Heavy or light bass?

[Chad Johnston]

Seems like the trend right now is manufacturers making their basses lighter and lighter. I was in GC the other day and played a new EBMM Stingray and I couldn’t believe how light it was. It was a complete turnoff, to be honest. I’ve owned two EBMM basses and they were both a significant amount heavier than this one. One of them was a USA Sterling which is partly marketed as lighter than the Stongray, because it has a smaller/slimmer body. But those are still quite heavy compared to what I’m mostly seeing on the shelves...or hangers....today.

Maybe I’m just old school or something but back when I started playing guitar and bass it seems like the good, American stuff was stout and heavy and the cheap overseas stuff was light and made out of very inferior woods.

I’ve been criticized for thinking this way in the past, but I just feel like I get better tone and sustain from heavier, denser woods.

Am I alone here? Do I need to adapt or am I destined to buying only 10-20 year old basses, LOL?

 

[Picton]

I don’t get the weight obsession either.

But I’m relatively young and relatively healthy. Others can make their decisions on their own. Fortunately, there’s choice.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I played the same 70s parts bass for over 20 years as my only bass, about 11 pounds. I never thought it was especially heavy. Then I played some other basses, and realized how much easier it was to get through a gig on a lighter instrument. It helps - add in my back as I get older - it helps.

Remember, most "good American stuff" WAS lighter until the mid 70s, when Fender switched from Swamp ash to northern ash to save money. Pick up a 60s or early 70s Fender, and likely it is around 9 pounds.

 

[Lesfunk]

As a singer/bassist I can tell you it’s much easier to sing with an 8 pound bass hanging off your chest than an 11 pound one

 

[ctmullins]

Generally, the heavier instruments have better tone, not because they’re heavy, but because they’re stiffer. There is a very general correlation between stiffness and density, but there are plenty of exceptions too - you can keep the stiffness but minimize the weight through chambering, using thinner body wings, etc.

The first few instruments I made had great tone, but turned out to be too heavy for my middle-aged frame to gig with. I then started making light weight a building goal. That pendulum swung too far the other way, and I wound up with an extremely light bass with “meh” tone. It felt odd too. My current target weight is now between 9 and 10 pounds, using a thin and/or compact body. My 4004 build turned out amazing, and is about 9.5 pounds.

 

[Chad Johnston]

As a singer/bassist I can tell you it’s much easier to sing with an 8 pound bass hanging off your chest than an 11 pound one

Fortunately, for me and for everyone else, I don’t sing.

 

[Chad Michael]

For you weight - sensitive people: switch to DB (upright, bull fiddle).

The weight rests on the ground and you don't need to carry an amplifier.

You're welcome.

 

[JRA]

folks who don't care about weight (yet) are not the folks who:
- play for a living
- have played for 5 decades+
- have multiple gigs/setups/teardowns daily
- have bodies and bones battered by the experience of gigging/living
- yada yada

of course i could be wrong.

 

[Watchootognbout]

One man's "heavy" is another man's just right.
Both of my sixers weight 10.5 lbs.

To me that's average.
I don't avoid them if they are heavy.
Also,I don't really expect a six string bass to be"light as a feather"

And that's taken into account that there aren't a whole lot of sixers available in stores to compare weights against.

You have to accept it or you don't buy them.

 

[Aidil]

Eventually, we all grow old and appreciate lighter bass... For those who never care, probably they've retired playing early, either by themselves or by God's will.

 

[Scottgun]

For the idea that heavier basses have better tone: ABX research with a large sample or it ain't true.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Seems like the trend right now is manufacturers making their basses lighter and lighter. I was in GC the other day and played a new EBMM Stingray and I couldn’t believe how light it was. It was a complete turnoff, to be honest. I’ve owned two EBMM basses and they were both a significant amount heavier than this one. One of them was a USA Sterling which is partly marketed as lighter than the Stongray, because it has a smaller/slimmer body. But those are still quite heavy compared to what I’m mostly seeing on the shelves...or hangers....today.

Maybe I’m just old school or something but back when I started playing guitar and bass it seems like the good, American stuff was stout and heavy and the cheap overseas stuff was light and made out of very inferior woods.

I’ve been criticized for thinking this way in the past, but I just feel like I get better tone and sustain from heavier, denser woods.

Am I alone here? Do I need to adapt or am I destined to buying only 10-20 year old basses, LOL?

I have an "as new" Sire P7 5 string you might be interested in. Alder body, rosewood fretboard. 10.2 pounds.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

This could have been a great poll, but likely it's going to attract all the big strong men to brag about how they don't mind the weight of a heavy bass

 

[JimmyM]

Light. And I don't give a crap who doesn't like it.

 

[And I]

After a massive bilateral herniation of my L5-S1 disc, I'll take it light, thanks. My Brute is 10lbs, I'm having someone build me a 5 string with a chambered body, hoping to be under 9 lbs. Doesn't seem like much but a 10 to 15% weight reduction will help a lot.

 

[bassbenj]

I just don't worry much about weight although it if gets really heavy I start to notice (like say my 12 pound Conklin 7 string).
I just go with the tone and feel. I love my Ash body basses even though they do tend toward the solid and heavy side, but I love the feel and tone.
On the other hand I also love my Carvin AC50 semihollow which is 6 1/2 pounds. Light as a feather. A joy to play. But sorry I still like my Ash boat anchors too!

I can understand why people with joint problems and other medical conditions want a lighter instrument, But so long as the weight doesn't really bother me, i"m going to enjoy the tone and looks of heavier basses and I will enjoy the light ones too!

 

[bassbenj]

This could have been a great poll, but likely it's going to attract all the big strong men to brag about how they don't mind the weight of a heavy bass

Oh crap! Have I just been attracted to brag about how big and strong I am and no amount of bass weight bothers me. Got a solid lignum Vitae body bass I use just o practice curls!

 

[mongo2]

In decades I've been playing I've always preferred lighter basses.

 

[Scottgun]

This could have been a great poll, but likely it's going to attract all the big strong men to brag about how they don't mind the weight of a heavy bass

 

[jd56hawk]

Seems like the trend right now is manufacturers making their basses lighter and lighter. I was in GC the other day and played a new EBMM Stingray and I couldn’t believe how light it was. It was a complete turnoff, to be honest. I’ve owned two EBMM basses and they were both a significant amount heavier than this one. One of them was a USA Sterling which is partly marketed as lighter than the Stongray, because it has a smaller/slimmer body. But those are still quite heavy compared to what I’m mostly seeing on the shelves...or hangers....today.

Maybe I’m just old school or something but back when I started playing guitar and bass it seems like the good, American stuff was stout and heavy and the cheap overseas stuff was light and made out of very inferior woods.

I’ve been criticized for thinking this way in the past, but I just feel like I get better tone and sustain from heavier, denser woods.

Am I alone here? Do I need to adapt or am I destined to buying only 10-20 year old basses, LOL?

Mine is 7.3 lbs...swamp ash.
Proof that heavy is only in the head.