Help choosing a bass - "Light" vs Heavy

[PrecisionPedro]

Hello guys!,

I want to buy a new bass and I have two options, a new Fender American Performer PJ - MIA (around 8,8lbs / 4kg) or a cheap Lakland Skyline 44-64 PJ custom (around 11 lbs / 4,9Kg) that a guy sells.

The thing is I have an herniated disc and the weight will be compromised. I have 80s Charvel and the weight is 4,5kg and after a short time it starts to hurting my back. Don´t know if it is the strap or something... I would love to have the Lakland but that weight is...agh.

I don´t know if anyone has an alternative, if has a good strap or something to get the Lakland or just focus on the new Fender.

Thanks!!

 

[mouthmw]

I personally wouldn't go over 4 kg (and I have zero back issues), so my vote is Fender PJ. Especially if you have a herniated disc.

 

[Nashrakh]

I was about to say "go big or go home", but then I saw your health issues. Definitely try to lighten the load and go with the less heavy one.

 

[jamro217]

You only have one back. There are millions of basses in the world. Choose accordingly.

 

[Minimalist]

I am sure there are lighter Laklands around. Just wait for that bass to cross your path.

 

[chris_b]

I want to buy a new bass and I have two options, a new Fender American Performer PJ - MIA (around 8,8lbs / 4kg) or a cheap Lakland Skyline 44-64 PJ custom (around 11 lbs / 4,9Kg) that a guy sells. . . . The thing is I have an herniated disc and the weight will be compromised.

If the weight of the bass gives you pain, common sense should be telling you you have limited options, and buying a heavy bass isn't one of them.

You can either buy a lighter bass, play sitting down, or buy an Mbrace Stage guitar stand. The weight of the bass doesn't matter for the last two options.

In my case, pain is good at focusing my attention. I also have a herniated disc and I'm currently finding it difficult to gig my 9 3/4lb Jazz bass, so I'm looking at a 6lb Sandberg California 2 TT5 Superlight. The last thing I would be considering is an 11lb bass.

 

[PrecisionPedro]

If the weight of the bass gives you pain, common sense should be telling you you have limited options, and buying a heavy bass isn't one of them.

You can either buy a lighter bass, play sitting down, or buy an Mbrace Stage guitar stand. The weight of the bass doesn't matter for the last two options.

In my case, pain is good at focusing my attention. I also have a herniated disc and I'm currently finding it difficult to gig my 9 3/4lb Jazz bass, so I'm looking at a 6lb Sandberg California 2 TT5 Superlight. The last thing I would be considering is an 11lb bass.

Thanks all for the replies!, yeah, I should go for the Fender, although is much more expensive. But it is the common sense thing. I feel your "pain".

 

[chris_b]

. . . . a good strap or something . . . .

IME changing your strap could have benefits if you had shoulder pain, or have issues with your posture, but a lower back injury won't see any difference between a good strap and a bad one.

Thanks all for the replies!, yeah, I should go for the Fender, although is much more expensive. But it is the common sense thing. I feel your "pain".

IMO you can do even better than this Fender. Have a look around. You should be able to find great basses at around 7-7.5lbs. Check the classifieds to bring the cost down.

 

[dented42ford]

I honestly wouldn't even suggest the Fender if you have legitimate back problems - there are lighter options available these days that sound great. Everything from the Strandbergs and Ibanez EHBs to various smaller bodied basses all come in under 4kg / 8lbs.

Health should come first. Don't buy just because you have the option to! At least attempt to give the lighter options a try before making a big purchase. You really don't want to buy a new instrument and hate yourself because it hurts to play.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

Consider the bass designed by JJ Burnel and Jon Shuker. JJ originally used a heavy Fender P-bass and needing a lighter bass to prevent back injury, the result was a bass with several cavities in the body. It's very strong (to stand the way JJ plays it) and it gets the sound he wanted from his original bass.

A bass doesn't have to be heavy to get a strong P-bass sound, any more than a cab has to be heavy to be loud.

Given that a Fender can cost £1600 easily now, the Burnel/Shuker bass, new, at about 2 grand, is economical. I'm considering getting one. It's one of the very few things that causes GAS for me. Either that, or I'll stay with my Westones because they sound exactly as I want, and the weight (10 lbs) is tolerable. The Burnel/Shuker bass is as light as 7.5 lbs, I think.

According to a quick Googling, there may be a used one, built in 2017, on Reverb.com currently..

 

[seusicha]

Fender is more expensive than the Lakland? Yes, sure. But know what is even more expensive? Back surgery.

I would get the fender, a great strap, lightweight tuners and everything else I can get to reduce weight and save me from future back issues.

 

[39-Bassist]

PJ all the way!

 

[bassrique]

O voted Fender with everyone else for the obvious reason.

With a bad back, have you considered something like a JMJ Mustang? Likely lighter than the Fender mentioned and less of a reach, which helps me with my back. Great tone. It gets compliments as people like it.

 

[chris_b]

You can address weight issues with little steps, which will take more time and be more expensive, or with big steps.

With my Jazz at 9 3/4lbs I could easily get a 9lb bass. That would be better, but for how long? At some point I'd need an 8 1/2lb bass, etc etc. That's how aging, and long term injuries, progress!! That's why I'm looking to go straight from 9 3/4lbs to 6 3/4lbs with the Sandberg Superlight. I've just got to find the right one.

 

[GretschWretch]

Get a Glarry at under 7 pounds and mod to get the sound you want. It still would cost less than the two options you are considering.

 

[KidAmnesia]

I'd go for something even lighter.

 

[buldog5151bass]

When I was in my 20s, I played my 11+ poind Fender without a care. At 57 with the usual aches and pains, I still love the bass, but don't use it on long gigs.

I would go for the lighter instrument. Your back issues won't be getting any better. You don't want a pretty, expensive anchor.

 

[ClusterFlux]

There are more than two basses in the world.

8.8 lbs is still a bit heavy for a P-style bass. I would check Sweetwater on a regular basis, you can almost certainly find a PJ bass that is 8 pounds or less.

As to straps, I use the Gruv Gear Duo Strap. The strap goes across both shoulders, which distributes some of the weight.

 

[gln1955]

I can only assume you are located somewhere that does not have access to all the basses we have in the USA. There are countless new and used basses out there that would be 8 pounds or under and not break the bank. If those are your only options, the Fender all the way. I wouldn't touch an 11 pound bass.

 

[Killing Floor]

If you have back issues and have reason to base this decision on weight why are you only considering these options? Why not look at Ibanez or any of the other great options for lower weight basses?