BETTSLPtone

Just an Update........... Its been exactly 4 months since my surgery. Rehab was painful but I followed it to the letter. Unfortunately I did have a little issue with the Pain Meds. Coming off them made me sick as a dog. I am just now starting to feel like my old self again. I gained about 25 pounds though and need to get at that. Drums wise I started playing again and boy am I Rusty! Moved the drums closer, and got rid of 2 Toms to make it easier on the old Body. Its now a Six piece. Toms are lower also and have less angle. My ride cymbol is directly over the Bass drum. Guitar wise I bought a billy Bo hollowed out Gretch. Not the tone I'm after , but its around 5.5 pounds! Its been a long road but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the Tunnel!

LOL. I know I have Ice on my shoulder as we speak after doing my Homework stretches the Physical Therapist gave me. The silver lining is , she is a J Lo Clone and she stretches my bad shoulder 3x a week! (got to look for the positives)

Wow cool post Knight. You have given me alot to think about and work on once I get the green light to play again. For now Typing this is almost painful. )

1001gear and knightvalin, thanks for sharing that. Gives me a good place to start some research. All great points so far. For the first time in my life I need to set limits on what I do from here on in. Moderation , moderation, moderation. Too bad I needed to learn the hard way.

i took a long break from drumming in my twenties, and when i came back, my wrists hurt like a bitch. i had mainly been a metal drummer, and thought hitting hard = good drumming. all of that shock transfer told my wrists otherwise. i quickly remembered my "old" instructor having to go thru carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists, and extensive therapy. therapy is the key, along with changing your drumming habits! i dropped my heavy 2b sticks and now play 5a's. my kit is totally reachable, without much movement (thinking more about torso movement,) and when i want volume, i let the stick drop down for a rimshot instead of using my whole arm drive it into the drum. lower and flatter cymbals, too. just research (and ask here,) how to change your playing to be more effective and safe. drumming after injury? for sure. Those are some excellent Tips. I think thats how I did it myself. Long break switching to guitar , less playing , and then I got into it again. I'm going to redo my set up like you described for sure. keep everything down more and reachable. Great points.

The only problems I'v had with regards to playing are a bad back from lifting B3s and heavy PA gear all those years...much less Leslies and SVT cabs. I'm going thru something right now though but not due to playing. Be careful turning screw drivers manually...I normally do a pilot hole before driving any wood screw into 2x4s. This time I said...naaaa...just drive it in there. Well an 2" screw going into solid wood really wrenched my forearm and bicep. Now it hurts when I play traditional grip stuff. This is going on 5 weeks and I can hold stuff with my right hand, but cannot curl more than about 10lbs without it throbbing... I too used to break a ton of sticks and cymbals...but only a few heads...never noticed anything more than old age creaks and groans from my body... OK, I don't want to alarm you, but you really should get that checked out. Thats exactly the pain I was in. I always had a moderate amount of shoulder pain , but when my right biciep started throbbing I went to the DR. Turns out the Labrum , the Top part of the Biceip that connects to the shoulder Tore. The had to put a bolt in my shoulder to reattach it , through my armpit. Not fun. get it checked and don't let it go like I did. Hopefully yours is just a pull.

I think patience and faith is crucial. But face it, drumming is nothing like sipping tea. There's no getting around the physical part. Pro jocks address the extreme requirements with scientific training. Musicians should do likewise. Can I ask of an example of scientfic training? I really want to take better care of myself after I heal.

Get an SG. Keep the humbuckers and they're usually lighter than most alder or ash bolt on bodied guitars like strats. Good Call! I have an Historic 61 reissue on the way. I pulled the trigger last night after starting this thread. 7 pounds Total down from 10 pounds of my Standard.

I have been a drummer for almost 4 decades now. It was my first instrument and my passion for many years. as I got older my lifestyle changed and I changed withit. I became interested in guitars and now its my full time Passion as well. Recently I was diagnosed with a severe right shoulder Rotator Cuff tear and a Biciep(labrum) tear. Wear and tear from playing the drums has taken its toll on my half a century old body. Surgery was beyond painful and I'm looking at several weeks rehab before I can play again. Anyone else gone through this ? The drums are such a physical instrument to play. back in the day I gave it my all all the time. It was the only way for me. I went through sticks and skins like Underwear. Now I regret a bit that I didn't take it a little easier. maybe stretched more. Les Paul was sold this week. I'm looking for a lighter Bolt on instrument. Sling doesn't come off for another 2 weeks so I can't play guitar either. Other members of the band don't have it nearly as bad. For those Younger drummers out there, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! No one else will. Stretch and take care of your joints! Especially your Hands!

Intrested in a handmade Custom Plexi? http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2382885 Whats the neck back shape like on this bad boy? What kind of pick ups are in the dual Humbucker set up?

Seen this over at the My LP forum.........intrested in a nice Boutique amp? http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?p=35149747#post35149747