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Does a bass being a lightweight indicate a negative?
- Thread starter FishDub
- Start date
I would have to say no on this subject. My Stingray at 13lbs sounds great but I have an ibanez sr 800 I took the pre amp out and put in some EMG geezer buttler pj pups in. It is super light and sound different but also amazing.
This is about practicality. Heavy basses for gigging suck. I have played super light 7lb basses that have tom=ne for days. It's just what tone wood is chosen, and the hardware etc., also plays a big role. If you are a bedroom musician, a 10 lb P-Bass is probably fine and will sound great. If you gig a lot, you probably want a lighter bass. I have found also, the lighter the bass, the more it usually costs. Lol.
my 55 P Bass is super light and sustains for ever as does my 77 Telecaster Bass which weighs more than a VW Golf................so it makes me curious too!
I've owned s lot of heavy basses, mostly Fenders and Rickenbacker's. I came into possession of a Guild Pilot Bass about 20years ago and it felt as heavy as a Stratocaster. That was the end of heavy basses for me. After the Pilot I started buying Ibanez basses, and currently have three. They are light, with very fast necks and a real joy to play.
I recently saw an interview with Carol Kaye, and she was playing an Ibanez.
'nuff said !
I recently saw an interview with Carol Kaye, and she was playing an Ibanez.
'nuff said !
No. I have some of the heaviest and a few of the lightest. If it's a well-constructed bass with a lot of balls in the neck, weight doesn't matter.
Weight on the headstock is what influences dead spots the most (the neck is a mass loaded bar - something that is pretty well know in Physics circles), and they are quite predictable - more weight (or a less stiff neck) moves the dead spot further "down" the neck (towards the nut), less weight (more stiffness of the neck also does this) moves the dead spot "up" the neck.
The way I feel now as I get older, a lot older is my G&L L2000 1983 model is mahogany and way too heavy. American and Mexican Fender's are way thicker body's than Squire. But if you get that resonance, sustain if you will flowing through your instrument thats the bass to play and forget all the above.
Perhaps a lightweight neck might adversely affect tone, but except for the rare aluminum neck, there is little difference in the weight of bass necks. It's all in the body, and as so many others have already noted, it seems to make not a wit of difference. My '80s basswood body Japanese Jazz Bass Special slays.
Or nudging 80. Light for me...can't tell the difference in tone quality anyway.
All but one of my basses now are short-scale - my back is no longer up to touting long-scale basses, even four-stringers. I would back my Stingray, Hofner and Mayones against any long-scale for tone, resonance and sustain.
Although I have other basses, I've primarily played a Japanese '72 re-issue Fender J-Bass for about 30 years now (it was about $800 when I purchased it--if you can ever find a Japanese re-issue Fender bass or guitar [my Strat's also a Japanese re-issue] BUY IT!). It's very light, which is great for four-hour gigs. It has a very high-end clanky tone, which I dig. Some would say it lacks low end, but I disagree. I play it through an SWR amp and its low end is definitely solid without becoming a rumbly mess. Low end is not your friend. Go for the punch, not the rumble! It's tough aging as a bassist because not only does a heavy bass destroy your back, but standing in the same spot with an upright all night kills your feet, too! It's a labor of love, friends!
I just picked up a Sandberg 5 super light. It weighs in at 6.3 lbs. no neck dive at all. Sounds amazing. Actually better than my traditional wood Sandberg 5 that weighs 9 lbs. same exact bass shape and pickups. There are a lot of elements that go into a basses tone. Having a bass that doesn’t add stress to your back, neck and shoulders for a 2 plus hour set is a real benefit. It really boils down to what feels good to you. Apparently weight is not a factor for sustain and tone in my opinion.
Lighter woods resonate and sustain better. Top players use and recommend basses by makers who utilize more resonant woods- American swamp ash being a notable example.
There are a lot of valid points out there, so I'll add my two cents from 43 years of playing.
I've had basses that were extremely light, (7-8 lbs), that had great tone and played very well, but no sustain. I've also had extensive heavy basses, (16lbs!), that had great tone and no sustain. I now have a Precision Special that weighs in at about 11-12 lbs, has a tone that will knock your socks off and more sustain than I've found in any other bass. Our standard gig runs about 4-1/2 to 5 hours, so I made a custom 4" wide strap to help with the shoulder issue.
What I've found is this: There is a fine line between tone and sustain. Choose which one you're after. Our band leader wasn't impressed when I brought an LTD 205B with very nice tone to a gig. After one set, he came to me and asked me to go back to the PS because the LTD doesn't have the sustain we all hear in the Fender.
The LTD has all the heavy hardware like the PS, but actually weighs less, hence the lack of sustain, IMO. I love the LTD, but it's the slightly heavier PS that goes to gigs to get the sound we want. In the end, that's the important thing. Get the sound you want, heavy, light, or in between, and that's the best bass for you.
I've had basses that were extremely light, (7-8 lbs), that had great tone and played very well, but no sustain. I've also had extensive heavy basses, (16lbs!), that had great tone and no sustain. I now have a Precision Special that weighs in at about 11-12 lbs, has a tone that will knock your socks off and more sustain than I've found in any other bass. Our standard gig runs about 4-1/2 to 5 hours, so I made a custom 4" wide strap to help with the shoulder issue.
What I've found is this: There is a fine line between tone and sustain. Choose which one you're after. Our band leader wasn't impressed when I brought an LTD 205B with very nice tone to a gig. After one set, he came to me and asked me to go back to the PS because the LTD doesn't have the sustain we all hear in the Fender.
The LTD has all the heavy hardware like the PS, but actually weighs less, hence the lack of sustain, IMO. I love the LTD, but it's the slightly heavier PS that goes to gigs to get the sound we want. In the end, that's the important thing. Get the sound you want, heavy, light, or in between, and that's the best bass for you.
Purely personal, but despite an untreated back injury (a fractured vertebrae) that wasn't diagnosed for 33 years, I like a heavier bass for the solid feel & resonance. Adrenaline holds the pain at bay (usually)! Purely personal (and contrary) preference!
Hi!
There is a HUGE difference between guys who play on Stage and those eho stay home on foruns.
Play the bass you feel most confortable and you like the sound.
Paulo
QUOTE="FishDub, post: 25717680, member: 195189"]I ask this because I have read many threads on two different views of this, particularly in the classifieds. The first is that a nice, heavy, thick slab of wood in excess of 10-12 pounds accounts for unmatched, resonate tone quality(IE-Vintage Fenders/Musicmans). The other is the ongoing question of "weight?"...Weight isnt really a deal-breaker for me personally if I like the tone and balance, but I dont gig for hours either. So do most ask the weight because they want a heavy, resonant slab of wood OR do they ask because they want a super lightweight, or a bit of both? My Fender P/J is on the heavier side of 9.5-10 lbs but I love the tone. But, my 80s Japan Tune maniac is a featherweight at 7.5 lbs and that thing kills. Been curious about this..[/QUOTE]
There is a HUGE difference between guys who play on Stage and those eho stay home on foruns.
Play the bass you feel most confortable and you like the sound.
Paulo
QUOTE="FishDub, post: 25717680, member: 195189"]I ask this because I have read many threads on two different views of this, particularly in the classifieds. The first is that a nice, heavy, thick slab of wood in excess of 10-12 pounds accounts for unmatched, resonate tone quality(IE-Vintage Fenders/Musicmans). The other is the ongoing question of "weight?"...Weight isnt really a deal-breaker for me personally if I like the tone and balance, but I dont gig for hours either. So do most ask the weight because they want a heavy, resonant slab of wood OR do they ask because they want a super lightweight, or a bit of both? My Fender P/J is on the heavier side of 9.5-10 lbs but I love the tone. But, my 80s Japan Tune maniac is a featherweight at 7.5 lbs and that thing kills. Been curious about this..[/QUOTE]
I'm with you man; same for guitars. Can't do heavy, and don't feel my tone has ever suffered for lack of weight.
I play upright and guitar as well, which is how I got back problems to start ;-) mostly from carrying amps
