Gibson L-5 weight unbalance leading to back pain.

[Gustavo Eiriz]

Hi people, its been a while and i havent been playing that much my 2014 L-5 Wesmo cause i found that i gives my some back pain and that leads to headaches after playing it.
The newer ones (which sounds amazing amplified) are probably very heavy. I play the guitar in a sitting position with the guitar resting on my right leg. I've found that the guitar balance toward the box and i have to compensate it with my arms and that leads to tension. Do i make myself clear, is like the weight is too much leaning toward the bridge of the guitar and it is too light towards the neck.
Anyone had this problem and solved it? or should i play in classical position?
Thanks.to everyone in this forum from which i learned lots/

[Bluedawg]

I prefer playing in a classical position. I studied some classical guitar for a few years and have grown to prefer that position.

I use a strap with a loop around the headstock so that I don't have to drill a hole for a strap button on the heel of the neck.

Worth a try if your current way is causing you pain.

[GuyBoden]

Or, try the Nigel Price position with a strap and right knee holding the guitar's weight.

See pic below.


Edit: added video of Nigel Price's guitar position.

[Dennis D]

Hi people, its been a while and i havent been playing that much my 2014 L-5 Wesmo cause i found that i gives my some back pain and that leads to headaches after playing it.
The newer ones (which sounds amazing amplified) are probably very heavy. I play the guitar in a sitting position with the guitar resting on my right leg. I've found that the guitar balance toward the box and i have to compensate it with my arms and that leads to tension. Do i make myself clear, is like the weight is too much leaning toward the bridge of the guitar and it is too light towards the neck.
Anyone had this problem and solved it? or should i play in classical position?
Thanks.to everyone in this forum from which i learned lots/

I can sympathize, and had the same experiences w/ my WesMo, but there definitely are things to try before changing to playing in a classical position, or worse yet, replacing it completely :
1. Use a strap. There are plenty of reasons to be using one anyway, so try that. And remember along with trying to keep the guitar in the same position all the time,
( important ), you'll also be reducing * some* of the load once the strap is adjusted correctly. The guitar doesn't have to weigh ' zero' when it's set correctly, it only needs to get ' lightened up' a little.
2. Try a footrest. And you really don't have to buy one - at first, just try some books stacked up to see if it helps. And yes, you'll still be using the strap with it !
3. This may be time to consider your chair, and any previous issues you may have had with it, maybe even a cushion - seat or back. Hopefully you won't have to get to this step in the process.

Lots of good luck and hope this helps.

Dennis

[Sleeko]

I use a foot stool under my right foot as opposed to the classical position under the left for both guitar and electric bass when seated. No strap. With the help of gravity, this puts the instrument right where I’m comfortable with it.
I picked up this style of armless chair for not much money on Overstock which is quite swoopy and help hold my position.
Best of luck!

[RJVB]

playing in a classical position, or worse yet

Erm?

The only drawback with playing most steel-string guitars in classical position is the extra extension of the left arm due to the 14th fret neck join. For the rest it should be healthier (provided you put a support under the guitar rather than under your left foot) and make complicated chords easier for the fretting hand (I for one can only grab very basic shapes in "folk" position).

I've posted this before:

Michael used that position even with 18" instruments. Personally I'd love to use a similar position that should allow for a much more centred orientation of the spine and both shoulders/arms. Doing this with an instrument that's headstock light should be probably easier.

NB: balancing that kind of instrument is a lot less invasive than balancing a headstock heavy guitar ... just tack on some weight?!

[Rob MacKillop]

Or, try the Nigel Price position with a strap and right knee holding the guitar's weight.

See pic below.


Edit: added video of Nigel Price's guitar position.

Thanks for introducing me to Nigel Price and his posture. I’m going to try that when I get home, as a way round my medical condition. I just approximated it in my hospital room, but without a strap. One thing I noticed straight away is the (unplugged) guitar sounded better, rounder, warmer, and louder. Worth exploring.

[RJVB]

I picked up this style of armless chair for not much money on Overstock which is quite swoopy and help hold my position.

Wow, that goes to show how different everyone is! You must be the exception to the rule that a musician's chair should have a slightly forward tilted seat (good and thus quite pricey orchestra chairs have a mechanism to dial in that tilt).

[RJVB]

One thing I noticed straight away is the (unplugged) guitar sounded better, rounder, warmer, and louder. Worth exploring.

That is probably purely an effect on the sound-to-the-player. I have the same impression when I try Chapdelaine's position or simply transfer my guitar with its DeOro support to my right leg.

[Sleeko]

Yes, I had a chair that had the tilt forward position when I played Cello back in the day. I much prefer the more layed back position when playing guitar and electric bass.

[Jimmy Mack]

I have sciatica. When not sitting properly, I suffer for it, sometimes the next day. I play classical guitar, and electric guitar styles - often standing too.

A lot of good advice in the above posts. I use footrests, sometimes with both feet! I use straps too. But I do fuss about the weight and balance of my electrics, preferring middle weights over light weights or too heavy weights. How the guitar is positioned AFFECTS my abilities to play at my best. So.....

Try any number of positions or methods until you find the right one, but don't let it subtract from your playing efficiency.

Best wishes.

[2bornot2bop]

I use a foot stool under my right foot as opposed to the classical position under the left for both guitar and electric bass when seated. No strap. With the help of gravity, this puts the instrument right where I’m comfortable with it.
I picked up this style of armless chair for not much money on Overstock which is quite swoopy and help hold my position.
Best of luck!

That bass!

[Gustavo Eiriz]

Thanks everyone!!! very good advices indeed.

[ccroft]

Thanks for introducing me to Nigel Price and his posture. I’m going to try that when I get home, as a way round my medical condition. I just approximated it in my hospital room, but without a strap. One thing I noticed straight away is the (unplugged) guitar sounded better, rounder, warmer, and louder. Worth exploring.

Nice to hear you have a stringed thing in your hands again Rob!

As for posture/tone check this out right around 16:35:

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, another example of the same hold. I’ll give it a good try when I get home. Annoyingly, my L5 WesTone 1980 Matsumoto copy does not have a strap button on the heel. Once I get that sorted, I’ll give this Price/Gould hold a workout.

[deacon Mark]

I have a Super 400ces and I find it to be incredibly comfortable with a strap or on my leg either way. I have some low back issues that cause me stiffness if certain positions for a long time, but I can move and it is fine. Maybe your pain is higher up in the middle between shoulder blades? My back problem is solid body guitars because I am used to leaning on the guitars as I play. You don't do that with a Les Paul or Tele so I find them harder on my body to take.

[Bluedawg]

Yes, another example of the same hold. I’ll give it a good try when I get home. Annoyingly, my L5 WesTone 1980 Matsumoto copy does not have a strap button on the heel. Once I get that sorted, I’ll give this Price/Gould hold a workout.

Have you tried a quick release system that loops around your headstock?



Daddario DGS15 Quick Release System – Thomann United Kingdom

I use these for my guitars that don't have strap buttons on the neck heel, and I don't want to have any holes drilled in them.