Anything over 9.5lbs is too heavy for me. I have shoulder/back problems especially after a few hours. Both of my current basses weigh between 8-8.5 lbs which IMO is perfect.
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Is a 9 pound bass too heavy?
- Thread starter Stone Soup
- Start date
9 is fine for me. I have a G&L L2500 Tribute that is probably around 11 pounds and its too much for me to play a full 4 hour gig these days. I was seriously close to pulling the trigger on an Aria Pro SB1000 (the bass that got me to want to play bass) here on the classifieds, but the owner said it was about 12 pounds. I hesitated and lost out and it was sold.
I had a 9-ish pound bass for a while, played with it for 4 hours without too much trouble. I never thought that much of it until I tried out a friends Ibanez. I ended up buying it in part because of its light weight (but not entirely, feel and tone were factors too). Sometimes I rock the Ibanez, sometimes my "heavy" jazz, just depends on what I'm in the mood for. I prefer a lighter bass generally, but I love the tone from my heavy bass.
I can't do 10 lbs; 9 to 9.5 lbs is my cutoff, depending on the balance and ergonomics of the instrument. 8 lbs is ideal.
9 lbs. is about the limit for me. Got spoiled after my first Sadowsky. All my current basses are just under 9 lbs.
But I paid my dues! My main touring bass for many years was an Alembic Distillate 5 string. That puppy was easily 15+ lbs!
But I paid my dues! My main touring bass for many years was an Alembic Distillate 5 string. That puppy was easily 15+ lbs!
If you're fit and your back and shoulders are strong then 9lbs is fine.
I played an 11lb Jazz for a decade and it never even crossed my mind it was heavy.
Now I've got disc problems in my back due to an accident I play a 7.3lb Italia Rimini and I'm thankfully good to play all night again.
I played an 11lb Jazz for a decade and it never even crossed my mind it was heavy.
Now I've got disc problems in my back due to an accident I play a 7.3lb Italia Rimini and I'm thankfully good to play all night again.
... actually, all I think anybody that asks a weight wants is an ACCURATE weight ... it is up to the seller to decide how important an ACCURATE weight is to present to their potential buyers ... if they don't really want to take the time/effort to produce an accurate weight, then they have to realize that it will potentially have an affect on their ability to market the piece.
With that said, unless I have dealt with someone in the past, and know based upon a previous transaction how accurate their 'method of choice' is, I will always ask HOW they weighed it. If they are able to tell me it was on a calibrated scale (something used for trade) and then stand behind the weight they have given, it will get a lot more consideration than if they used their 'bath' scale, or inexpensive fish scale, or if they tell me 'it is lighter than my other bass, and I think that is about 9 pounds' type of response.
.. generally 9lbs and above are not a weight that I am interested in ... there is no shortage of good sub 9# basses out there ... so no need to for me to take them away from the crowd that enjoys a little heavier bass ...
I don't know how heavy my lightest bass is but it feels flimsy to me and my woman says it looks disproportionately small on me. My previously heaviest bass was around 13 lbs. I believe my newest bass is 16. I have to remind myself not to jump around like an idiot when playing it because I don't want to throw anything out from swinging the beast. One of my bands rehearses at a studio that is up a hill. We play in 3 different tunings so I really feel it when I'm trudging up the hill wearing 2 bass guitars, a EUB, an amp head, and my pedal board. It's like being encumbered in a video game: "My pack can't hold any more!"
Just returned my Carvin PJ bass that came in at 9.8 lbs! It measured the same as my Bongo 5HH & Squier VM 5, more than my Sterling 5HS by 1 lb & Sterling 5HH .5 lbs.
I returned it for electronic issue but I wouldn't have been happy with the weight. I can swing it though. Had a Reflex 5 HH that was 10.8 lbs & it was too much for a long gig.
I returned it for electronic issue but I wouldn't have been happy with the weight. I can swing it though. Had a Reflex 5 HH that was 10.8 lbs & it was too much for a long gig.
My 6-string bass is apparently 8.5lbs, so not that heavy. I'm certain the 2-inch standard guitar strap on it isn't doing me any favors though. I tried a MusicMan at the local music store, which was surprisingly heavier than I expected (unfortunately, that particular bass sounded terrible due to probably being at that particular local music store).
I just figure if I find a bass that's heavy but has the sound I like, I'll just buy a specialized strap that redistributes the weight better. Maybe wear a back brace too because I'm a hypochondriac weakling.
I just figure if I find a bass that's heavy but has the sound I like, I'll just buy a specialized strap that redistributes the weight better. Maybe wear a back brace too because I'm a hypochondriac weakling.
Purchased a beautiful Fender Custom Shop Classic that came in bang on 9 pounds, gigged it a couple of times and it was too heavy for my shoulder that has seen 35 years of gigging. Even went to the trouble of getting a Duo Strap but not my thing. So back to my fantastic 7 pound Sadowsky J Bass
9 pounds is too heavy for me due to shoulder damage and maybe due to age a little. before I hurt my shoulder, 9 pounds was fine... in fact, my first bass weighed more; it was a beast of a custom made 5 string, and sounded great.
Me too. My Ibby is spec'd at 8.2 lbs and weighs just about that same amount. Also, I just love the neck; this bass could be 11 lbs and I'd still play it.
To me, 9 lbs. is pretty light. Some of you mention 7 pound (or so) basses. I've never even held one that light--except a custom bass that was in the process of being built and was absent of all hardware, pickups and strings. Is it possible some of us don't have an accurate measurement? For example: "Ibby spec'd at 8.2 lbs" and "on my bathroom scale"... Neither of those are reliable or accurate.
Both of my Alembic's are in the 9# to 10# range and I wouldn't think of not using them. Most everything else I use in the 8# to 9# range except for the HB's.
Every time I start thinking they are too heavy I look over at the Hammond B3 and the Leslie's that I have to help cart. At lease I can carry my gear by myself.
Every time I start thinking they are too heavy I look over at the Hammond B3 and the Leslie's that I have to help cart. At lease I can carry my gear by myself.
I dont think 9lbs is heavy at all. I think 9-10lbs as pretty typical weights for a bass. Im not sure of my 55-02's weight but I'm pretty sure its over 10lbs and it comes to every gig with me. I always use 3" straps and never have any trouble with any of my basses. That being said I wouldn't want one that weighed much over 11.5lbs.
