If you don’t get it by now I don’t guess you ever will. Good luck with everything
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All these questions about weight?
- Thread starter pedulla-2007
- Start date
I've never asked the weight of a bass when buying, and don't post a weight when selling. I have no problem if somebody PMs me asking about weight. They'll get bath scale weight. But as @armybass stated above, it seems that some here feel the need to post "weight?" on a for sale Ad where it was not included. Lacking a weight does not make a for sale Ad incomplete. So how about we knock that off? If you are interested, PM the seller.
Your opinion on vehicle safety is not supported by the data. Cars today are far safer than ones built in the 70s.
Watch How Terrifyingly Bad Car Safety Was Just 20 Years Ago
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Similarly, low-cost basses are better today, in part due to CNC and other technological advances. There are great instruments coming out of Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and China. The US no longer is the only place with high-quality manufacturing. And there are basses still made in the US, with varying degrees of automation. Fender instruments today are IME more consistent and higher quality that at any point in their history (including pre-CBS). Yes, there are some dogs, but the hit to miss ratio with production instruments is far higher than it was in the 70's.
I think new music was better in the 70s, and my body was certainly in better shape back then, but not much else. YMMV.
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I find the weight issue almost ridiculous. Tina Weymouth had no issue playing a J for hours. Anyone bigger than her should be able to physically handle bass!
Put me in the I don't care camp.
If strapping on a couple of extra pounds is going to impact me, I'd be better off losing the 50 pounds I need to lose.
It was like this in the cycling world, too - we called them weight weenies - these folks would want to shave a couple of ounces off the bike but then - and get this - they would carry two bananas in their pocket on a ride.
Two bananas! You know how much two bananas weigh?
If strapping on a couple of extra pounds is going to impact me, I'd be better off losing the 50 pounds I need to lose.
It was like this in the cycling world, too - we called them weight weenies - these folks would want to shave a couple of ounces off the bike but then - and get this - they would carry two bananas in their pocket on a ride.
Two bananas! You know how much two bananas weigh?
Youngin Chun has an average drive of 290 yards (she's not a large woman - 5'4"). Anyone bigger should be able to hit the ball farther...
Back in grad school I raced Cat 3 on the road and Sport class in mtb. One guy we rode with was the opposite of a weight weenie - he trained for the PanAm games by putting water in his tubes (at least that was the lore - I rode with him when he was in his 50's). He also was physically gifted for riding (amazing lung capacity and ability to clear lactic acid).
I do care about weight, and I don't have 50 pounds to lose. Or any pounds to lose for that matter. But I have multiple bicycle crashes (a few of them pretty bad), multiple motorcycle crashes (two of them landed me briefly in the hospital), and decades of accumulated injuries and wear and tear from competitive sports including both rotator cuffs messed up. My back and neck got so bad I was triggering acute spasms doing Tai Chi (!). My doc said to rehab in the pool or get surgery - I picked the pool. That was 5 years ago, and I swim 4x a week, thankfully the back and neck are rehabbed enough that I took golf back up (which is wreaking its own havoc at the moment - joints get cranky as you age).
But I still won't own a bass over 10 lbs. There are fantastic instruments at relatively low weights, so why would I seek out something that is going to add to my physical strain? As it stands now I'm working through tendonitis and having to revamp my right hand technique to a lighter touch so I can keep playing into my golden years (57 now).
People have different histories, different body builds, and different wants and needs. What is ridiculous to some may be the difference between playing and not. For those that have everything in working order and don't mind a 12 lb bass - more power to you. But not everyone is the same...
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Look at all the bigshot he men complain about what others do. When you come and play my gigs for me, then and only then will I allow you to have a voice in what I do. Till then, all I have to say is yay for you.
I hear ya - we've lived parallel lives. I raced Expert MTB/CX/Road with all the featherweights too even though I was more of a Clydesdale in my peak years. Also had more trips to the radiology dept. than I can count. I was on a first name basis with the intake nurse there for a while! In my early 50s as well, but I've got the genetics of my Scottish and Scandinavian forebears who tossed heavy stones for fun. I'm not a very competitive cyclist anymore but I ride enduro motorcycles these days!
I’m a sturdy 65 year old and I can play a four hour show with a heavy bass, but why? I can also play the show with a 7.5 to 8 pound bass, give up nothing in tone, and have more fun. I find light basses, as long as they are balanced, to simply be more fun to play.
A couple points. Weight is very important to many of us. Juat because it isnt to the next guy doesnt mean it isnt to me.
Also when buying something on the internet without being able to try it, its vital imo that every detail be advertised up front. Weight, condition, etc. would u advertise a car without the actual miles?
Also when buying something on the internet without being able to try it, its vital imo that every detail be advertised up front. Weight, condition, etc. would u advertise a car without the actual miles?
Lighter Basses will always triumph over heavy Basses, because heavy Basses are dumb.
She mostly played Mustangs and hollowbodies in the old days. And how much did her J bass weigh?
Ha! I had to laugh at this one. You sound like me 30+ years ago. If there's one thing life has taught me it's that you're bullet-proof until you're not. Live and learn, my friend; the grim reaper takes you a piece at a time.
Spinal surgery in ‘04, but now in the best shape of my life. I quit drinking, quit smoking, watch what I eat, and do yoga, but the first thing I ask about any bass is the weight. If you’ve never had spinal issues, you are not allowed to tell me I’m wrong.
To those selling basses: there are accurate kitchen type digital scales you can buy for about 12 to 15 bucks or so. Keep this in mind when you’re trying to sell a $1000+ bass and potential buyers want to know the weight. I’ve personally passed on buying many basses that were either too heavy or the seller was unable to report the weight.
Not all vintage basses sounded good. There are many older fenders that sound great but not all. So I am not in agreement that 70 basses were the era that produced all great basses or to the era for great fenders although I had a great one. There was an article with Mike Tobias who discussed weight He stated lighter basses do tend to be brighter. Once Sadowsky had a similar answer. Many luthiers believe heavier woods produce warmer sounding basses. Although I have a 89 musicman 5 with rosewood neck and heavy but very bright. When dealing with wood all is very general
Sadowsky also said that once he started chambering his basses many players said the tone was improved. I have two of his and both are just under 7.5 lbs. I love the weight. In recent years my heaviest bass has been 8.25 lbs. Bulging disc issues with my neck aside, I just like the way they feel. I have passed on buying basses that have weighed more than 8.5 lbs and wouldn't think of a 9+lb bass, but that's just me. I don't judge anyone who likes a heavier (or lighter) bass and no one should judge me.
As stated previously, why wouldn't you want all the information on an instrument (including weight) before you buy it without seeing it?
As stated previously, why wouldn't you want all the information on an instrument (including weight) before you buy it without seeing it?
Yeah it is sorta important, may not be for you, but definitely is for some people. If someone wants to know the weight? All right, what is the deal? I mean I am fairly young but have pretty small proportions for a man. I also travel with my bass on my back on busses and stuff most of the time. One of my basses is like 9.7lbs and the other one is near to that. I mean, I can handle it just allright but something heavier than 10 lbs would definitely concern me a bit.
