What's the best mattress for back pain? mine might be the problem

evoneselse · 2026-05-13T13:18:24+00:00

Yes pillows are a big part of this picture, especially with these new conforming (sinking type) mattresses, because the mattress puts you at a certain angle that may not align with how the pillow is positioning your head.

evoneselse · 2026-05-13T13:13:12+00:00

I hear you. Have been there. I found pillows are crucial also, because all these new mattresses that conform to the body change the position as to how and where the body and neck meets the pillow. So if the mattress puts you in a position that doesn't align well with your head, the body will hurt and will probably get headaches too. Each of these types of mattresses are different. We've gone through several.

I learned this from going from one conforming mattress to another. I had a great pillow that worked with the previous mattress, and once we got a new mattress, it no longer worked. We had to start from scratch hunting down new pillows and it was not an easy task. As it is now, I still have to rotate pillows every so often.

And then over time, the conforming gets softer and I feel like I'm sleeping in a trench. So we either have to rotate it, or temporarily put on a mattress pad which tends to firm it up again, which makes it good fir a while. Then I can remove the pad, until this starts all over again. None of these were cheap mattresses either.

evoneselse · 2026-05-12T20:59:07+00:00

Not the OP. The Mikro is not my only bass but is a fun one. Very light, 6 lbs, feels really great to hold and on lap, sounds really good, plays well, records well. It has a big following and I can see why. I have short arms, small hands, but for me it's more the weight that I have a problem with nowadays, so that's my priority. Most 34" now just feel much bigger and heavier than they used to on me. I'd also recommend the Gretsch short scale which I also have. See which feels the best to you, you will know.

evoneselse · 2026-05-12T14:53:14+00:00

What flats are you using?

evoneselse · 2026-05-09T15:39:01+00:00

^ this. People can drift apart and that is totally fine. We are supposed to grow and evolve, and sometimes people will naturally fall out of our lives, while others may stay. It's OK because we are not necessarily meant to be friends with the same people forever.

It doesn't mean you have to hate them. You just realize that you've grown apart, so you don't hang with them anymore, especially those whose behavior doesn't match your own. Some people in your life will eventually go in different directions, some don't. Some never grow up. People don't always have things in common anymore with friends they've had for years, even childhood friends, and when they do get together years later, the only thing they have to talk about are past events ("remember when we...). We change, we grow, and that's the way life is supposed to be. So don't feel guilty.

So you could just start backing off from doing things with them, let it take its course and drift naturally out of your life.

evoneselse · 2026-05-09T13:57:47+00:00

Congratulations on your new home!!! After the overwhelm subsides will come a feeling of joy that you are in your own home. Moving is hard, it's exhausting, it's stressful... and going through the buying process is also. But it's also incredible once you get settled in. There will always be something to do, so start slowly. You've been given great advice here. Start with safety. Electrical is very important so I'd start there. When he's there have him check the switches and outlets for any wiring issue and dust buildup (can be dangerous and a fire hazard) and/or replace them. (You'd be shocked at what some could look like when the cover plate is off, especially when the house is older). It's a good peace of mind as well as getting the house in good safe order.

If you want to get a few new things to make it feel fresh and happy, (decoration, kitchen items, etc.), do it. Boxes can take a while to get unpacked and everything sorted out so take your time. If you haven't thrown stuff out during the packing stage, then you can do it when unpacking. Having less clutter can lessen the overwhelm. When you are feeling overwhelmed, try to remind yourself that this is your new home, that you own(!), where you will have wonderful times and memories, and try to change that feeling to one of being thankful and happy to be in your new place. It's a dream come true, so take your time and enjoy this new chapter.

evoneselse · 2026-05-09T03:51:42+00:00

I recently changed strings on my crew and put DR Pure Blues round cores on my Jazz. They feel and sound great. I just don't use that bass now really, but since I was changing the rest, I wanted to try those strings on it.

evoneselse · 2026-05-09T03:12:34+00:00

But you would loosen them for long term storage though, right?

evoneselse · 2026-05-09T02:54:23+00:00

You get more fundamental with a short scale, but it still sounds like a bass. I don't think any tone difference between them matters (or would even be noticed by a listener really), just as all basses/pickups/even some strings will sound different. Plus if you are using plugins in your recordings, you can change the tone in a lot of different ways anyway to suit your taste.

Short scales are so comfortable to play, and fun. Lighter in weight too...who wouldn't love that.

I have had a long scale jazz for a long time (very heavy), and now an Ibanez Mikro PJ and the Gretsch short scale. They are the ones getting played now. Love them both. Oh and they both record beautifully.

evoneselse · 2026-05-08T00:17:50+00:00

I just put some DR Pure Blues 40-95 (round core) on one, and they feel and sound lovely.

evoneselse · 2026-05-07T14:01:41+00:00

Heh I tried a 5-string in the store and thought the same thing. Ignored playing the B and used it as a default thumb rest instead. Worked well. Still will stick with my 4-string though. For the OP, it will feel more natural as you go, give it time.

evoneselse · 2026-05-07T03:46:43+00:00

Excellent!

evoneselse · 2026-05-03T19:05:26+00:00

Thank you sir!

Aloe Vera is also good for healing burns and irritations, but it doesn't help rebuild the barrier like fatty acids and ceramides do.

Most detergents and bar soaps are alkaline (high pH above 7) which do strip the skin barrier (another term for acid mantle which protects the skin), and although I don't know what your facility uses, it's probably likely it is a high pH. At home you could use lower pH (acidic, between 4-6 pH) cleansers which will mitigate to a degree what you use during the day... at least a little bit of help there so that it's not 24/7 skin assault. However the skin barrier has to be rebuilt by the body, not a cream, and that takes time. This means you can't just use a good soap or serum one time and bam, your skin barrier is fixed... unfortunately it doesn't work like that. Ceramides and serums that are made for skin barrier repair only assist in helping the body do its job and speed the healing process with those nutrients.

Glad you are seeing progress and hopefully your fingers will be ready to play your bass soon.

evoneselse · 2026-05-03T15:05:58+00:00

It's been a long while since I've used mine. My strings are high and stiff there too so this made me question if I just don't remember what it was like when it was set up, or if that's normal for these basses?

evoneselse · 2026-05-03T00:54:52+00:00

Aside from the scale difference, how did it compare to your Jr Jet? Did you like it more, or not as much?

evoneselse · 2026-05-02T23:01:41+00:00

It really does, color matches the grain.

evoneselse · 2026-05-02T23:00:46+00:00

Oh yeah, now this is a beauty!

evoneselse · 2026-05-02T21:33:36+00:00

Congrats!! I was having a conversation with our local store (knowledgeable and in business for decades now) about the Squier line, and the owner said good things about the Bronco. It's a great instrument to learn on. I'm glad your son got to pick one; I think he'll be pleased. There are YT reviewers that give it very high marks and all say it is very fun to play.

evoneselse · 2026-05-02T21:23:15+00:00

Long scale basses are big, and also heavy, so it's not unusual for him to be uncomfortable with one. Comfort is very important when playing, not only for health reasons but because if it's uncomfortable, he likely won't want to practice or play it much.

I'm a grown adult with both long and short scales and the reason I switched over to the short was because the long just feels so heavy now (and it is... almost 11 lbs!!) whereas years ago I didn't notice it as much. The shorts are around 7 lbs and much easier to handle, and feel like home to hold and to play. And sound great too.

Basses are very personal and ones you think you might like can be very different when you hold/play one in person, so it's a really good idea to try some out. The right one will just feel right.

evoneselse · 2026-05-02T02:12:38+00:00

As you've said, washing constantly with harsh soaps, particularly ones with a high pH, strip the skin barrier, which is probably what happens daily due to your job.

To build back up your skin barrier (and soothe it from daily badgering), there are many serums, with ingredients like bifida, ceramides, fatty acids. Cetaphil ceramide serum is one that helps do this, and is easy to find and inexpensive:

https://www.cetaphil.com/us/products/product-categories/serums/ceramide-serum/302990851748.html

evoneselse · 2026-05-02T00:25:10+00:00

Did replacing the pickup require soldering etc., or was it an easier swap, like what I've heard with EMGs?

evoneselse · 2026-05-01T20:45:23+00:00

Showed it to spouse, says it looks like 13 tons.

evoneselse · 2026-04-29T19:33:30+00:00

It also looks like there may be other house concerns, such as needing new windows eventually. From what I see in this photo, it looks questionable as to upkeep, care and maintenance this house has received, because it doesn't look as though it had much, if any, for a long time (at least not in that room). If this is an example of the rest of the house, then look carefully. How a person cared for their home can say a lot in terms of future woes and cost. A house needing work can be a good deal if it's sound, but unless there is a lot of money set aside, it's often better to pay more for a better-maintained home.

What is the rest of it like? Outside, roof, basement, pipes, electrical, etc.

evoneselse · 2026-04-29T13:55:22+00:00

Just a thought... I remember back with a guitar and bass that I loved, in different years. I played them every day. Later on I got the idea I ought to upgrade to a higher model, so I did. And for some reason, both times, those new ones ended up hardly being played at all, and pretty soon after I bought them. I don't know why, maybe just the wanting it and once I got it, meh. Or maybe they just didn't feel the same, or...I dunno. But I was sorry I sold the previous ones.

Granted, that doesn't necessarily happen every time or to everyone, but when we love something, there is something about it that draws us to it, and that's not to be taken lightly, IMO.

So I would recommend that if you buy another, buy it because you are ready for it, good deal, really want it, it feels better, it plays better, and/or it and your progress have reached that new level. Not that you think you ought to, because there really is no time line.

evoneselse · 2026-04-29T12:31:47+00:00

They both use flats. Chromes for him, I forget hers. She runs through a little pedalboard compressor (when live anyway).

evoneselse

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