Bass weight wimpiness?

[Mr_O'B]

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!

If you can balance the bass on your leg without wearing a strap, I would not change to Hipshot Ultralite tuners. The Ultralites may affect the balance of the bass if the current balance is perfect.

If your ultimate goal is to reduce weight then go for it, but understand that the balance my change.

My 1997 Fender American Deluxe with the Fender Suhr pickups and preamp had 4 HEAVY Schaller tuners that weigh approx. 1 lb. The neck dive was ridiculous!
I changed the Schallers to Hipshot Ultralites and now the balance is perfect. The weight of the bass was never a problem, but I couldn't live with the imbalance of the bass due to the Schaller tuners. I haven't noticed any dead spots since I changed the tuners.

By the way, I think your bass is an absolute beauty! Beautiful Ash grain and a maple fretboard is a great combination.

 

[VWbug]

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

Your empathy for others is underwhelming.

 

[buldog5151bass]

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.


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.

Just commenting that I found it interesting how this has become such a hot button issue in the last few years. That's all. Lighten up.

 

[Curtis Rielley]

I've always played somewhat heavy basses, but I totally get the weight issue because I had some problems myself. For me I found where how low/high you wear the bass, how wide the strap is, how thick the strap is, how much of an angle your bass is slung on your fretting shoulder/balance could put some strain on yourself an how you play. For me I just raised my bass, got a nice wider strap and a lot of my problems disappeared.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I've never weighed or knew the weight of my basses until I discovered this website.

I also never cared about "neck dive" either.

IMO, they are things that bother you more if you are aware of them.

That being said, age, injury, these types things can be irritants over time.

If you are struggling with less than a pound increase, you also may want to look at your health regimen. Yoga, massages..etc can be a huge help. When I toured I did a lot of stretching and got massages after shows at least twice a week. Hit the gym at least 3 times a week and ate healthy. Really helps.

Also, consider your strap options. That also can make a big difference.

Not just the strap itself, but how you wear the bass. Make sure everything is ergonomically optimized for you.

 

[JimmyM]

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

Ask me if I care. And no, it was a personal attack, and so was this. Own it.

 

[FretNoMore]

I have neck/back/shoulder problems and believe me (actually I couldn't care less if you do or not) I feel a big difference depending on the weight of a bass, every little bit counts. To those who are cute or macho about this - I sure hope you keep your good health, I don't wish this on anyone.

 

[mojomike001]

Personally, I can easily feel a difference of a few ounces between two basses when I pick them up, but it make less difference when the bass is strapped on with a decent strap. All things being equal, I do prefer lighter over heavier however, short of the point of neckdive. That I find more annoying than weight.

 

[JimmyM]

Just commenting that I found it interesting how this has become such a hot button issue in the last few years. That's all. Lighten up.

It's never been about the last few years. I've heard people complain about the weight of guitars and basses ever since I started in the 70's.

Anyway, I could tell YOU to lighten up, too. I don't see why you even care what others do or what their motivation is. BTW, I see you play a Carvin BX500. 'Nuff said.

 

[buldog5151bass]

It's never been about the last few years. I've heard people complain about the weight of guitars and basses ever since I started in the 70's.

Anyway, I could tell YOU to lighten up, too. I don't see why you even care what others do or what their motivation is. BTW, I see you play a Carvin BX500. 'Nuff said.

I never realized discussions on issues would be taken as anything other than that. Yes, I scaled back my rig from 150+ pounds of Trace Elliot to that head and a 38 pound 2x12. I have to haul everything at 2am. I'm 50.

 

[JimmyM]

I never realized discussions on issues would be taken as anything other than that. Yes, I scaled back my rig from 150+ pounds of Trace Elliot to that head and a 38 pound 2x12. I have to haul everything at 2am. I'm 50.

So what you're saying is lightening up is silly unless it's your version of lightening up, and then it's OK?

Hey man, gonna throw it out there, you can't expect people to sit there and take it. Freedom of speech is a two-way street.

 

[fretter]

Maybe some folks remember Parker guitars hitting the market. They were advertised as being super light. Apparently, they also make a bass, the 6 lbs. swamp ash MaxxFLy PB12.

I offloaded my super heavy p-bass years ago, in favor of a lighter Fender JP90. Are there trade offs? Yeah, it's not a p-bass.

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[buldog5151bass]

So what you're saying is lightening up is silly unless it's your version of lightening up, and then it's OK?

Hey man, gonna throw it out there, you can't expect people to sit there and take it. Freedom of speech is a two-way street.

All I am saying is that the issue of light weight basses has become a lot more important recently from what I hear. We all know that 70s ash Fenders tended to be very heavy, as northern ash was often used rather than swamp ash (as is my 70s bass). I never heard it being such an issue at the time. IMO there is a LOT more talk about it now. Not trying to say anything is wrong with that - just observing. Same way with amps - until very recently, there was little talk of it. Now for many, it is one of the first things they look at when they look at new amps.

 

[FretNoMore]

Well, if that is so, maybe it simply wasn't any use talking about it when there weren't any alternatives?

 

[JimmyM]

Well, if that is so, maybe it simply wasn't any use talking about it when there weren't any alternatives?

It's not so. I remember hearing countless discussion about Les Pauls vs. SG's totally centered around their weight. I remember many bass players saying that guitarists should realize how good they've got it when it comes to weight because a good bass always weighed a good amount and it wasn't the same for guitars. So trust me, discussions about weight were not rare at all.

 

[MrAtomic]

I have a short scale 30" bass which weighs as much as both of my 32" medium scale basses. And my 32" scales sound & feel much closer to that of a 34" long scale. If I were strictly choosing a bass based on weight, I would not rule out instruments due to scale length alone. Plenty of light weight 34's and 32's out there to be found...

This is true in my experience. I had a medium-scale Gretsch that was lighter than some short-scale basses I tried. But I ultimately found that the act of reaching with my left shoulder/arm was as problematic as the issue of weight on my right shoulder. So a lightweight, longer-scale bass can still be very fatiguing if you have issues with your shoulders.

 

[Muddslide]

It's not so. I remember hearing countless discussion about Les Pauls vs. SG's totally centered around their weight. I remember many bass players saying that guitarists should realize how good they've got it when it comes to weight because a good bass always weighed a good amount and it wasn't the same for guitars. So trust me, discussions about weight were not rare at all.

It's true. I heard players talking about this since I started playing more than 30 years ago. I've especially heard the "Guitar players shouldn't complain--they have it a lot better than us bass players!" line many times through the years. But I've also heard a lot of discussion about how early Telecasters were so much lighter than the 70s ones, etc.

 

[lfmn16]

If you are struggling with less than a pound increase, you also may want to look at your health regimen. Yoga, massages..etc can be a huge help. When I toured I did a lot of stretching and got massages after shows at least twice a week. Hit the gym at least 3 times a week and ate healthy. Really helps.

+1

I know some people are adamant that being stronger is irrelevant but I dont see how having stronger muscles can have NO impact on shoulder pain. I'm not saying it is a total cure and I understand that some people have physical issues that no amount of excercise will help, but I don't believe that being in good physical shape doesn't help ease your shoulder pain.

But play what you want. I Don't think anyone needs to justify wanting to play a light or heavy bass.

 

[VWbug]

Maybe some folks remember Parker guitars hitting the market. They were advertised as being super light. Apparently, they also make a bass, the 6 lbs. swamp ash MaxxFLy PB12.

I offloaded my super heavy p-bass years ago, in favor of a lighter Fender JP90. Are there trade offs? Yeah, it's not a p-bass.

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I would like to respect whatever folks choose to play but... I also like going low profile. Don't think I'd get away with it with this drangon fly looking bass. I'm sure it's wonderful though. To each their own.

 

[VWbug]

And inexpensive too! Lol
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