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Heavy or light bass?
- Thread starter Chad Johnston
- Start date
My lightest bass:
My Heaviest bass: 
I have a few that are in-between and, I like them all.
My Heaviest bass: I have a few that are in-between and, I like them all.
Last night I practiced/noodled with my 4.85 kg (10 lb 11 Oz) bass on my lap, mostly in between the two legs so my left leg carried the weight the most and I used foot stool under the left leg, for an hour or two... and I ended up with tingling in my left leg. 
Never happened when I did sitting down gigs with my 3.05 kg (6 lb 11 Oz) bass for an hour or so...
Never happened when I did sitting down gigs with my 3.05 kg (6 lb 11 Oz) bass for an hour or so...
By the 2nd set, I’m ready for light as possible.
As a point of reference I’m a very big and very fit guy in my mid-30s. Give me a bass in excess of 9.5 lbs and I’ll know immediately, and deem it unusable for my 4+ hour gigs, but probably fine for a single 45 minute set. Get down to 9 lbs or ideally closer to 8 and I’ll play it all night. Tone differences down to weight all seem to be anecdotal with no scientific method consideration and should largely be considered useless.
The point of my ramblings...? Not much really, but I will say that my 8.8 lbs bass gets the most playing out of my entire stable which ranges from 7.8 to 9.2 lbs, and I’ve sold all of my 10+ pounders.
The point of my ramblings...? Not much really, but I will say that my 8.8 lbs bass gets the most playing out of my entire stable which ranges from 7.8 to 9.2 lbs, and I’ve sold all of my 10+ pounders.
I don't think it's so much light vs heavy. What I look for is balance. I have a couple of Geddy lee Jazz basses that are right at ten pounds but they are well balanced. I never have any trouble playing 3 sets with them.
It's an old wive's tale. No basis in fact. Its complete nonsense. There are light basses that sound good and light basses that sound bad. There are heavy basses that sound good and heavy basses that sound bad. The new Stingray you denigrated is the finest instrument I have ever owned or played. Bar none. It's not close. I don't do fatties but if you want to then good for you.
The sole reason I sold my Warwicks was their weight. My shoulders are destroyed thanks to years of rugby, so trust me when I say a heavy bass is pure hell after a gig.
LOL, what kerfuffle? Some players prefer lighter basses. Some don't. I don't see where the kerfuffle is, or why people care so damn much about whether someone prefers a lighter bass.
In the late 70's one of the basses that I played was a Peavey T-40 which is historically one of the heaviest basses you could ever buy for a 4-string. In the early 80's when I bought my first Ibanez a light bulb went off and I knew I would love shedding 4 pounds off my bass. Since then I've never owned a bass more than 8.5 pounds and I've been blessed with owning a lot of great basses.
Everything is getting lighter and technologically stronger and superior. Mass production with new materials and computer aided manufacturing are all factors for higher quality lighter weight gear. Computer designs on new basses help shave weight and increase the performance of these new basses.
As far as new EBMM basses being cheap, and having a moving neck and constant truss issues, I call bulls**t on that. EBMM WOULD NOT put out crap. They have too much riding on their excellent reputation.
Everything is getting lighter and technologically stronger and superior. Mass production with new materials and computer aided manufacturing are all factors for higher quality lighter weight gear. Computer designs on new basses help shave weight and increase the performance of these new basses.
As far as new EBMM basses being cheap, and having a moving neck and constant truss issues, I call bulls**t on that. EBMM WOULD NOT put out crap. They have too much riding on their excellent reputation.
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I've only had two 4-strings since 1966. One was my 1965 Jazz Bass and the other is my current 1982 Jazz Bass. I use 3¾"-wide leather straps to help alleviate the weight on my shoulder. I believe my current bass is made out of alder, but not sure. I also have a 5-string Rogue LX405 Pro (not the Pro II or III), which was made in Korea out of basswood. It is noticeably lighter than my Jazz bass and even though it's a "no-name" brand, I can get a good sound out of it. Doesn't sound as good as my Jazz of course, but it is a good sound. I prefer the sound I get out of it in passive mode.
Lots of controversy on whether or not different "tone-woods" make basses sound differently. I am of the mind that they do have at least some influence on the sound with passive basses, but not are nearly so important to the sound of an instrument that has active electronics.
To me lighter(within reason and NOT skimping on the neck) basses sound better.
They also feel better, which leads to me playing better.
For me it's below 4 Kg.
They also feel better, which leads to me playing better.
For me it's below 4 Kg.
You still need to get to the gig.
Often times you very much do need an amp.
I don't even know how much my Warmoth 4-string Jazz weighs, but it's on the heavy end of the spectrum. I notice it when I first pick it up, and I feel it at the end of the night, but most of the time when I'm playing I don't really notice it.
I have back & knee & feet issues, and there have been a couple of time over the last few years that it bothered me enough during a gig that I had to switch to a lighter bass, but mostly it's a non-issue. That said, if I could have that same bass but have it be a couple pounds lighter, I'd certainly do that.
I have back & knee & feet issues, and there have been a couple of time over the last few years that it bothered me enough during a gig that I had to switch to a lighter bass, but mostly it's a non-issue. That said, if I could have that same bass but have it be a couple pounds lighter, I'd certainly do that.
