say that? I know of two yellow MM within an hour of me for sale right now. They arent AS common as a Studio etc, but theres a ton of them out there. They still make them.
I do like unusual guitars and have a few oddities like this BST 5000. Will post a picture of the G&L later, but that bass looks nice. Almost bought an SG styled MM years ago for $150 (sure wish I had). A few others I would like to include in the collection are the Gibson RD Artist, Gibson L6S, and the Dan Armstrong plexi.
So this may be as good a thread as any to ask this -
one of my bass players is having nerve issues in his left arm/hand. As you can imagine, that causes problems when trying to play a 5 string.
Docs say it is brachial plexus neuropathy - basically somewhere in his shoulder, between neck and arm (the brachial plexus), the bundle of nerves that goes down his arm has an open circuit. Signals - and the neurologist traced this with needles and sensors - goes from neck to shoulder, and there's continuity from shoulder to fingers...but not from neck to fingers.
Anyway.
Can anyone recommend a) a good, aggressive neurosurgeon who will dig beyond the apparently-inconclusive MRI's and find the problem? or b) a good strap for his 5 string that takes pressure off "that" spot on his shoulder?
I told him to just start playing his stand-up bass, and we'll toss more Setzer / Stray Cats numbers into the set lists!
Or I guess c) Michael - ever build a lightweight 5 string bass that could help eliminate shoulder pressure?
I haven't sampled many acoustic bass guitars (ABGs), but the one I own, a Kramer Ferrington, is practically as heavy as a solid body electric.
A simpler solution might be to have him sit on a stool and rest the bass on his leg to play. It kind of puts a damper on wild stage antics, but then again, a sitting musician looks way more serious.
I remember seeing Kansas in concert at the Fox theater in the 70's and one of the guitarists Rich Williams had an acoustic mounted on a stand.In a couple of songs while playing his Les Paul he would walk up behind the acoustic,make the Les Paul disappear and play the passage,then walk away.I've always wanted one of those stands.
As much as I love music, almost all kinds, I wish I had some developed talent of some sort to play... always wanted to become a jazz drummer. Probably the reason my GF says she can't dance with me, I keep weird time as I dance... "but I'm a GOOD dancer!"
I'd try different straps first since it's cheaper and easier.
I'd just search the big online retailers for something as wide as possible and padded as possible. Distributing the weight over a larger area is idea obviously.
Been there done that. He's tried a number of straps. (he's a little whiny) but none of them worked right. Some were downright medieval; some resembled the brassiere's we all argued with in high school. I've tried putting pads under the strap. Towels folded to about 2" thick and 6" across. nada.
He just needs to sit. Or dig out the stand-up.
Or find a doctor who's aggressive enough to actually DIG, until they find what's wrong and make repairs.
It's a shame. He's a hell of a musician, and not all that old. Most importantly...he's not a dick. Easy (and fun) to work with.
I had an Aria Pro II and i loved it. The neck was narrow and suited my small hands better then any Fender Jazz or any other bass. I ended up trading it for an acoustic guitar and have always missed it. I bought that thing in Cambridge England for £100. Best money I ever spent on an instrument.