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Am I the only player that prefers heavy basses?

#22
I don't really think about the weight (and I am almost 50). My Roscoe is the heaviest bass I own (I also own Dingwall, MTD, Carvin, and others) but I like the way it sounds and plays, so I don't worry about the weight. I actually go back and forth between the Roscoe and Dingwall - both are outstanding basses!
 
#24
smcd said:
I'm not calling anyone a sissy. I just don't understand the big deal of an extra 3lbs on an instrument that is draped across your shoulder.

Sometimes I wonder whether it's just psychologically ingrained in people that they're in pain holding an 11lb. instrument.
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There might be some truth in that. For those who have had back surgeries, then sure, they've got a legitimate concern, but the others.... well, they might just be sissies. ;)

A friend of mine who weighs about 120-125 lbs regularly goes on 3-5 mile hikes with a 20 lb backpack. She's climbing hills and moving over rough terrain, not standing still or walking around on a level surface like a musician would be. There are a couple other women her size in the group she does this with, and they've been doing it for years.

120 lb women with 20 lb backpacks > grown men with 10 lb basses.
 
#29
Outside of the initial shock of picking it up, I don't really notice the weight when I play it.

blackeaglewt.jpg
 
#30
The few ultralight basses I've had I really didn't like. I prefer a heaver bass, but I've got to like the bass first. I wouldn't pick one because it's heavy, but I'd get rid of one that is too light.

Strange perhaps, but just what I like
 
#31
I left my Fender Precision at home by accident one time so I used a friends brothers bass he had just sitting around, it was a Jay Turser Jazz, it sounded ok...however was very stocky and thick and I swear had to weight 15+ pounds. Moral is no I do not like heavy basses.
 
#33
Mmm...I like 'em chunky! 12lbs is about as light as I can stand. I like my bass to NOT feel like a toy.

There's nothing wrong with someone prefering a lighter bass, but I'm a good 6'1", 250lbs, wide load bear shoulders, and a rib cage of a wildabeast. Males in my father's side of the family tend to have above average bone and muscle density, so what feels like a heavy bass to "normal" people is light as you get for my dad and I
 
#34
i prefer heavier basses than really light ones, but they can be TOO heavy. i'm a fairly strong bigger guy, and i can handle a solid bass for a few hours. P bass heavy. i've got a Victory, and it is ridiculous to me. it's distracting to focus with your neck and shoulder pulling. i understand about comfort straps also.
 
#37
smcd said:
To me, a 10lb. bass is light. Figuring that, as is normal in society, most people on this site are carrying around an extra 10lbs. in weight, I've never figured out what the fuss is.
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For me, anything under 9 lbs is light enough and 8 to 8.5 feels fine for longer sets. 10 lbs is okay but beyond that I notice it if I play long enough.

FYI -- Recently I bought a new MTD CRB 5 and the store I ordered from had two in stock, one 9.5 lbs and the other 8.5 lbs. I chose the heavier one because I didn't want neck dive and thought 9.5 was about right to balance out the neck, and 9.5 isn't very heavy for a 5 string anyway.
 
#38
I err towards heavier basses too. They seem to have slightly better sustain and are slightly brighter. I have a 75 P-bass (alder) that is moderately light, 2 Signature J-Basses (ash), and 2 MM Stingray 5s (ash). My cherryburst Stingray 5 (mid-90s) weighs in at 13 lbs! Interestingly, my natural Stingray 5 (92) weighs only 10lbs! It is second only to the P-bass in low weight, but its still sounds incredible.
 

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