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Heavy or light bass?

#48
the first bass i played regularly was about the heaviest 5 string i've ever played. i didn't mind because everything in my body worked. then i got a more average weight 4 string and didn't think about the weight at all. and so on.

then i tore my rotator cuffs and was unable to play anything for a year. things have improved so i can play, but i have restrictions, and if i don't pay attention to them, i can have literally weeks of deep pain that keeps me awake and night and only lets me play smaller lighter basses for limited amounts of time. i'm told i can also cause longer-term damage with a heavier bass, which i really want to avoid.

so i'm grateful for manufacturers making some light weight basses. they keep me playing :)
 
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#49
Light. I played heavy basses back in the day and finally got a serious neck surgery (got a disc removed in between the 5th and 6th vertebrae). Since the early 90's, I've played heavy basses sound like crap and light basses that sounded great. Younger folks might not get it at the moment, but might experience health problems in the long term.
 
#50
Engle said:
Ok I’m curious - What are your issues with Indonesian stuff?
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Quality. I tried one of those Sterling by MM Ray 24 basses and while I enjoyed the way it played and sounded, the neck moved on it every other day and needed constant adjusting. They also don’t hold their value at all (probably because they start off with very little of it), so I returned it.
 
#51
Chad Johnston said:
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!
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Light basses feel like toys to you? So, I guess all acoustics are toys then, not to mention most guitars and plenty of other instruments as well.
 
#52
M-60 2.jpg
As I've said before, I carried one of these around - on that combat sling - for days at a time, for a lotta years. With a 100 round combat pac on it, you're looking at about 30+ lbs on your shoulder. So, no bass I ever played (or own) ever bothered me much. However... that was a long time ago. I haven't been in a band for a long time, either; so I honestly can't say if having to play a "heavy" bass for a whole gig would bother me or not. I'd like to think it wouldn't, but.. who knows? Practicing for an hour or two, even with my heaviest bass (11 lbs.) doesn't seem to, but I sure do notice when I put the thing down these days. But, weight still isn't much of a concern for me, and it isn't something I think about when contemplating buying another one. As with every other thing about them; for me, a bass simply is what it is, and mine range from my Dano Longhorn @ a hair over 5 lbs., to my 11 lb. P-Bass. And, as for the "trend" toward lighter basses? IMO, it's mostly a consequence of the traditional body woods becoming scarcer (and so, more expensive), and the wood that's replacing them just happening to be lighter that what we've been used to. And, the fact that basses with lighter bodies sell well, encourages the manufacturers to explore other light weight body options. So, yeah, I have a feeling that heavier basses are mostly going to disappear - for several reasons. But, I doubt that "because they're better" is one of them...:whistle:
 
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#55
FishDub said:
+1
Every time I see a "weight?" in the classifieds it drives me insane. Sometimes I think people ask knowing it annoys people. Here's the deal--I understand that weight is SOMEWHAT of a factor and some people have back issues, but if I find something that I really want like Pre-Eb 77-79 Stingray or an original 60s era jazz bass(which have very fluctuating weights), who cares what the friggin weight is?! Not sure if its a trend but I am sure it is easier on some peoples' backs out there. Also, I have played countless hours of gigs and because I actually enjoy the specific bass, I don't notice and don't care about the weight..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:rollno:
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GIBrat51 said:
View attachment 3334214 As I've said before, I carried one of these around - on that combat sling - for days at a time, for a lotta years. With a 100 round combat pac on it, you're looking at about 30+ lbs on your shoulder. So, no bass I ever played (or own) ever bothered me much. However... that was a long time ago. I haven't been in a band for a long time, either; so I honestly can't say if having to play a heavy bass for a whole gig would bother me or not. I'd like to think it wouldn't, but.. who knows? Practicing for an hour or two, even with my heaviest bass (11 lbs.) doesn't seem to, but I sure do notice when I put the thing down these days. But, weight still isn't much of a concern for me, and it isn't something I think about when contemplating buying another one. As with every other thing about them; for me, a bass simply is what it is, and mine range from my Dano Longhorn @ a hair over 5 lbs., to my 11 lb. P-Bass. And, as for the "trend" toward lighter basses? IMO, it's mostly a consequence of the traditional body woods becoming scarcer (and so, more expensive), and the wood that's replacing them just happening to be lighter that what we've been used to. And, the fact that basses with lighter bodies sell well, encourages the manufacturers to explore other light weight body options. So, yeah, I have a feeling that heavier basses are mostly going to disappear - for several reasons. But, I doubt that "because they're better" is one of them...:whistle:
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here's the thing - if you wait till your bass' weight is giving you back problems, you've waited too long. some of the problems that heavy basses can cause can require surgery and can cause scar tissue and other things that can impair your bass playing for a long time or forever. if you don't keep playing a heavier bass till problems arise, those problems may never arise at all.

just sayin'...
 
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#56
I'll take the lightest bass that sounds and plays good. For a short time I used to have a Steinberger L2. It was real light as you might guess, but I didn't like the sound or the feel. So I sold it off.
 
#57
What's interesting about weight is that in the tactile sense, we conflate it with density, and to some extent, balance. As an extreme example: a 4x8 piece of 3/4" plywood weighs +/- 75 lbs. Most people would have no problem picking one up and carrying it several feet. But, reduce that same 75 lbs into a one inch cube, and you'd swear it was the heaviest thing you'd ever encountered. I noticed this with a bass I made on a Strat body. It's very small and compact, almost toy sized. As memory serves, it weighs in at around 7 lbs 9oz. But it 'feels' as heavy as an 8-1/2~9 lb Jazz bass.
 
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#58
Weight has never been an issue for me. If I like a bass, I buy it, regardless of the weight. I have had multiple shoulder surgeries due to injuries sustained playing pro-am ice hockey and have also sustained back injuries in a car accident but weight is still not a consideration. I have never understood how people can play a bass that weighs 9 pounds but have a problem with one that weighs 9.5 pounds. I honestly don't believe that the majority of people can even notice an 8 ounce difference in weight.
 
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#59
Kmonk said:
Weight has never been an issue for me. If I like a bass, I buy it, regardless of the weight. I have had multiple shoulder surgeries due to injuries sustained playing pro-am ice hockey and have also sustained back injuries in a car accident but weight is still not a consideration. I have never understood how people can play a bass that weighs 9 pounds but have a problem with one that weighs 9.5 pounds. I honestly don't believe that the majority of people can even notice an 8 ounce difference in weight.
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Well it took me a few days, but I once changed the bridge on my 09 Precision to a Hipshot A, which added a few ounces to it. Within a few days of gigs, I was noticing the pull. I took it off and installed a regular Fender bent plate bridge, and have had no more issues from using it.
 
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#60
Kmonk said:
... I have never understood how people can play a bass that weighs 9 pounds but have a problem with one that weighs 9.5 pounds. I honestly don't believe that the majority of people can even notice an 8 ounce difference in weight.
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Agreed. While I'm sure there is small fraction of bassists who are actually sensitive to the difference of a few ounces, I suspect most of this kerfuffle is driven by snobbery and diva-ism.
 

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