steel guitar players with bad backs

Terry Kinnear · From: Erie ,Pennsylvania

how many steel guitar players,have bad backs ?most of the steel players i know ,have some sort of back problem.must be from them, session 400 amps [hernia 400]. just wondering. TK
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Terry Kinnear [ steel wondering]

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

Terry,,

I have a bad back, and a Sessions 400! However the amps and steel guitars did not cause it, but I'm sure they have contributed to it! Laughing

Larry
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Bill Duve · From: Limestone .New York, USA

Everyone I know has a bad back period, Steel player or not Rolling Eyes

Mickey Adams · From: Bandera Texas

in 2001 had my first discectomy at L5, I was fine for 5 years. 2 years ago I had to have another one..This time a laminectomy...So far im OK. Im keeping the fingers crossed...The next one will have to be a fusion, and that will be the end of my flying career. Lifting heavy band equipment on the road for so many years was definately the culprit.
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Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

This is why I bought the lightest steel on the market (The MSA Millennium) last year, I was not unhappy with my older steels, but when I picked up a Milly and saw how little they weigh, I decided I wanted one.
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Casey Lowmiller · From: Kansas

I thought it was the Session 500 that is called the "Hernia 500". I picked up a 400 the other day & I'm pretty sure it was lighter than my 500.

Casey
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Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Yes, indeed. Last year I suddenly developed really bad neck, shoulder, back and arm pain. Went to several chiropractors, acupuncture, etc. and finally got an MRI and found out I have several herniated cervical discs in my neck! I've had physical therapy this year and it's getting better gradually, but has not been fun lugging a D-10 around, that's for sure. Maybe it's time for me to consider a U-12?!

Danny Letz · From: Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540

I blew out the disc between L4 & L5 10 years ago. A 2 Gallon jug of water is about my lift limit. I have to have many good friends to be able to play. Steel guitar is good therapy. You're so busy playing and enjoying it, you don't think about your back. My good friend and drummer has a saying each time he picks up my amp. "Peavy Amps, a free anvil in the bottom of each one".

KENNY KRUPNICK · From: Columbus, Ohio

L4,and L5 for me 5 years ago. Man that was something.
Had surgery,took care of the problem, but my back isn't the same,nor will it be.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Same here ,bad,bad,bad, back,I have a 35 year old MSA-D-10 classic,tried an S-10,miss the C-6TH so much had to go back to the D-10,I had the case cut down,the guitar body goes in one everything else in another,got a lightweight folding handtruck ,still heavy,but MUCH better,Don't you know.
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Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

By the way lugging a steel around did'nt hurt my back.It was lugging around a damn B-3 and Leslie back in the 60's.don't you know.
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Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

Hi Terry,

Bad backs can cause alot of problems for anyone. There are many people with back problems and it can be caused from numerous things. Mine started when I was in a bad car wreck on the way to do a recording session 1985. Then I re-injured my back after that a couple of times lifting heavy objects. I have had ups and downs ever since.

Recently, I have been talking with Don Fritsche owner the BMI (Zane Beck Instruments). Well, I play a custom BMI 14 stringer and with currently 13 pedals on it. It weighs 81 lbs. in my Fred Justice custom steel case. Don and I talked about the possiblities of going to a keyless 12 stringer, fewer pedals and also he suggested split cases for the steel. The more I think about it the keyless 12 will most likely be the weigh/way for this steel picker. Winking

I've been told that Don also custom built a single BMI 12 stringer for Cowboy Eddie Long (Cowboy was formerly with the Hank Jr. band and others) and that his new steel only weighs about 29 lbs. That sounds pretty good to me.

I hope this helps!

Terry Wood

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

I have a slight spinal curvature due to my left leg being 3/4 inch shorter than my right(hang glider -shattered tibia - 1974). I'm pretty active and get a lot of exercise so there's no real back issues - yet.I do love my keyless U-12 Excel tho. It's 10 pounds lighter than my keyless U-12 Sierra Session and that helps a lot. Also all my amps have wheels so lifting them in and out of my car is all I really have to do. Since the beginning of this year I have been having pains in my right shoulder that could be arthritus but I'm trying to work that out with specific exercises.So far no luck.Getting old sucks.

Mike Ester · From: New Braunfels, Texas, USA

I knew there was a good reason I replaced my old Blanton D10 (86-pound boat anchor), with a Carter S12U. Winking

Dale Dorsey · From: Granger, Indiana, USA

Yep, me too......and I don't envy anyone with a bad back playing one of these things. Mine kills me for days after sitting at the steel for hours on end with lower back pain. I think it's the twin/jbl's I carried years ago, but who knows what or why? It just is...BUT brother.....it's still worth the pain!!!
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Damien Odell · From: Springwood, New South Wales, Australia

Count me in for having a bad back. Every gig I sit there between songs twisting trying to get some relief. I have been trying to find a stool with a back on it, but can't get hold of one in Australia. It's a worry because Im' 31 and I wonder how my back is going to feel in twenty years time.
Of course it doesn't help that for gigs I am using a Peavey Deuce which weighs about 50 tonnes.....plenty of head room though.
Damien

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

count me in ....L1 L5 & L7
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Guitars that i have owned in order are :
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Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

yep! hit the gym and keep your back strong..
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Rittenberry SD10 , Derby D-10, Quilter TT12, Peavey Session 400 w/ JBL, NV112, Fender Blues Jr. , 1974 Dobro 60N squareneck, Rickenbacher NS lapsteel, 1973 Telecaster Thinline, 1979 blonde/black Frankenstrat
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Dave Grothusen · From: Scott City, Ks

Back in the 90's I was playing three to four nights a week and I had to go the the chriopractor, normally once a week. I no longer am playing and I have not been to the doctor for two years. Moving that stuff around was not a healthy thing for me.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Bad back??? yeah, me too.. I was out of work for 2 years and had to get out of the auto repair biz... I am back to work at a different job for the past 16 months but am still on workers comp. I am @ 70% disablity.
Its called permanent partial or something.

I was told by my doctor I need surgery, but I won't do it until I am so crippled I can't function... I live with it daily, but am doing ok the past year or so. and I regularly thank the Lord for the fairly functional status I currently enjoy.
I am aware as are most of you others with really bad backs, that it can "blow" at any time leaving you unable to move, unable to do ANYTHING really, and in intense crippling pain.

I pray a lot....

I wouldn't wish a bad back on anyone... Its like a curse.

Only those that have been through it can truly understand how miserable your life can be with really bad back pain... For a while I really didn't care if I lived or died.. I pray I remain stable, and the same for all you guys that can go down at any time.... Like you all , I live with it, and try to remain upbeat, but you just never know....... and yes, steel is good therapy.. no matter how intense my pain, I played my steel... bob

Scott Howard · From: Georgetown, TN, USA

I am another ex auto mechanic who had to give it up. I worked building transmission on police cars for over 15 years and now I pinch nerves on a regular basis due to a form of arthritis that causes calcium deposits around the spine. I have been woking at a auto parts chain for the last 8 years except for a couple of times when I tried to work on cars. I have finnaly realized it is not possible for me to bend over a fender on a regular basis. I have a large garage and 3 lifts that the neighbor next door uses more than I do .In July I bent over with a rake and ended up out of work for over a week and several days before I could walk .I finally finished my last project ( 29 Model A with a big block Chevy )and only piddle in the garage now.

I have a whole rig I leave at church and another at home. The only thing I haul is me. If I go somewhere and play someone else has to load it up.
My problem is I can't move enough to get over 5 pedals without pain. this makes a double neck or a universal useless for me. I bought a Williams crossover and it was great. But after another bad spell with the back I sold it. Mistake ,but I can't afford another one right now unless I borrowing for it.

Hook Moore · From: South Charleston,West Virginia

Yep, I have had a spinal cord stimulator implant for 3 years now. I agree with Mike, my Millennium makes life and gigs a lot easier.
Hook
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Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

Anyone ever try "Slipery Elm Bark" Herbal Remedy ????
I have been reading a book that says it works extremely well.
I need to try it myself.

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

At my age, I realized long ago that I had to play lightweight guitars, MSA Millenium ,Carter , Excel, GFI, Williams, all 30 to 32 LBs, mostly U12's No double bodies.That worked for quite a while.
I have a Crate amp that weighs 30lbs and my Sho-Bud Pro 1 S10 with 6 pedals and 5 knee levers is working fine for me and weighs 34 lbs out of the case, which I never use. I take it out all setup in my Van.....al
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Skip Cole · From: North Mississippi

Yep, class of '89, 2 surgeries a month apart, and many weeks of phys therapy several times thereafter. Siatic pain flares up now and then , but praise God i'm doing better than a lot of folks with back problems. Have to be real careful how i move around. Shocked

Skip

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