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Help choosing a bass - "Light" vs Heavy

Weight / money / health / bass

  • Lakland Skyline 44-64 PJ Custom

    Votes: 8 9.3%

  • Fender American Perfomer PJ

    Votes: 78 90.7%
  • Total voters
    86
#62
PrecisionPedro said:
I have an herniated disc and the weight will be compromised.

I don´t know if anyone has an alternative
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I'd very much suggest a custom built matey. If It goes worse you might have to compromise your playing time or give up :(
-Something light like Basswood with chambers , hollowed out or made as thin as possible to keep It close your center of gravity.
-Something light like mahogany neck with graphite reinforcements.
-Light hardware, titanium or carbonfiber plates like Gotoh, Can be headless too optional to get the weight closer to your center of gravity and less mass from hardware and wood.
-Some humbuckers and split are heavy af, go for sc :)
-Shortscale? even 32'' would make a little difference.
-Ergonomic design and horn for thick and padded dual strap

If you follow these you can get It built half the weight of a regular bass and in budget but still a bit more than the basses you mentioned. With this weight, thin body and a dual padded strap you won't feel more weight than wearing a leather jacket.
 
#63
Akiyama said:
Does sitting aggravate your herniated disc or is standing worse or your back just hurts no matter what you do? If sitting aggravates it, try playing while standing with one foot on a slight elevation like a stool. See if that helps. If standing is worse for pain, play sitting with proper posture. Always stop playing before pain comes on. If both standing and sitting hurt, then you should avoid playing until your back is better. And also, tell your doctor and/or physical therapist so they can address your playing posture and give tips.
Click to expand...

The pain comes and go , not everyday is the same. But It agravates if something presses my shoulders specially both of them and if It is heavy. Also everyone can be in pain after playing couple of hours. Nobody is free of that.

For people with this problems, electro accupunture is making me improve my disc a lot!
 
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#64
PrecisionPedro said:
The pain comes and go , not everyday is the same. But It agravates if something presses my shoulders specially both of them and if It is heavy. Also everyone can be in pain after playing couple of hours. Nobody is free of that.

For people with this problems, electro accupunture is making me improve my disc a lot!
Click to expand...
I hope you recover fully and your new bass is what you are looking for. Again, I recommend that you seek advice from your doctor and/ or physical therapist. Back pain from a herniated disc is quite different, pathologically, than normal aches from exertion from having a bass on your shoulder.I am sure you are aware of the difference in pain intensity and type.
 
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#65
PrecisionPedro said:
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!!
Click to expand...

If truly serious about this, I'd look more closely at financing an upper-tier Ibanez headless and be done with it. I see one on my horizon, as well.

Riis
 
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#66
Zooberwerx said:
If truly serious about this, I'd look more closely at financing an upper-tier Ibanez headless and be done with it. I see one on my horizon, as well.

Riis
Click to expand...

Agreed - I just got a EHB1505MS, and I love how light it is compared to my Ric or PJ, neither of which is a monster heavy bass (both just a bit above 9lbs, the EHB is around 7).
 
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#67
Durham52 said:
Seams like the OP has made his decision and is going with the lighter Fender, can't blame him, depending on which part of a spine is injured, straps won't necessarily do anything to help. For almost anyone with significant lower back damage, a better strap is not a viable option, weight is weight and a strap doesn't make anything weigh less.

I partially crushed my L4,5 and 6 discs (lower back) in a fall at age 38, I'm seventy now and have managed a fairly normal life by daily exercise to build core muscle strength to support my back, but it still goes on me from time to time and I had to give up some activities, including some of my favorite sports. (distance running, dirt bikes, surfing, squash and tennis) I build my own basses and weight is always a factor if I want to be able to play standing up for any length of time.
Click to expand...

Great to hear these stories!; healthy life can surpass many problems, like having heavy basses and also including hard activities like yours. My injury is at middle back so there are some things I can do without problems and other things which I need to be careful.
 
#68
Speakz said:
You might also consider searching out a lighter Lakland in that model? I had to search for my 44-01 and 44-02 and also eventually found a 55-02 (didn't buy it) all under 9 pounds. Reverb has a bunch and then you can go to the individual shops websites where they list the weights. I also emailed/messaged the seller to verify the weight before I bought them. It took me a couple months of searching to get the weight and finish I wanted. Like others have shared I keep the weight no more than 8.5 pounds.
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I only like the 44-64 but I considered those ones. As the 44-64 too heavy for me...
 
#69
Herrick said:
Nice! If you get a chance, post some pictures of it when you get it.
Click to expand...
I am between these two the Performer or American Pro II
 

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#72
Franciscus said:
I have this PJ Performer. And it is 3,8 Kg (8,37 lbs) ;)
The last weeks I have been searching for a light Lakland Skyline 55-02. The stock in all over Europe is really low for these basses. Most of them where about 11lbs. I finally got a 55-02 with 4,2 Kg (9,2 lbs). My left shoulder deserved it
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I can see it on your profile pic!, Does the neck have a gloss finish? And yea, the stock is low in general, basses specially
 
#74
PrecisionPedro said:
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!!
Click to expand...

Actually? I vote "NEITHER". With back problems, I would look very seriously at a Danelectro Longhorn Bass. Yeah, it's a short scale (30"), but - so what? Didn't stop Tom Petty from playing one in the Traveling Wilburys, and he wasn't alone in that, either. And, yeah, it does look a little... weird; but, it's actually just a thinline semi-hollowbody bass with the inner parts of the upper bouts cut away. Plays - and feels - just like my old thinline hollowbody Epiphone EA-260 bass, in fact. Both of them, by the way, live very happily in Epi ES-335 guitar cases. And, as for the weight? How does 5.13 lbs. (2.33kg) grab ya? It's actually lighter (slightly)than either of my violin basses - or my Hofner Club Bass. Much better balanced, too... I've had the little orange beastie for a few years now, and I like it a lot. SOOO much easier on my 71yo back than my 11 lb. Fender P-Bass...:cool:
 
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