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Are bassists heavier?

Is your bassist (i.e. you) heavier than the average weight of the rest of the band?

  • Heavier than average

    Votes: 85 48.9%

  • Lighter than average

    Votes: 51 29.3%

  • About the same

    Votes: 38 21.8%
  • Total voters
    174
#21
I've been seeing a lot of skinny/average bassists lately but a few heavier guys come to mind too. For me my observations are more along the lines of personality/style than body type. Typically the bassist is the cooler/more chill dude in the band. The drummer is typically a sweaty animal (the intellectual drummer is a treasure) and the guitarist/singers are generally typically more ego-driven and act like they got something to prove.

I thought the bassist was typically the TALLEST guy in the band. Like usually it's Lurch/Krist Novoselic on the bass.

I am 5 6" 190-195 all muscle/fat.
 
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#26
Growing up, that was always the impression that I got. While the number of bass players I have known have been split between those at a healthy weight, and those who weren't, the bass players that were overweight were obese. So, while I can't say that, per capita, they were heavier, the average weight seemed a lot higher.

These days, I notice it a lot less. I don't know if there has been a change in demographics, I just had an unusual experience, or if there was some sort of confirmation bias in my youth.

I happen to be 6'3", and currently averaging around 220, depending on what phase of my lifting schedule I am in (I've been following a powerlifting routine with different phases). However, I started out playing piano, and then guitar, only picking up bass a few years ago.

As a side note, one thing I noticed that does seem to have some merit is that a lot of guitar shredders seem to be over six feet tall (or at least claim it). Maaaaalmsteeeen, Vai, Brian Carroll, etc.
 
#27
I'm in kind of a "Biker" Band. At 6' 3" I'm the tallest, but the Drummer, a former UofM Wrestler, tops my 225 Lbs by 20 - 30 Lbs easily. The lead guitarist is about my wieght, but at 5' 10", a bit Brawnier. The singer and rhthym player are a couple of skinny Crotch Rocketeers, so they don't really count, do they?!? \m/
 
#30
bassbully said:
This is why I like fender P bases. The body is pretty large and helps cover up my gut more.
Click to expand...
Try a Warwick NT. A lot of them have Rounded Bodies that let you Fit your Gut right up in there! Of course, I try to keep the waist under 36", but still...
 
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#31
I'm not too tall nor too heavy, but yes, I'm overweight (presently I'm staving to reduce my weight, in order to keep my back in better shape - I'm getting older, I'm 46...).
In all the bands I play with I'm usually "the fatty one", except in one, but there the guitarist is also quite taller than me.
So my vote is: YES.
 

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