Bass Weight

[melt]

Good stuff Silver. My problem is Dengerative disk disease and degenerative osteo-arthritis of the spine (and other areas), and I agree lifting is as much a problem as playing. I'm prone to good times and bad, but the last time I had a flare up I wasn't playing regularly, this time I am.

I've got a Hartke B200 practice amp I use at home and I have a head and 2 cabs that remains set up at the church and when we have gigs away, there are guys who help with it, but the ones with the wheels sound great! I've used a Gig bag for years and like that. I wear a back brace when I play but during a flare up of the arthritis, (which I'm in the middle of now) I can't handle the SX. It's the hard maple neck that's the heaviest part and it puts too much torque on the back. Sitting down is only slightly better, because over the years I've had a hard time changed my playing habits and still end up twisting as I play. You know all those bad habits we have developed over time.

During flare ups I use my GSR200, and it's good, but I really like the J style basses and I love the 5, so I've never really considered the GSR my 'go to' bass... So I suppose that's whats got me looking for a lighter weight 5.

One of the other problems is I don't have easy access to any decent music shops nearby. Gutar Center is about an hour or more drive and a Sam Ash is even farther. And the Mom and pops have mostly Fender styles and a very limited selection of ones to look at. There's a Peavey Dealer about 30 mins away so How are the Peavey BXP's? Anyone know the weight of those 5's?

Thanks for all the input guys. Good stuff.

I have similar problems to Silver Sorcerer and it's not fun. Anyone with chronic back problems has my sympathies. I find it doubly frustrating because I used to do a lot of weight lifting and was once pretty strong; I used to be able to carry my 100lb-approx Trace Mk1 4x10 comfortably with one hand.

My new Sei bass weighs no more than 8 pounds, but it wasn't cheap. I think the Ibanez SR905 is a reasonable weight. A friend also has one of the cheaper Ibanez GWBs and that's very light (it's also fretless...). Bear in mind that balance is important too. A light bass with poor balance will still cause problems. Look at something that balances as near perfectly as possible. The Status Stealth 2s are very light, but again are expensive. One other thing; if your bass weighs 13lbs that's a pretty heavy instrument. I have a big-bodied Alembic Triple Omega (admittedly hollow) and that only weighs around 10 lbs, which is still not that comfortable for my back. I think the heaviest basses I've ever owned were only around 13lbs.

 

[RedsFan75]

Well, the 13 was a bit of an estimate using the bathroom scale method, when I used a fishing scale it was 10 1/2 but it was mostly neck heavy. I've sold it now, and am using my GSR200 and it's 8 1/2 but I'd still like to find a 5 that's below that. You're right balance is just as important as weight.

 

[melt]

Well, the 13 was a bit of an estimate using the bathroom scale method, when I used a fishing scale it was 10 1/2 but it was mostly neck heavy. I've sold it now, and am using my GSR200 and it's 8 1/2 but I'd still like to find a 5 that's below that. You're right balance is just as important as weight.

Best of luck in your search. I feel your pain! Obviously it would be pretty easy to get something boutique less than that weight but then you're paying for it. I hope you find something that suits.

 

[Dan the Lorp]

Here is the problem with the weight issue that I came across. I was/am interested in a Lakland Skyline 44-02 or 44-01. I heard that they can vary in weight from around 8.5 to 11 LBS! So I e-mailed Lakland, and was surprised to get an email back from Dan Lakin, the founder. He tells me they do vary in weight, but not that much, I think his quote was anywhere from 8.5 to 9.5, possibly 10 LBS---which is still a lot. A few years ago I got a Carvin LB-70 which is a terrific bass at around 8 Lbs. Carvin's quality control keeps all their basses consistent in weight, and they are ALL light. I know a lot of people here trash Carvins, but they make great basses---the new Icon is GORGEOUS! My LB-70 sounds as good as my Geddy---with NO dead spots on the neck, and about 2 Lbs. lighter.

Anyway, Lakin told me to try Bass Central---they have a better 'in' with Lakland than Musicians Friend as far as ordering a model that is a light model in weight. My area has No Lakland dealers for hundreds of miles!

 

[sjb64]

You should check out that X shaped guitar strap that goes over both shoulders. I think that they advertise in the back of bass player mag.

 

[zuma]

I thought that the Bass Company had lightweight chambered bodies:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

They make 5'ers as well.

 

[Suburban]

Hey, Reds', you have a problem!
Obviously back and so on, but also a mental problem No, not that bad, just an issue of attitude.

In one post you mention torque on the back. That's a true killer! When you decide for a new bass, you must consider balance, just as much as weight. You also need to address the issue of how the mass and balance is transferred to your body.

Staying with the bass for a moment, the common problem is that light basses have heavy necks. Even the most cleverly built bass has that problem, becuse of the need of a stiff neck. The only solution to that, that really works, is a hollow, thin-wall neck.

Then, let's leave the bass for a minute. Because even if you find a really light and completely well balanced bass, you still have it strapped over your fretting side shoulder, haven't you? Not only do you have a one side load on your back, inducing torque, you even have that arm stretched out at the same time! Now, THAT is a killer. I solved most of my back and shoulder problem by slinging the strap over my otehr shoulder, which included some specializing of the bass... When I read about your problems, I'd suggest a full harness, something like an accordeon harness. Or better yet, a backpack harness turned inside out. And for the really bad days, a stand. Yeah, really!

Last but not least, amps and speakers. Nowadays, you can get amps that sound great at less than 1.1 kg! Speakers are worse, but if you don't play too deep tones, GK still have their alubox - at some 5-6 kg!

What do I recommend? Well, two "mandatories":
- get a harness designed, in coop with your physiologist (sp?)
- get your bass, new or old, modded for one single harness hang point, i.e. one single "strap pin" that connects with your harness. This point should be in the ceenter of gravity.
These two takes the torque away
Then I would say BassLab STD and lighter amping.

But perhaps a stand and three strong porters are really the most realistic? It's not a bad solution, for sure, was it Dimin who used that trick?

 

[RedsFan75]

When I read these first few lines...

Hey, Reds', you have a problem!
Obviously back and so on, but also a mental problem No, not that bad, just an issue of attitude.

I was like "WHAT" Then I kept reading. Excellent points.

I'll snip a lot, but a couple points are very good I want to mention again.

torque on the back. That's a true killer! When you decide for a new bass, you must consider balance, just as much as weight. You also need to address the issue of how the mass and balance is transferred to your body.

I've been playing with that, experimenting so to speak, using my GSR200, adding a small weight at point along it, and it was amazing how shifting the balance made a difference. So I had come to the conclusion prior to this post that the best way to handle it was to have a connection point in the center of my body that held most of the weight, and that the balance of the neck to body was equally important to the weight, so weight alone isn't my answer.

... I solved most of my back and shoulder problem by slinging the strap over my otehr shoulder, which included some specializing of the bass... When I read about your problems, I'd suggest a full harness, something like an accordeon harness. Or better yet, a backpack harness turned inside out. And for the really bad days, a stand. Yeah, really!

Would love to see how you did the strap.

Very good points and it's something I'd been thinking on my own.

 

[Suburban]

Thought you'd wake up
Got your interest, too...

Yes, balance is key. I'll attach a bad pic of the back of the LoW, that shows how I simply screwed the strap to the body - of the bass... When I wear this, the attachment point is about 2" north of my bellybutton, and the sling is over my right shoulder. The trouble with this solution is that the bass tends to tilt forward, so I end up holding it flat to my belly with the right hand wrist. Ther should be someting that stiffens the strap to follow the back of the bass for a few more inches. Got the same solution on the Vagabond (short Steiny style) and there the tilt is less significant.

From your posts, I see that your problems are worse than mine, so I repeat the idea of making a harness. That could also take care of the tilting issue in an easy fashion. BTW, if you do make a harness, let me know how it turned out...

 

[melt]

My Sei Singlecut balances perfectly (even better then the headlesses I've had, as they tend to balance slightly towards the body), is light (less than 8 pounds I'd say) and sits into the body meaning there is no stretch to the first frets. If there is any problem, I'd say that because it sits so far in, you end up playing across your body on the higher register stuff. Other than that, I hardly know I'm playing it, and I haven't even needed to adapt the strap.

 

[playbass48]

I too have searched the manufacturer sites for weight of their basses. I have bad arthritus in neck and lower back. I have the DDD thing. Had neck fusion a year ago for 4 ruptured discs. Bummer I can't play my Fender basses. BUT, I did recently pick up the Gibson SG bass - very light weight short scale. Nice axe, no back problems wearing it 4 hours at a time. A bit dull in tone, and short. So I picked up the new Yamaha RB X4 bass. Lighter than the SG, awesome funky tone, passive, looks and feels great. Lightest bass around, under $600 - can't be beat!