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Heavy Basses?

A

afzoomie67

Mar 1, 2011
1,243
6
29
Downingtown, PA
#1
So I have a thing for heavy basses. I like how they inscrutable and how they usually have a deep, heavy sound to it. Anyone know of any nice ones that are still being made, look cool, feel good, and sound amazing?

I know they're not heavy, but I'm looking at these two:

Buy Italia Torino Bass Guitar | 4 String Electric Bass | Musician's Friend
In black^

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
In Fireglo^

Any opinions on those two?
 
#5
afzoomie67 said:
So I have a thing for heavy basses. I like how they inscrutable and how they usually have a deep, heavy sound to it. Anyone know of any nice ones that are still being made, look cool, feel good, and sound amazing?

I know they're not heavy, but I'm looking at these two:

Buy Italia Torino Bass Guitar | 4 String Electric Bass | Musician's Friend
In black^

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
In Fireglo^

Any opinions on those two?
Click to expand...

looks like a hollow body... that means its not so heavy
 
#6
Thunderbirds aren't a bad option. Some Stingrays have some heft to them too. I used to have one that seemed like it was heavier than most. Have to agree that the T-40 is probably the heaviest thing I've ever played and I think I can pull a good variety of tones out of it.

And, of course, there's the Mothman (search the for the threads if you haven't seen it). That looks like it weighs a good 40+ pounds.
 
#9
Punk Rock Jason said:
Thunderbirds aren't a bad option. Some Stingrays have some heft to them too. I used to have one that seemed like it was heavier than most. Have to agree that the T-40 is probably the heaviest thing I've ever played and I think I can pull a good variety of tones out of it.

And, of course, there's the Mothman (search the for the threads if you haven't seen it). That looks like it weighs a good 40+ pounds.
Click to expand...

LOL! Beat me to it... :D
 
#11
The heaviest basses I've played were a T-40 (by a LONG way), a late 70's P-bass I used to own and an early 90's Stingray that I really regret selling. I always loved heavier basses and was convinced they sounded better but then I got older and my back gave up. Now it's lighter instruments all the way for me but I still like strapping on my favorite P-bass now and then.

I agree with the Thunderbird recommendations here - they're pretty big and chunky. I'd say the tone is heavier on the low mids rather than the lows though. It's a great bass for rock though, really powerful and punchy.
 
#13
Only heavy woods Ive liked for bodies is bubinga, & ovangkol. Darkest voiced bassed Ive owned have been light weight for most part. Mahogany body. Heavy woods like maple are rather bright toned to me. That Iny Irk bass looks like a nice rickinbacker style bass. Like those Id expect it to be bright sounding as are all maple body basses. Thunderbirds are dark toned. In good part due to that being how gibson type bass pups for it are voiced. Overall I look at the pups first for darker fuller tone. The wood just helping or otherwise tweaking that tone. Soapbar and then P pups and in some cases humbucker pups as best for dark articulate voice. J's being more mid to treble oriented. Not a bad thing, just not as dark & full sounding as soapbar and P pups to me. Course theres bright voiced soapbar and P pups to though. Lol.
 
#19
In my opinion there is no direct correlation between the weight of a bass and its frequency response. Pickup type and position will get you there with way more predictability. A humbucker right at the end of the neck for example.
 

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