Bass weight wimpiness?

[Mr_O'B]

I traded some basses I hadn't played much for this new Fender American Standard Jazz. I hope to get it back tomorrow from the Luthier doing a setup. I thought for a stock Jazz this was doing pretty good and I'm excited about it.

8.29 lbs is a great bass weight! You should be anxious to get it back from your luthier.

 

[chris_b]

For all those who can live with heavy basses, I'm happy for you. That used to be me but things move on.

I have 3 basses, 2 are 9.5 lbs and one is 8.5 lbs. Luckily I prefer my 8.5 lb Lull 5 string P bass because I can't carry 9.5 lbs with any degree of comfort for more that about 1 set. What a difference 1 lb makes!

Being told to work out shows a total lack of understanding of the situation many of us find ourselves in.

I prefer Fender type basses so a chambered bass, Lull or Sadowsky, is probably next on my list.

 

[VWbug]

For all those who can live with heavy basses, I'm happy for you. That used to be me but things move on.

I have 3 basses, 2 are 9.5 lbs and one is 8.5 lbs. Luckily I prefer my 8.5 lb Lull 5 string P bass because I can't carry 9.5 lbs with any degree of comfort for more that about 1 set. What a difference 1 lb makes!

Being told to work out shows a total lack of understanding of the situation many of us find ourselves in.

I prefer Fender type basses so a chambered bass, Lull or Sadowsky, is probably next on my list.

Ha! You're right! It seems weird on a certain level that a 1/2 pound or pound can make a big difference but some how it does.

 

[VWbug]

For all those who can live with heavy basses, I'm happy for you. That used to be me but things move on.

I have 3 basses, 2 are 9.5 lbs and one is 8.5 lbs. Luckily I prefer my 8.5 lb Lull 5 string P bass because I can't carry 9.5 lbs with any degree of comfort for more that about 1 set. What a difference 1 lb makes!

Being told to work out shows a total lack of understanding of the situation many of us find ourselves in.

I prefer Fender type basses so a chambered bass, Lull or Sadowsky, is probably next on my list.

This is my main bass. 8lbs 13oz. I find myself contemplating putting on Hipshot Ultralites per many posts over the last year which should bring it down to 8lbs. 5oz. . I'm concerned about promoting dead spot issues and wonder if I should settle for that weight or move it on and just look for something 8lbs.I'm not likely to be getting any younger!

 

[buldog5151bass]

I think we are just more aware of it now. The bass I played for over 20 years as my only bass is close to 12 pounds. Then I bought a bass that is a little over 9. Now I hear people talking about THAT is if it is an issue.

Talk to the guy playing the sousaphone in the marching band, or all the players who used to gig with doublenecked guitars.

 

[lefty007]

Same boat here. Can't handle anything over 8.5 lb.

As others mentioned, BALANCE is as important as weight. I can probably play a 9 lb if it has good balance or at least the balance is biased toward the body, but a neck heavy bass is the worst. Thank god for Hipshot Ultralite tuners. . .

Body dimensions and ergonomics are as important. For the life of me, and can't understand how people play Warwick Thumbs and Spectors, or any bass body design with short upper horns.

And any bass designer/company/luthier out there in 2015 who don't care about weight or ergonomics, either are not players, or they don't listen to their customers.

 

[mojomike001]

Same boat here. Can't handle anything over 8.5 lb.

As others mentioned, BALANCE is as important as weight. I can probably play a 9 lb if it has good balance or at least the balance is biased toward the body, but a neck heavy bass is the worst. Thank god for Hipshot Ultralite tuners. . .

Body dimensions and ergonomics are as important. For the life of me, and can't understand how people play Warwick Thumbs and Spectors, or any bass body design with short upper horns.

And any bass designer/company/luthier out there in 2015 who don't care about weight or ergonomics, either are not players, or they don't listen to their customers.

Good point. Why don't all basses have long horns where the strap attaches? There's too much compromise for the sake of esthetics or just to look different. That's one of the reasons I like most Fenders and Fender-esque basses.

It's interesting how Gibson fails to get that.

 

[VWbug]

Same boat here.

And any bass designer/company/luthier out there in 2015 who don't care about weight or ergonomics, either are not players, or they don't listen to their customers.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE!

 

[Orpheus55]

When I was a younger man, I didn't give the weight of an instrument a second thought. I'm now in my early 40s, and my back aches after about an hour with anything much over 9 lbs.

My Fenders all weight about 10 lbs., but I'm only 64. I imagine it could become a problem someday.

 

[David Cardoza]

I'm with Chef on this one... I never really minded the weight of my instruments over the years,
it never bothered me. But since the Sadowsky NYC purchase (7.4 pounds), I have been really
enjoying the lightness, especially on the the current hectic playing schedule.

 

[VWbug]

I'm with Chef on this one... I never really minded the weight of my instruments over the years,
it never bothered me. But since the Sadowsky NYC purchase (7.4 pounds), I have been really
enjoying the lightness, especially on the the current hectic playing schedule.

I find myself interested in the lightness folks like yourself talk about with their Sadowskys. I'm a fender type/passive bass guy and I'm sorry but not terribly familiar with them. They are active but can be played passive? Can you get a Fender type tone?
Sorry for what may seem like dumb questions.

 

[JimmyM]

I think we are just more aware of it now. The bass I played for over 20 years as my only bass is close to 12 pounds. Then I bought a bass that is a little over 9. Now I hear people talking about THAT is if it is an issue.

It's a total issue to me. Just recently, I replaced the stock bridge on my Fender with a Hipshot A, and had to take it off because just that little extra weight (someone told me it was like 3 1/2 oz more than the stocker) sent me home in pain after about a month of using it. Put a bent plate bridge on it which resulted in a reduction of about half a pound and my shoulder got better. So yeah, even a little bit makes a total difference.

Talk to the guy playing the sousaphone in the marching band, or all the players who used to gig with doublenecked guitars.

I don't play sousaphone or a doubleneck. Irrelevant.

My question to those who feel the need to make comments like this is what's it to any of you if someone prefers a lighter bass? Does it ruin your concert experience to watch someone play who prefers a lighter bass? Or is it more about showing everyone how incredibly awesome you are? I think the latter.

 

[David Jayne]

There was a time when instrument weight wasn't even on my radar. In fact I bought into the 'heavier=better tone' thing for awhile. But I've found that generally I like how lighter ones sound after all so , hurray. I can still do heavy but would rather not so I don't.

 

[Muddslide]

When I was a younger man, I didn't give the weight of an instrument a second thought. I'm now in my early 40s, and my back aches after about an hour with anything much over 9 lbs.

Right there with you. I haven't gigged in a few years. Back throughout the 80s and 90s I never thought about the weight of my basses at all. Ever. Three + hour gigs or two gigs in one day? No sweat.

I'm 46 now and for various reasons am already in pain most of the time. I do practice standing up a lot and the bass I play most at the moment just weighs a ton. I love the thing, but I might sell it just because it really is the heaviest bass I have ever played.

The neck is so nice though. I might have to keep the neck...

 

[Dash Lashes]

It's a total issue to me. Just recently, I replaced the stock bridge on my Fender with a Hipshot A, and had to take it off because just that little extra weight (someone told me it was like 3 1/2 oz more than the stocker) sent me home in pain after about a month of using it. Put a bent plate bridge on it which resulted in a reduction of about half a pound and my shoulder got better. So yeah, even a little bit makes a total difference.

___

Or is it more about showing everyone how incredibly awesome you are? I think the latter.

your post reads like logical fallacy; "false cause".

mass and constitution are important to any part,yes, however like everything else, it seems like it's just a matter of what fits into a person's belief systems or values, and personality. probably shouldnt knock people for doing anything that is entertaining... or else, why are you on stage?

whoever reads this, do you also buy your jeans based on shaving a few ozs? maybe your legs will act up if you dont?

i prefer heavy, neck-through, basses more than other kinds / use nice strap, and extra-heavy picks

 

[Muddslide]

In fact, I was trying out amps a week or two back and at one pawn shop I grabbed a Squier Affinity P to check out the amp. It may have been the lightest bass I ever picked up. Way lighter feeling than the Ibby Mikros I've played.

It was like it was made out of balsa wood or something. The neck was pretty iffy on it, though. Might have just needed a tweak, but the truss rod couldn't have been seized up for all I know.

 

[Funkmabassup]

I find myself interested in the lightness folks like yourself talk about with their Sadowskys. I'm a fender type/passive bass guy and I'm sorry but not terribly familiar with them. They are active but can be played passive? Can you get a Fender type tone?
Sorry for what may seem like dumb questions.

You can play it passively and get a near fender sound and if it doesnt sound fenderish enough for you, just put some fender pickups in it. Also I can guarantee you the craftmanship/fretwork will blow any fender out of the sky.

 

[JimmyM]

your post reads like logical fallacy; "false cause".

mass and constitution are important to any part,yes, however like everything else, it seems like it's just a matter of what fits into a person's belief systems or values, and personality. probably shouldnt knock people for doing anything that is entertaining... or else, why are you on stage?

whoever reads this, do you also buy your jeans based on shaving a few ozs? maybe your legs will act up if you dont?

i prefer heavy, neck-through, basses more than other kinds / use nice strap, and extra-heavy picks

False cause my butt. I think I know my body well enough after all these years to know that if I put a new bridge on and my shoulder hurts, then I take the new bridge off and put a much lighter bridge on and my shoulder clears up, the extra weight of the bridge is what did it.

Anyway, real easy to goof on people who need to concern themselves with weight until it's YOUR turn in the barrel with a repetitive movement injury. Then you all cave like you're being cross-examined by Perry Mason. I or someone like me will be there when you do, too. We'll try not to laugh in front of you, but you'll know we'll be laughing inside

 

[Muddslide]

Anyway, real easy to goof on people who need to concern themselves with weight until it's YOUR turn in the barrel with a repetitive movement injury. Then you all cave like you're being cross-examined by Perry Mason. I or someone like me will be there when you do, too. We'll try not to laugh in front of you, but you'll know we'll be laughing inside

Yeah, I do not feel there is anything "wimpy" about being thoughtful regarding the weight of something you are going to be standing up lugging around on a stage for hours at a time.

Like I said earlier, it didn't concern me at all when I was in my 20s and 30s, and I haven't gigged or even jammed with people regularly in many years, so it's hard to know how that might affect me. But I am already in more or less constant pain (have had several accidents, some severe, and though I haven't been diagnosed I am pretty certain I am arthritic.)

Another aspect of this that may or may not have been brought up on this thread is aside from the fact that heavier instruments can cause discomfort for some people, without being really knowledgeable about it, it is hard to say whether playing a heavier bass might actually cause harm or do more damage to already troubled areas.

 

[Dash Lashes]

False cause my butt. I think I know my body well enough after all these years to know that if I put a new bridge on and my shoulder hurts, then I take the new bridge off and put a much lighter bridge on and my shoulder clears up, the extra weight of the bridge is what did it.

Anyway, real easy to goof on people who need to concern themselves with weight until it's YOUR turn in the barrel with a repetitive movement injury. Then you all cave like you're being cross-examined by Perry Mason. I or someone like me will be there when you do, too. We'll try not to laugh in front of you, but you'll know we'll be laughing inside

great spirit jimmym! it's not a personal attack, i think you know that. i just now weighed a sunglasses case that came in at a whopping 5.0 oz. then i put it on my shoulder and it felt less than a feather (to me), so i should just tape a ribbon-bow on my shoulder and wear it for a couple hours to get some perspective lol

the difference between light and heavy bass, to me, is measured in the ~4lb increment (ie light starts at 7-8, med 9-12, heavy at 12+). so personally, i have a hard time understanding 3 oz making a dif. i dont believe