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"How much does it weigh?"

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#81
Chasarms said:
While I would argue that weight is a valid consideration when buying a bass, I also concede that your points throughout this thread do have some merit. I would have to agree that the "how much does it weigh?" question is as possibly as much a TB fashion trend as it is a legimate factor in the purchase descision.

For some it is important, but I would suggest that many others ask it only because it's the "in" thing to do. It has become such a trend that makes like Nordstrand and Sadowsky list the weight of each instrument on their website.
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So how do you determine who really doesn't want to know? Even if it's simple curiousity for future reference it's a legit question.
If measuring the weight is that hard for the seller simply say so. Since I can't recall seeing anyone complaining about a bass not weighing enough, add a pound or two to your estimate.

Better yet, state your weight question phobia early in your sale thread to let people know what they're dealing with upfront.
:)
 
#82
Brad Johnson said:
So how do you determine who really doesn't want to know? Even if it's simple curiousity for future reference it's a legit question.
If measuring the weight is that hard for the seller simply say so. Since I can't recall seeing anyone complaining about a bass not weighing enough, add a pound or two to your estimate.

Better yet, state your weight question phobia early in your sale thread to let people know what they're dealing with upfront.
:)
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Well, of course they want to know. Otherwise, I assume that they wouldn't have asked. I just think there are many who ask even though the answer doesn't really matter in their buying decision.

Of course for some, it certainly does matter. (Don't want to appear condescending)
 
#83
Chasarms said:
Well, of course they want to know. Otherwise, I assume that they wouldn't have asked. I just think there are many who ask even though the answer doesn't really matter in their buying decision.

Of course for some, it certainly does matter. (Don't want to appear condescending)
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And I'm really not trying to be condescending... how do you know what really matters to others in their buying decision?

Seriously. I think that's a big part of the problem. It sounds like you've arbitrarily decided the motive behind what could simply be a very simple and even logical question.

Why would someone not want to tell a potential buyer a physical fact about what they're selling? How do you as a seller decide what they really don't need to know?

Is it any more frivilous than asking about scale length, string spacing, etc.? I don't think so. I'd just answer the damn question. I'm really wondering what I'm missing. Because for as much of an issue some think it is for the buyer, it's just as big an issue for some sellers not to disclose it.

If you don't ask and you receive a 13 lb. bass when you really have an issue playing something that heavy, whose fault is it?
:D
 
#84
Brad Johnson said:
And I'm really not trying to be condescending... how do you know what really matters to others in their buying decision?

Seriously. I think that's a big part of the problem. It sounds like you've arbitrarily decided the motive behind what could simply be a very simple and even logical question.

Why would someone not want to tell a potential buyer a physical fact about what they're selling? How do you as a seller decide what they really don't need to know?

Is it any more frivilous than asking about scale length, string spacing, etc.? I don't think so. I'd just answer the damn question. I'm really wondering what I'm missing. Because for as much of an issue some think it is for the buyer, it's just as big an issue for some sellers not to disclose it.

If you don't ask and you receive a 13 lb. bass when you really have an issue playing something that heavy, whose fault is it?
:D
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I don't know. Nor, have I made any arbitrary decisions. If I am selling a bass and someone asks the weight, I will gladly go about whatever it takes to provide them as accurate of a reply as I possibly can. Just like I would take more pictures or even record sound clips if they ask.

All I am saying is that I think a lot of people ask the question but don't really care about the answer. And, of course you are right, I don't know who is who.
 
#85
as we age and arthritis takes over, joints become and issue, and playing comfort is often one of the prime things to look for in a bass ... weight and balance can be very important ... after shoulder reconstruction surgery and left hand crippling basil joint arthritis, 8# basses and fret board radius conducive to hand usage become a priority .. just about any decent bass out there these days can be made to sound good, its if they can be played comfortably ... I can pretty much guess what a bass is going to sound like with all the access to sound bytes and reviews available now days, but if I can play/hold it easily only I can tell, and will formulate many of my inquiries around info that tells me that ... JMHO
 
#86
Chasarms said:
I don't know. Nor, have I made any arbitrary decisions. If I am selling a bass and someone asks the weight, I will gladly go about whatever it takes to provide them as accurate of a reply as I possibly can. Just like I would take more pictures or even record sound clips if they ask.

All I am saying is that I think a lot of people ask the question but don't really care about the answer. And, of course you are right, I don't know who is who.
Click to expand...

That's cool... but what I highlighted is a great example of an arbitrary decision.
:D
 
#87
Chasarms said:
All I am saying is that I think a lot of people ask the question but don't really care about the answer. And, of course you are right, I don't know who is who.
Click to expand...

I'm fairly certain this is correct. It's like people asking where a wine or cheese or something is from, or a pointless fact about a car they are looking at. Ask to look informed.
 
#88
Brad Johnson said:
If you got it, why are you still acting like you don't get it?
:D

Feel free to risk a sale over a pet peeve about a simple question.
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did I upset you? You're repeating yourself......

I have never had an issue selling a bass due to my unwillingness to quote a weight. Furthermore, I've never again had to deal with a buyer who's unhappy over a 1/4 lb of additional weight on their shoulder. Finally, I've never had to invest in precision measuring equipment to appease the weight-sensitive buyer.

No real downside for me in this situation.
 
#90
"Personally" I cannot see why it's a problem to provide the weight of a bass if a buyer requests it.

"Personally" I will not buy a bass or any other piece of of gear from a person if they are not willing to provide information on something that can vary from instrument to instrument, or gear to gear.


When I view a thread with a bass I like the quality of and am potentially interested in my thought process goes:
1. WIll I like the tone. (pickups/preamp)
2. Is it the right or tollerable scale length
3. Is the weight what I can tollerate playing 4-hours with.
4. Do I like the looks.
5. Is the price manageable.

3rd issue of importance to me is weight. If the seller won't provide and stand by the weight... I'm not buying.


.
 
#91
I understand that some people really need a light weigh bass to avoid pain. Thats no problem. But, Guy has a point. If are one of those people then you either shouldn't buy a bass without playing it first or accept the risk that it might be too heavy for you and just resell to someone else. Whoever it was that threatened negative feedback because the bass weighed 1/4 more than the seller said was very much in the wrong.
 
#95
guy n. cognito said:
did I upset you? You're repeating yourself......
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What I initially responded to made no sense ("The weight of a bass is exactly nothing like the size of a shoe. Does a heavier bass "fit" better than a lighter bass? Do you ask about the weight of shoes before you buy them?" +buttload of smileys). Your repsonse to mine made even less sense. So while you repeated your action, I guess my response would look similar.

And why would anything you said upset me? I'm not one of the ones who has an issue with people asking about weight.

I have never had an issue selling a bass due to my unwillingness to quote a weight. Furthermore, I've never again had to deal with a buyer who's unhappy over a 1/4 lb of additional weight on their shoulder. Finally, I've never had to invest in precision measuring equipment to appease the weight-sensitive buyer.

No real downside for me in this situation.
Click to expand...

:rollno::hmm::):eyebrow::confused::smug::eek::crying::mad::hyper::rolleyes::help::cool::ninja::p:hiding:;):bassist::D:bawl::o:scowl::spit::(:atoz:
 
#96
IPA said:
I'm fairly certain this is correct. It's like people asking where a wine or cheese or something is from, or a pointless fact about a car they are looking at. Ask to look informed.
Click to expand...

I'd be willing to bet that some folks look at an ad, see that weight is not listed and even though they have no interest in buying the item, ask the question for the following reason...

it looks more pertinent than "free bump".
:D
 
#97
I think it's bizarre that anyone thinks so many people are asking the question "just because", or to "look informed". Really, do we look at a person who wonders about the weight of something, and say to ourselves "my, that fellow must be an expert"? No. Weight is one of those things like the color of the sky, the flavor of cheese, or the usefulness of a hammer, that any lunk walking the earth is qualified to wonder about. Babies who have just learned to talk may be curious about how much something weighs.

And furthermore, who cares? Even if we were in a Bizarro-World where only experts and cripples wondered about how much things weigh, so what? Maybe that Bizarro Expert or Bizarro Cripple is the one who has the $1K or more that you want for the bass. Got a problem with that?

And I have to repeat myself here--who really believes most of the people asking about weight are doing so for no good reason? Why would you believe something so harebrained and unnecessary? Isn't it more likely that most people who ask, actually want to know how much it weighs?
 
#98
We seem to have two camps here - the extremes of each being, those who, like someone who posted in this or perhaps a similar thread, said that he would return the best-playing /sounding bass he had ever come across in a heartbeat if it were 1/2 pound over his 9lb limit, and those who, like myself, wouldn't care if it's a boat-anchor if it sounds/plays that well. Of course there is everyone in between, but I can't imagine that either group will ever understand the other. The "don't cares" think that the other groups are all anal and OCD, and the "care more than anythings" think the other group is trying to tell them how to live and questioning their right to an opinion.
I'm surprised that so many quote medical necessity as a reason, and I'm REALLY surprised at how many people regularly do four/five hour gigs, never having done one in my life, but I know I'll never understand the other group, so I doubt they'll ever understand mine.
 
#100
A question.....

Would a heavier but well balanced bass not be better than a badly balanced lighter bass? I would think that if you were battling a heavy neck for four hours the muscle effort would be more pronounced. A well balanced bass should theoretically focus all the weight on the top of the shoulder, where, even with a bad back, you would be able to bear more weight.

Another idea is to look at those people who spend their lives on their feet, like waiting staff at restaurants....they will invariably tell you that the right shoes makes a big difference on the impact their jobs have on their backs.....just to maybe explore different avenues to assist those with real issues.
 
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