Bass weight. What accuracy do you expect?

[cnltb]

If a weight is posted I expect that to be accurate. No point having it there otherwise.

 

[chris_b]

In my heyday I would have been good up to 10lbs, maybe even 11lbs for a really special bass. However, these days, due to my lower back issues, the first thing I need to know is the weight and that has to be accurate to within a couple of ounces. In the past I have bought basses unseen, but that's not an option anymore. Sellers don't seem to value the accuracy I need.

My go-to Jazz is about 9 3/4 lbs and it's on the heavy side. My P bass is about 8 1/2lbs and is very easy to handle even on the longest gigs. I dream of affordable 7lb 5 string basses!

Sadly my limit is now set to a safe 9lbs. The next bass I try could be the best sounding bass in the world but if it exceeds that limit it's too heavy and won't be considered.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

I only have the bathroom scale method, so I have .2 pound increment accuracy. So I hope for that deviation. It can weigh up to .2 pounds (roughly 3 ounces) more and I'm ok.

 

[lfmn16]

Given it's an issue for you, I'd ask how they weighed the bass. I weight it on a bathroom scale. I have no idea how accurate it is. I never misrepresented the weight of a bass on purpose, but if my scale is off, there isn't much I can do about that. I'm not going to go out and buy a special scale for the few basses I sell.

 

[Slevage]

10 Grams
Yes, weighing in Grams is more accurate!

It’s only as accurate as the device being used. A scale that measures in grams can still be 1000% off.

 

[ultra60]

No expectations, as I don't believe I've ever asked what a bass weighs. I did have a guy ask me the weight of a bass I had for sale. He said his limit was something like 9.4 and bath scale was not good enough. I had to take the bass to Fedex to weigh it. Came in at something like 9.425 and he passed on buying it. More power to those that can pick an exact weight and stick to it. Don't think I ever could.

 

[Relsom]

This is what I use. It claims 1/4 oz. precision but I always take the measurement up to 6x because each time can differ from the last one by as much as 3 oz. If I can get it to repeat 3x within 1/2oz I call it good.

 

[2saddleslab]

I question when someone says 9.5 lbs. Does that mean 9 pounds, 5 ounces, or 9 pounds 8 ounces? It should mean the latter but not sure it's always intended or read that way.

 

[Pbassmanca]

When I buy a bass one of the main considerations is weight. A perfectly balanced bass is comfortable up to around 9.5 lb's but I usually hope for under 9(my current 5 string is a hair over 8lbs).

I've found that most basses I receive are either spot on or slightly over the advertised weight. Which is fine. A few ounces can be method or calibration error. Every once in awhile I get one that is far over. Received a new bass today that was advertised as 9 lbs but weighs 9 lbs 13oz. And it made me wonder what other peoples expectations are. If it's a few ounces I don't care but where do you draw the line?

That's almost a full pound more than advertised. Not cool.

 

[fretno]

If I don’t see it on a scale I expect the worst.

 

[tjh]

I have had basses arrive more than two pounds off of what was quoted … even from on here, but after a while you start to know who is using a wonky scale and allow for it …

Best bet, take a weight given with a grain of salt … unless they can certify it is on a scale calibrated for trade .. and you wont find them in your bathroom, or even on the shelf of a discount store …

Always ask the method when a weight is given and consider that in your expectation …

JMHO … as always

 

[mmon77]

If I bought a bass from someone on Talkbass, I would have different expectations than on say, Craigslist. People here usually list the weight and how they got the measurement, because it is a big deal to many people here.

If it's on a bathroom scale, that basically means nothing as far as I'm concerned. Those things can be off by several pounds either way. If weight were a concern, I would want a more accurate measurement before I considered purchasing.

If they list a weight in lbs and oz, I would expect it to be accurate to within a few ounces.

 

[rmayer]

If the weight of a bass is listed, I expect it to be accurate to an ounce or two. My heaviest bass used to be 8.25 lbs. Now it’s 7.5. I’ve passed buying basses that are over the 8.5 lb range, but that’s just me.
I bought a bass here a month or so ago and the seller had it advertised as 8 lbs. When I PM’d to confirm that it became 8lb 5 oz. Whennthe bass finally arrived it weighed, on my fairly accurate digital kitchen scale, 9lb 7 oz. That is ridiculous. Needless to say, it was listed for sale the same day.

 

[Siggy]

Digital scale? an ounce or two. Bathroom analog scale? maybe 6 oz. When I list weight I'll state x.x lbs on an analog kitchen scale which may very 4 oz.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

3 or 4, maybe 5oz higher is fine. When it gets to be a half pound heavier than what’s listed them there’s a problem.

 

[gorneyg]

I won't sell someone a bass unless they ask me the weight...neck radius...width at the nut.

 

[Chuck M]

I think when someone gives a weight in pounds and ounces the actual weight should be within an ounce or two and the advertised weight. I use a digital postal scale, by the way. If they say it is "about 9 pounds" or use the bass plus me on the bathroom scale method I don't expect them to be very accurate.

Sometimes you get a pleasant surprise. I bought a G. Gould 6 string off Reverb and the seller told me it weighed about 9.5 pounds. Imagine my surprise when it actually weighs 8 pounds, 13 ounces.

 

[lowplaces]

I don't really care exactly how much it weighs. A particular bass either feels too heavy or it doesn't.

My main concern is the neck profile.

 

[themarshall]

10 Grams
Yes, weighing in Grams is more accurate!

Nope. Just different units. An inaccurate - either due to the method or equipment- weight in grams can be just as off as ounces, kilos, stones or whatever.

Now, I will allow that, all things being equal, grams will give you a more accurate weight than ounces. A quick check shows a gram to be .035xxx ounces, so thousandths of an ounce would be more equitable.

 

[4sight]

People never used to worry about this stuff at all... Simpler times. And perhaps, more sore backs