Bass weight?

[Maku021]

So I was a member here TB and on AB years ago... I never have seen so many bass players asking about the weight of the bass as they do now. ??? I find this interesting as weight of a bass means nothing to me. I don't find any basses to be too heavy (I've heard these called boat anchors). I also play some hollow body basses that would be considered light by some. But... ultimately why do you care what the weight of a bass is? I have never turned down or bought a bass based on weight. Thoughts???

 

[Lowendchamp]

Have you ever played a 4 hour show with a 12 lb bass?

 

[4SG]

@Maku021, you are fortunate. Or young. Or young and fortunate. I didn't care how heavy my basses were, either, until I started having back and shoulder problems. I only bring out a heavy bass nowadays if I'm recording, playing sitting down, or playing a short set. That's probably the same story for a lot of us geezers on TalkBass.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Yeah, it’s a thing. May you play long enough to understand!

 

[FunkHead]

Sorry, I tried to do a search but couldn't find any threads about bass weight. I was hoping maybe, just maybe there was already a thread about it that could shed some light on the subject.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I can play a 4 hour gig with a 9 pound bass and have my shoulder be sore or I can play it with a 6.25 pound bass and feel fresh as a daisy. Which should I choose?

 

[Gorn]

Heavy things take more effort to hold than light things.

 

[Snaxster]

A question for the ages. Here are some historical threads about it:

Weight of a bass that important? Down to the decimals?

Ok, I have to ask it: WHY IS WEIGHT OF THE BASS SUCH A PRIORITY!?

What's the bid deal with WEIGHT ?

Why all the concerns about weight?

Is the weight of your bass important to you?

 

[lomo]

I dunno.....I can't figure out why so many people care about the weight of an object that hangs from their shoulder, for long periods, repeatedly .....it's so bizarre....maybe there's an ap' that will help me understand?

 

[Reedt2000]

Have you ever played a 4 hour show with a 12 lb bass?

I can play a 4 hour gig with a 9 pound bass and have my shoulder be sore or I can play it with a 6.25 pound bass and feel fresh as a daisy. Which should I choose?

Yup, this ^

 

[Vitamin D]

And if you get your bass from the fishmonger, where they charge by the pound, it can really set you back.

 

[nonohmic]

Wait!

 

[Ostie]

Strangely, weight is about the only thing that I feel strongly about. Neck dive doesn’t really faze me. String spacing? I have six basses and I couldn’t tell you the string spacing on any of them. I play long scales and short scales. Three point bridge? No problem. But I just can’t hang a 12-pound millstone around my neck anymore at my age.

 

[pbass2]

Holding while playing long sets? Heck, ya ain't lived until you've ran through an entire airport to catch a flight (because the drummer was late) with a 12lb 70's Jazz Bass in a hardshell road case.

 

[Hounddog409]

Heavy things take more effort to hold than light things.

Theres your problem. You shouldnt be holding a bass. Thats what the strap is for.

If its not doing this, get a better strap.

 

[Hounddog409]

So I was a member here TB and on AB years ago... I never have seen so many bass players asking about the weight of the bass as they do now. ??? I find this interesting as weight of a bass means nothing to me. I don't find any basses to be too heavy (I've heard these called boat anchors). I also play some hollow body basses that would be considered light by some. But... ultimately why do you care what the weight of a bass is? I have never turned down or bought a bass based on weight. Thoughts???

Yeah, its crazy. I have no clue what any of my basses weigh.

 

[mongo2]

For me a lighter and well balanced bass is much easier to play, also, shortscale is easier, a pencil neck is easier and an offset slab body is easier.

My main reason for playing music is the enjoyment I have playing with others. A heavy bass makes it much less enjoyable for me.

 

[5StringBlues]

I think we made it a week without a current thread about weight.


Not only is "weight" a thing, but threads about it are as well.

 

[two fingers]

So I was a member here TB and on AB years ago... I never have seen so many bass players asking about the weight of the bass as they do now. ??? I find this interesting as weight of a bass means nothing to me. I don't find any basses to be too heavy (I've heard these called boat anchors). I also play some hollow body basses that would be considered light by some. But... ultimately why do you care what the weight of a bass is? I have never turned down or bought a bass based on weight. Thoughts???

I started a thread a few weeks ago asking about the age of members here. Lots of members answered my poll. It wasn't scientific. But is was a large enough sample that I think it's fairly accurate.

Turns out over SEVENTY PERCENT of our members are between 40 and 70 years old. Another 6%+ are even older. It becomes a thing over time.

By the way, there's probably a thread a month asking this question.

 

[eliascalles]

So I was a member here TB and on AB years ago... I never have seen so many bass players asking about the weight of the bass as they do now. ??? I find this interesting as weight of a bass means nothing to me. I don't find any basses to be too heavy (I've heard these called boat anchors). I also play some hollow body basses that would be considered light by some. But... ultimately why do you care what the weight of a bass is? I have never turned down or bought a bass based on weight. Thoughts???

Yeah I never cared about weight. Balance yes.