I didn't care until I got older and picked up a lighter one. When I was young I really could care less.
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Bass Weight Obsession.
- Thread starter Mike Sorr
- Start date
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Go back to the 70s, when I was a kid, and there were no older people buying electric guitars. You had teens, and the pros, not much older. The Beach Boys were as young as 16 when signed to a record contract, I think Winwood was 14 when he recorded his first hits. Watch The Wrecking Crew or The Funk Brothers.
Adults and rock did NOT mix. Most adults listened to Broadway hits or easy listening. An adult at a rock show, unless they were bringing one of their teen children, would be called a narc. It was only when this group of children grew up that things started to change.
Until then, they weren't making electric instruments for the older crowd.
Adults and rock did NOT mix. Most adults listened to Broadway hits or easy listening. An adult at a rock show, unless they were bringing one of their teen children, would be called a narc. It was only when this group of children grew up that things started to change.
Until then, they weren't making electric instruments for the older crowd.
Like alot of us, I imagine some famous people didnt care about the weight when they were in their 20s and 30s. Now that im in my 50s, I gravitate to lighter basses most of the time these days for my 3 and 4 hour gigs. And I read an interview with Geddy back when they were trying to get him to bust out his Ric on tour (think it was Snakes and Arrows tour) and he said that its heavier than his Jazz so he would rather play the Jazz. Like most things, YMMV.
Once owned a '68 blonde Tele bass. I visited a local music store and found another just like mine, except 2lbs lighter. A lightbulb "work smarter not harder" moment for me.
I worked in guitar stores in the 80's and 90's (these shops did some mail orders) and I don't recall ever being asked the weight on a bass (or guitar).
It was common knowledge that the 60's instruments tended to be light and 70's ones were often heavy (sometimes very) but it was just a 'feel' thing and I don't remember specifically weighing them. The only time I ever remember weighing anything was for shipping once boxed.
When slap was very in fashion I do remember a few bass players making the argument that heavier basses were better for that (not that I ever heard a difference).
That said, I do pay attention to weight now...
It was common knowledge that the 60's instruments tended to be light and 70's ones were often heavy (sometimes very) but it was just a 'feel' thing and I don't remember specifically weighing them. The only time I ever remember weighing anything was for shipping once boxed.
When slap was very in fashion I do remember a few bass players making the argument that heavier basses were better for that (not that I ever heard a difference).
That said, I do pay attention to weight now...
There used to be stories printed in the 70's about Suzi Quatro liking the heavy weight of Les Paul basses back then.
- How many times will people comment that bass weight interest never existed until they themselves became aware of it?
- How many times will people comment that bass weight interest is not a valid concern because they themselves do not share that concern?
- How many times will people disparage bass weight interest because they themselves are unaffected by bass weight?
The real question imo is why do people care about why people care about weight?
When you are young, fit and healthy you have a different take on the importance of many things.
I’ve sold a few basses over the years.
I’ve only had questions about weigh in the last 10 years.
I’ve always answered “I don’t know, and I don’t have a scale.”
I have always sold or traded the instruments in less than a month.
For me, sale was based on offering a used instrument st a fair price.
I’ve only had questions about weigh in the last 10 years.
I’ve always answered “I don’t know, and I don’t have a scale.”
I have always sold or traded the instruments in less than a month.
For me, sale was based on offering a used instrument st a fair price.
Personally, I like a heavy bass as long as it's not neck heavy. I'm sure the pros all have a different opinion, or no opinion at all in regard to weight. However, I know Jay Bentley from Bad Religion got his hollow body from his bandmate, Brian Baker, because he kept saying his shoulder hurt from his heavy p basses. So, voice your complaints to your band and maybe you'll get a hollow body.
Everything being equal why wouldn't you go for the lighter bass? I was looking at Lakland Skyline 44-64 basses until I found out they are 10 lbs. That's about a half pound heavier than my max. (everything is approx). Sometimes I think people ask questions in classifieds even though they have no intention of buying ('whats the string spacing?' being another common one)
per the discussion: i'd guess that for those who know/feel/insist that "weight matters," it's related to playing better --- or maybe, playing at all! as @buldog5151bass indicated in his post: the market for EBs has changed, it has aged. what experienced 70 y.o. player wants the same playing experience as the one we got when we were 30-40 years younger and didn't care about weight so much?
also, some of us came up believing that heavy = better.
but we've been 're-educated' in the modern era where lighter axes sound just as good, are more abundant, and may (for any number of reasons) make more sense when trying to extend our playing experiences (hobby, pro, 'other': doesn't matter).
for me, "never give up" is easier to embrace when i have 6-7 lb. basses as choices rather than some of the boat anchors i came up playing. but i can still play heavy EBs. i assume that many older players could play heavy axes. but why?
disclosure: i have been "obsessional" about only playing lightweight EBs. i've totally embraced the idea and i have endeavored to own/play the lightest axes i can afford. so far, so good!
also, some of us came up believing that heavy = better.
but we've been 're-educated' in the modern era where lighter axes sound just as good, are more abundant, and may (for any number of reasons) make more sense when trying to extend our playing experiences (hobby, pro, 'other': doesn't matter).for me, "never give up" is easier to embrace when i have 6-7 lb. basses as choices rather than some of the boat anchors i came up playing. but i can still play heavy EBs. i assume that many older players could play heavy axes. but why?
disclosure: i have been "obsessional" about only playing lightweight EBs. i've totally embraced the idea and i have endeavored to own/play the lightest axes i can afford. so far, so good!
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
For me, the turning point was about 6 or 8 years ago. I began to notice my heavier basses weights during set 1, rather than set 3. At around the same time period, I noticed that load-in/out of my SVTs began to be more difficult. You can believe that aging and attendant musculo-skeletal issues cause discomfort, or you can hitch your wagon to the idea that sunspots are increasing the earth’s gravity. I believe that the former is a more accurate representation of reality for me.
