#16
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Barry Youtube! My SoundCloud page Avalon L-320C, Guild D-120, Martin D-16GT, McIlroy A20, Pellerin SJ CW Cordobas - C5, Fusion 12 Orchestra, C12, Stage Traditional Alvarez AP66SB, Seagull Folk Aria {Johann Logy}: Last edited by TBman; 10-02-2022 at 10:43 AM. |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
I started using an Emerald X20 carbon fiber guitar that has arm bevels and overall very ergonomic shape. It's pretty unbelievable how much more comfortable this guitar is to play versus my wood dreads. Defiantly easier on my right arm and shoulder.
|
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Many overweight men have asked me for help with shoulder pain when playing guitar. Often what's needed is 3-6 months strengthening the rhomboids, deltoids, and neck extensors. OTC meds are a slow train to liver failure. Good luck.
|
#19
|
|||
|
|||
As someone has mentioned, try sitting in the classical sitting position. I do range of motion exercises to maintain my flexibility. Maybe try the Larrivee SD-40 dreadnought. It only has a 15-inch lower bout and with the 12-fret body connection, I find it a very comfortable dreadnought.
|
#20
|
|||
|
|||
I totally agree with the Emerald X20 being a very comfortable guitar! A nice plus is an overall full tone with loudness when needed and good projection.
__________________
Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
Arthritis And The Lower Bout
I favor large body Jumboes (and Jumbo related body shapes), many of which have a 5" depth in the lower bout and maybe a slight depth taper toward the fretboard. And with a slightly under to a slightly over 17" lower bout. As a practicing septuagenarian, I also have occasional bouts with arthritis and other hand issues. But for the most part, playing a Jumbo is not that difficult, probably because Jumboes sit quite low on my lap due to the exaggerated narrow waist on them. So even with a big lower bout, there is no issue in reaching the guitar strings, which sit about 4" above my leg. I am of average (5'8+" and shrinking) height, and favor playing guitar on the left leg about 2/3 of the time. I also fingerpick all my instrunents using my nails as picks, and string my twelve string guitars with Elixir 12 String Lights (.010 - .047) and my six string guitars mostly with Elixir PB HD Lights (.013 - .053). Being naturally well-balanced instruments, I get a remarkablly good bass response with the larger bouts, and an aural bump to the six string guitars with the Medium gauge treble strings. In addition to my signature, I also have a sunburst Sigma J-200 Jumbo with an exceptional (for me) slightly fatter neck and a Guild 2512 Jumbo 12 string which has a great sound, especially for its budget cost. Yep, more Jumboes. While I play favorites at times, I do play all of the instruments in my 'Heard' and enjoy the variety of the sounds. Notes: Taylor replaced their Jumboes with the Grand Orchestra Model, which has a slightly wider waist. Not in any marketing, but from their house organ "Wood & Steel" magazine, the main reason was to make their Jumboes sound even louder. Mission accomplished. And their Grand Concerts are effectively small Jumboes with a 15" wide lower bout and a great bass response, size not-withstanding. Don .
__________________
*The Heard: 85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo 99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo 06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo 14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra 05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert 09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo 16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC 16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO 21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo 22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo Last edited by donlyn; 10-02-2022 at 06:13 PM. |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks all! Really enjoying reading this multi-pronged approach to mitigating shoulder pain. Admittedly I was looking for an easy answer (ie, “buy such and such guitar”), but I guess I knew all along there’s hardly ever one to be had.
Other than white flour, my diet is already “anti-inflammatory.” So, I’ve got that going for me. My water intake could definitely stand a boost. And, I’ve recently started seeing an accupuncturist for another issue, so she can no doubt give me some treatment for arthritis. “Strap up, stand up” is a GREAT reminder. It obviously changes the geometry and I can already feel the difference. And I’ll look into the other suggestions regarding positioning. One area I’ve never given a second thought is the width of the waist. So, thanks to all who mentioned it. My Guild dread is 11” there, as is probably my D28. However, my archtop - which also has a 16” lower bout - is only 9.5”. Let’s see what happens when I sit down and play that. Encouraging to think I could even potentially play a jumbo if it sits just right on my knee. If not a jumbo, a smaller guitar with a smaller waist is going to be a priority. One needs a sit-down guitar after all! Great replies. Really appreciate them. |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
As far as guitars go, you'd really need to try out several brands and models to feel what's best for you as some brands are thinner in depth but wider in the lower bout. Regards, Ken
__________________
Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
Arthritis And The Lower Bout...
I am sympathetic to the complaints about shoulder pain. For me, both my shoulders hurt so much from arthritis that there is no way I can play any size guitar without pain these days. So for me, I just try my best to ignore the discomfort and play whatever sounds good, big or little. They all hurt. My choice is to have my shoulder hurt or play nothing at all. And even if I play nothing, my shoulders hurt anyway. It's just the price of getting old, at least in my case. Barry's comment about the strap is a good one. A strap does help a little. - Glenn
__________________
My You Tube Channel |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
It may have something to do with the fact that I now appear to be 11 months pregnant since COVID hit, but grasping at straws ... FWIW: Are you doing side raises, front raises or curls?
__________________
I wish I was nearly as good as my guitars are: 1977 Alvarez Yairi DY 57 / 2002 Martin DC-1E/ 2010 The Loar LH-700-VS/ 2012 Taylor Mini GS / 2015 Taylor 150e / 2015 Taylor 324ce SEB / 2018 Taylor 214e DLX / 2020 Taylor AD12e / 2021 Gibson J-185ce / 2022 Martin 000-15M ... and some electrics and such. |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
As Soma said, check out a ‘Manzer wedge’ guitar. This combined with an arm bevel make a large guitar much more comfortable to play, especially regarding the right shoulder.
A large dread- or jumbo- size guitar will feel like an OM, but louder!
__________________
Doerr, Skytop, Henderson, Kinnaird, Edwinson, Ryan, SCGC, Martin, others. https://youtu.be/_l6ipf7laSU |