Heavy Sterling Ray34 should I sell?

[ics1974]

I have an amazing Sterling 34 bass that plays very nice and has amazing tone. The sustain is the best I have every heard. Problem is that it weighs 11.4 lbs
I did buy a Neotech mega bass strap and it does help allot but for long playing sessions I still feel the weight after an hours or so. Would you sell an amazing bass just because of weight?

 

[OsoTheGreat]

I had a sterling like that. It was a natural body and was swamp ash I believe. Thing was easily 11lbs. It played great but it caused too much fatigue to play standing up so I sold it. I make sure the basses I buy now are light enough for me.

 

[Watchootognbout]

No.
I play six string basses.
All of my basses weight 10.5 lbs plus or minus.
I don't expect a sixer to be light.
But I use a Comfort Strapp and all is fine.

 

[JRA]

Would you sell an amazing bass just because of weight?

depends:
- how amazing?
- how heavy?

i would never sell "my most amazing bass ever," regardless of weight...i wouldn't stop playing it either! but IME: i can play amazing axes that don't weigh as much, so why bother with the ones that hurt.

i voted "it depends."

 

[LowEndLobster]

Those Ray34s are great basses, but are all over the place weight wise. I had two examples that were both 11 lbs, but my friend on here has one in the mid 9's (same natural finish/roasted neck). Those basses absolutely nail the classic Stingray tone, however my '17 Stingray was about $1200 or so on the used market. About twice what I paid for the Ray34 ($599 on sale from MF last year), but weighs about 9.2 lbs and has a cooler color. No roasted neck though

 

[Tubehed]

Only you can decide this for yourself. Nobody else here but you has that bass hanging on your shoulder.

 

[ruju]

Those are amazing basses! I've got a black ray34ca at about 10lbs. I'll never sell.

 

[steveinohio]

Get rid of it. Absolutely no reason to keep that boat anchor. Weight issues won’t get better with age. You can use all the straps and tricks you want. There are a lot of lighter options out there that sound the same if not better.

 

[Bassclef46]

How about building your upper body strength to eliminate the fatigue issue?

 

[MMiller28]

That's 15% heavier than both of my six-strings...Yikes

 

[Morse_77]

It sounds good but it`s a bit heavy?
That's a shame.
You should sell it quickly and cheaply.

You know what? You sound like a nice guy, I`ll give 200$ to take it off your hands...

 

[Pings Bass]

I'd keep an 11.4lb Alembic, but I wouldn't buy a 11.4lb Sterling in the first place. I'm pretty sure you could find a lighter one.

 

[Killing Floor]

MusicMan bass (and guitar) weights are notoriously all over the map. I've never weighed my Sabre but I can tell it's heavier than almost any other bass I own (I have 1 P that I know is heavier).
If the bass is killing you to play don't play it. Sell it if you want. All the EBMM basses I've owned have had really good sustain and musicality (my opinion) so the fact that it is more dense doesn't necessarily make it unique in tone. If you don't want to play it you are eventually going to not play it.

Qualifier that I am not concerned by the weight of a bass or 2-3 pounds +/-.
But if you are finding reasons to justify parting with it it's not the bass for you.

 

[Silky Johnson]

I sold my old Carvin LB70 because it was too dang heavy...it was a great bass but the fact it wore me out meant it had to go, no regrets

 

[Gizmot]

NO! I have to say that I laugh every time there's a discussion of weight. I'm getting old, but I'm still capable of carrying my equipment and holding my instruments for any gig.

When I can't hold it any longer or have to sit down, then I'll know it's time to hang up my guns and retire. Not there yet!

 

[Hevy T]

I swear by the Levy 3.5 in Neoprene strap. Not real cheap but awesome. I have an all maple jazz that weighs atleast 11 lbs, and I have a bad shoulder. However I hardly notice it with that strap

 

[darwin-bass]

I have an amazing Sterling 34 bass that ... weighs 11.4 lbs
Would you sell an amazing bass just because of weight?

If it weighs 11.4 lbs it is not an amazing bass.

 

[lomo]

If I had a car the handled really well and had a powerful engine and looked cool......but had an unfixably uncomfortable driver's seat, I'd sell it faster than you can say Leo Fender.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I would sell it, playing up on stage with a band is suppose to be fun and relaxing, it’s therapy for me, I sure wouldn’t want to be uncomfortable with shoulder or back pain because of a heavy bass but that’s just me...

 

[DwaynieAD]

11 lbs. Cute. My jazz v is 14.5 and rocks.