Heavy or light bass?

[JimmyM]

And if people have THAT BAD of back problems, perhaps they shouldn't be playing out for hours at a time? Ok I am done

Not recalling anyone asking for permission to gig.

 

[FishDub]

Not recalling anyone asking for permission to gig.

"Permission to gig?"..Not sure what you mean.

 

[Eidolon0274]

Heavy is better for me, or at least "solid" is better.

I've known several people who had custom builds from major manufacturers and went super light, the tone was not there for them. I think theres a silver MTD 6 with maple board that's been sold like 4 times in the last 6 months, probably because it's so light. Just my opinion. I've had a couple of light sadowskys and lulls and preferred the medium weight stuff, or at least not chambered.

My basses average 12 lbs and I play for a living.

 

[tjh]

I am insistent that my basses be light … and I can't understand why that would even begin to be an issue for anyone else that might prefer them heavy …

But, if it is any consolation, I do prefer my women heavy (and curvy) rather than light (and thin), although I am sure that would mystify some as well …

I also drive Dodge mini-vans (rather than cars or trucks), own a flip phone, have never sent a text in my life … I pick fallen items up off the floor and put back on store shelves, stop in traffic to let a pedestrian across the street, and I identify myself every time I answer the phone …

.. there you go .. pick one (or a few) and add to your disgust with this ol'coot …

 

[Slevage]

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.

I like gigs where I don’t need an amp,
But most do.

 

[mongo2]

I like gigs where I don’t need an amp,
But most do.

I try to use just my SABDDI straight into the FOH whenever possible.

 

[bdplaid]

Those against lightweight basses seem to not have the experience of a great bass in the under-7lb range being played. I just play better with a lighter weight instrument.

As for heavier feeling better, to each his own. In engineering terms, it's easy to make something strong that is heavy; very difficult the other way.

As for the EBMM: they still make the boat anchors for you manly dudes. However, I just got one of the fancy new-fangled EBMM Stingray Specials; it weighs 8 lbs, and plays and sounds better than any Stingray I've ever had.

 

[Slevage]

I try to use just my SABDDI straight into the FOH whenever possible.

Sorry, I’m not up on all the modern abbreviations.

 

[mongo2]

Sorry, I’m not up on all the modern abbreviations.

SABDDI = Sans Amp Bass Driver DI
FOH = Front Of House

 

[Slevage]

SABDDI = Sans Amp Bass Driver DI
FOH = Front Of House

Usually a small amp is needed for me—
A 1-10 combo or a 1-12 combo.
I’m guaranteed to hear what I like, the rest is I to the person running FOH.

 

[dave64o]

What I want to know is why people are obsessed with questioning why other people prefer lighter weight basses.

 

[Bassheart365]

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?

No you are not alone. I love the punch and sustain of heavy, dense woods like Northern Ash, wenge, mahogany and bubinga. I do not care for the tonal properties of alder bodies. I played an 11 pound solid mahogany G&L L2000 for 15 years. My two 5 strings both weigh 9 lbs. My 6 string weighs 10 lbs. I play 4 hour Casino gigs with no problem. I'm 62. But I'm athletic and healthy. I do long distance cycling and lift weights. Zero back issues.

 

[bearfoot]

I don't know if the perceived trend is accurate, and no one seems to have any data to support or disprove it. But I can see why industry would prefer both lighter (shipping and handling) and easier to work (tool cost) woods.

I prefer my lighter weight bass, and its been my low end workhorse since 1996.

I don't believe in solidbody magnetic tonewood, so there is nothing but cosmetics and placebo effect as far as I'm concerned with heavier bodies.

 

[jaco944]

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.

You are.....hahahahaha

 

[dxb]

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 really expect a six string bass to be"light as a feather"
And given that there aren't a whole lot of sixers availabe in stores to compare weights against.

I think 10 pounds is heavy for a 4-string bass, though it isn't bad for a 6-string. Additional strings add a lot of weight since they need a wider bridge with another saddle, another tuning key, a wider neck, etc. Not to mention 5 and 6-string basses often have a longer scale too. I don't have a six but all my fivers are 9+ pounds.

 

[Chad Johnston]

What I want to know is why people are obsessed with questioning why other people prefer lighter weight basses.

View attachment 3334114

I’m not personally questioning anyone else’s preference. If someone likes a light bass great. For whatever reason. All I’m saying is that I have a negative association with the lighter ones. They feel like the cheapo Korean and Chinese ones that were popular as entry level units when I was a kid.

Is it a cost saving thing? The brand new $2200 Stingray I played the other day made out of whatever (cheap?) lighter wood it was made out of was twice the price of the last new Stingray I bought for $1000 (granted it was marked down on sale, but from far less then $2200) which was made out of (if I remember correctly) solid Majogany which is probably my favorite guitar/bass wood.

I hear the same discussion (and in the circle I run in it seems like it goes the opposite direction) in regards to Amps and heads. For instance you have the Ampeg SVT4 which weighs a million pounds compared to the newer ones (Class D Power usually) like the SVT7, which I play and weighs only about maybe 10 pounds or so. I hear people say things like “oh it’s just a 7 and not a 4” all the time. I get that you don’t wear the amp but you still gotta carry it. I don’t play professional but when I go set up my rig, I never once thought about the weight of any of my gear. I guess light is just not a factor for me and I’m no lumberjack.

What IS bothersome is that the two brands I play (MusicMan and Fender) seem like that’s all they care about these days so I’m the odd man out when it comes to buying new gear.

 

[irbass]

Heavy Bass Sounds better to my ears,
especially NT.
But I prefer light bass.

 

[burgerdj]

If it sounds good, play it.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

In my younger years, I thought a heavy bass felt more substancial and therefore equaled better quality. But I now know a heavier bass is just a heavier bass and has nothing to do with the quality. You can argue that heavier basses generally sound better, but the same argument can be made for lighter basses. It's just a matter of preference.

I think manufacturers that are now consciously making lighter instruments are just following market demand. In general, interest in learning a musical instrument is diminishing and what remains is an ageing population of musicians. A lighter instrument is just easier on the back and shoulder and is easier to handle as you get older. It may not be an issue for you now. Get back to us in 20 or 30 years!

 

[Chad Johnston]

In my younger years, I though a heavy bass felt more substancial and therefore equaled better quality. But I now know a heavier bass is just a heavier bass and has nothing to do with the quality. You can argue that heavier basses generally sound better, but the same argument can be made for lighter basses. It's just a matter of preference.

I think manufacturers that are now consciously making lighter instruments are just following market demand. In general, interest in learning a musical instrument is diminishing and what remains is an ageing population of musicians. A lighter instrument is just easier on the back and shoulder and is easier to handle as you get older. It may not be an issue for you now. Get back to us in 20 or 30 years!

LOL as I sit here reading this post I have a heating pad soothing my back injury...non musically related by the way. I may just have to get over the light association thing. I’m cool with that and I’ll eventually be able to. I also used to really not get why everyone and their dog loved PBasses so much, but I kinda have an obsession with them now. Except, I played a MIM one the other day that was so light it felt like a toy. I couldn’t take it seriously. I guess I just feel like bitching about a trend I don’t like haha!