Heavy or light bass?

[bearfoot]

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.

I know there is a lot of nostalgia factor, but those brands have been corporate commodities for decades. The only thing "Fender" about it is the sticker. I suggest such brand loyalty is an unnecessary tiedown. It is very easy to get the bass of any weight you want, if you let go of that obsolete attachment.

It's kind of like going to a McDonald's expecting a 1950's quality hamburger, and being disappointed over and over again. McDonald doesn't work there anymore.

 

[Cutter8]

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!

Kind of a a scary thought. That stuff is like cast iron. I think a lignum vitae Stingray would come in at well over 15lbs!

 

[Stranger Danger]

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.

I think it’s pretty clear from which direction the snobbery and diva-ism is coming from

 

[Mili]

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.

+1000

 

[Curtbass]

Weight is not a defining factor for me. I have lightweight Ibanez basses and heavy fenders. They all were bought for sound/playability. The Ibanez basses mostly for 24 frets.
That said there is certainly a difference when playing a long show. Stage moves change.

 

[Stranger Danger]

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.

You could always attach some lead to your basses if you think they’re too light. Seriously though, what would be your ideal weight then? I like them at 8 pounds. Are you wanting 12 pound Fenders again?

 

[Mili]

I prefer medium-heavy Basses too and I don't care who playes what, but people forgot their demand will shape the Market so with this trending things I can guess which Bass will be rare.
A pbass with a real pbass neck and acceptable weight!

 

[pbassnut]

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?

Generally speaking, my ears like the heavier basses, but my back likes the lighter ones. If you're still a healthy young buck with it all ahead of you ... you need not concern yourself. However, have a little empathy for us old timers. I'm 64 and have somewhere between eight and nine thousand gigs under my belt since '73. I've always had to schlep and set up my own gear and used an all tube monster Ampeg SVT rig for the majority of my 8 1/2 years of playing in busy full time touring bands in my twenties. A glorious sound to be sure, but I'm paying for it now. I have a few slightly less than 10 pound basses that I love and are killer instruments, but I can only use them for relatively short 1 - 1.5 hour gigs these days. I play my 8 - 9 pound basses most often for my longer bar gigs. It's really surprising how much of a difference 1 - 1.5 pounds can make to an old man like me who should probably throw in the towel, but can't because it's just too much a part of me to give up.

 

[bassliner50]

Unless we approaching 20 lbs. weight is not a prominent factor in bass selection and satisfaction. What matters to me is its response to my playing and its overall tone this comes from an old fart with weak, painful joints etc.

 

[DWBass]

My gigs are typically 3 sets of an hour each or 2 sets of an hour and a half each. Not interested in a bass much more than 9lbs. If you're fine slinging 10+lb basses, then more power to you. My very first bass was around 8lbs back in the early 70's. I have never considered playing any heavy bass! I tried out a Stingray way back then and the weight put me off immediately! I've had some heavy ones over the years and I didn't own them long. No matter how well they played. As for weight affecting tone......nah! A well made bass will sound great at any weight.

 

[Hawaii Islander]

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...

I use a strap even when I play sitting down. It helps distribute the weight better.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Do people not know there are weight reducing straps available? Comfort Strapp makes some amazing space aged design stuff that I really like. Levy’s makes a really nice wide strap that helps distribute weight. Also, Moody made nice stuff if you can find them used. I don’t think they’re in business anymore.

I prefer heavy basses myself.
Especially when it comes to basses made with ash bodies. Light ash can turn out to be very thin sounding. That’s just my experience.

There is no such thing as a weight reducing strap. The bass weighs what it weighs and that cannot be changed. There are only straps that can either distribute the weight better (e.g. wider) or make a softer contact point on your shoulder.

 

[Watchootognbout]

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...

I find myself sitting more at band practice.
Not that I have to.
Call it an Anthony Jackson-ism.

And I always use a strap while sitting.
It carries most of the weight.
While the bass is supported between my legs and propped up against my chest.

 

[DWBass]

Nothing wrong with Korean or Indonesian made instruments. Same woods. Mostly built to manufacturers specs. I own one of those SBMM Ray4's. Bass is extremely playable and neck is stable & solid. Does not budge. A little over 9lbs. Also owned a Ibanez that was around 8lbs for about 10 years. Loved playing that thing. Weight means nothing but weight. If it annoys you that some folks desire light basses, then get over it. That ain't gonna change. I just turned 60 but I've never desired or accepted a heavy bass........ever! Lastly, I never felt any overly light bass felt like a toy. It ain't a toy.

 

[Nephilymbass]

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 think there’s a happy medium. And by that I mean ones physical ability to deal with the weight taken out of the equation there Is a sweet spot in the 9-10 lbs range. Heavier than that basses tend to sound overly compressed imo, and too light can cause a ton of different issues from sounding kind of lifeless to having neck dive issues because the body isn’t heavy enough to act as a counter weight for the neck.

There is a big movement for lighter and lighter basses. My opinion is this “movement” is because it’s simply an aging market. There are a lot more bass players in their 40s and up now who are more likely to have shoulder and or back issues. It’s a big part of why I think short scale basses have become so popular lately as well. Because older players tend to have more issues with their hands and wrists. Bass is much more so an instrument that you play with other people. “Kids” entire lives these days are consumed by things like Netflix and video games. Young bands play a few shows for like ten people and then quit because their friends would rather binge shows on Netflix than support live music. For them it’s not like those of us who grew up in a time of rockstars.

 

[soulman969]

As long as a bass is no more than 9-10lbs I'm good with it. Lighter may be a little nicer it's not gonna make more difference than sound and playability.

 

[bassballs27]

There is no such thing as a weight reducing strap. The bass weighs what it weighs and that cannot be changed. There are only straps that can either distribute the weight better (e.g. wider) or make a softer contact point on your shoulder.

Weight is just a number anyway.
People get too hypersensitive to one aspect of an instrument and that ultimately completes their decision or judgement. It’s really funny how people will pick a weight and say nothing more than weight X works for them. 9.0 lbs or 9.25 lbs...my WIDE strap will make it “feel like” far far less than it weighs. It’s magic!

 

[Rabidhamster]

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.

Serious Questions:

How does anyone in the audience hear you?

How do you get it to the gig if you cant lift 12 pounds?

 

[JIO]

Heavy or light bass?

light

 

[MJ_Sotti]

light basses feel cheap to me