Does bass weight matter if you always sit down while playing?

[Mike Vee]

I'll admit, I've become a bit of a weight snob. I'll also admit that TB made me that way, and before posting here a lot I never thought about weight at all.

Right now I have an 8 lbs Precision and an 8.5 lbs Jazz bass (with a lot of neck dive on the Jazz). I ONLY play in the studio, sitting down, and will never, EVER in my life gig. That being said, even lifting a bass of the stand, I enjoy them being light. It just feels nice - but that part doesn't matter much.

There is a bass I REALLY want: rare, beautiful, good price, but it's 9.5+ lbs. Everything about it is perfect, except the weight scares me.

Do you think weight of a bass matters at all when sitting down, or is weight only a concern with a strap standing up?

 

[Mike Vee]

I would also add that most examples of this bass are over 10 lbs, but I've seen 1 under 9 lbs. So this is sort of light for the model. Do I get this one, or wait, what could be years, for one under 9 lbs?

 

[JRA]

Do you think weight of a bass matters at all when sitting down, or is weight only a concern with a strap standing up?

i think it's both, but in my own experience = matters less when sitting. i don't have any axes that break 8 lbs., but if I did i'd be more inclined to sit --- just for the groove.....

(an emoji of a sitting player...playing an unlined, fretless, 4-string PJ.)

 

[kgbeast]

16oz, which is roughly weight of 4 bananas, can make a big difference if you run a marathon with that... So I guess the answer to your question relay depends on how hard and dirty you are getting down in there wile playing your bass.

 

[DrBnz]

You should be ok there. For me 9.6 is the limit (cause my 5 strings weigh that much). But I also know that once you get down to 8.5 or less the neck dive issue comes up. So 8.5 - 9.6 is the range I try to stay in. I do have a CIJ Geddy J-bass that's 9.9. It doesn't really bother me though. You'll be fine...

 

[Mike Vee]

16oz, which is roughly weight of 4 bananas, can make a big difference if you run a marathon with that... So I guess the answer to your question relay depends on how hard and dirty you are getting down in there wile playing your bass.

Literally just sitting there playing

 

[MD]

Tie a pound of hamburger meat to your 8.5 and see how it feels.
I sit as well, but I think balance would be more important than an extra lb.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

If a bass is too heavy, my leg can go numb after a certain period of time.

 

[mikeswals]

It should not matter, but folks will find some reason to complain. This sounds very rediculous to me.

 

[micguy]

It certainly matters less, but I still wouldn't own a heavy bass.

I did a bunch of gigs sitting after a surgery where I couldn't stand for very long during recovery, but I could play just fine.

 

[Killing Floor]

It matters to some people, it doesn’t to me. Sitting or standing.

I use the 6-pack rule.

A beer, a good one in a pint glass bottle, weighs 1.5 pounds. So a sixer is 9 pounds.

If that’s too heavy just during a beer.
Win-win.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Do you think weight of a bass matters at all when sitting down?

No.

 

[Mike Vee]

If a bass is too heavy, my leg can go numb after a certain period of time.

How heavy?

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

How heavy?

Well I’m a short female With athletic build . But anything over 9.8 lbs I won’t purchase for this very reason.

 

[Beej]

To me, yes, because I still have to carry it and move it around on my lap. I won't go over 8 lbs.

 

[FearNoEvil65]

If you rest the bass on your leg while playing it may, my heaviest 2 basses at 10 lbs and 9.8lbs, make my leg uncomfortable after a while sitting and playing, none of my lighter basses that are between 9lbs and 7.5lbs do that. I adjust my strap so standing it's a few inches lower that if I sit with a bass, so I usually have the bass resting on my leg if sitting and playing. maybe if you're stout and tough and young it makes no difference, but it sure does to me

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

I have no choice but to sit down to play and the simple answer to your question is: "To me, it does."

I recently did a comparison .mp3 between a '79 P-Bass and a '93 P-Bass clone. Sonically, they're indistinguishable.

Because this is TB and because I noticed an absolute difference in weight, I had SWMBO weigh both basses.

I knew what the result would be. I knew there would be at least a pound difference and I was right!

P-Bass: 10 lbs. even.
Clone: 8.4 lbs.

Guess which one I'm selling?

 

[Jogobass]

For me it makes no difference because when I sit I also use the strap and my bass is just touching my leg, not really leaning on it.

 

[CletusMarley]

I'm using a strap whether I'm standing or sitting so it doesn't matter too much.......but I do like a lighter bass if possible. If not. No biggie.

 

[pfschim]

it only matters to your leg