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It doesn’t matter why I like lightweight basses !
- Thread starter Dark Horse
- Start date
Could never understand the big deal about answering the weight question. I love the answer "around 8 1/2-9 3/4 lbs. Am I asking for too much?
This rant has nothing to do with the seller not listing the weight in the ad. That’s totally understandable. It is an important to them, so they don’t think about it.
It has to do with me ASKING about the weight on it, and the seller responding with all the reasons why I shouldn’t be concerned about what the weight is. I’ve even had them tell me that I “need to work out”. That’s ridiculous. I do 200 or more shows a year, most of them moving an in ear monitor rig, a heavy guitar vault, and a bunch of personal equipment. Then I also have to stand there on stage with the bass on my shoulder. My preference is to not have a big, heavy bass weighing down on my shoulder when I’ve already moved a bunch of equipment. Plus the fact that it triggers migraines with me, as I broke my neck. C4, C5, C6, and every ligament in my neck were shredded. I was a quadriplegic. I fought my way back from that, I dang sure shouldn’t have to answer why I want a lighter weight instrument, or be told that I need to “work out”.
I'm 100% with you on all of that... and, in fact, I've posted in multiple threads on this forum making basically the same point.
My post was responding to the second point of your post, which stated: "If I ask you how much your bass weighs and I’m looking to purchase it, Just answer the question. Don’t give me a hard time about it, don’t try and give me an excuse, just answer the question." Maybe I interpreted this post incorrectly, but I read it as suggesting that the seller has an obligation to know the weight and to give it you immediately upon request, without discussion, and that the seller would be being unreasonable if they didn't.
My position on that is that I don't feel that weight is really a factor for most buyers/sellers (even if it is for us) and it doesn't surprise me if someone doesn't want to go through the hassle of having that information available. I even gave up on listing a weight when I sell because I found the "bathroom scale" method to unreliable and don't find it worth my time or money to invest in a better option, and I admittedly am hesitant to estimate a bass' weight if the result will be that I am wrong and the customer is unhappy.
I think you probably misinterpreted that. It’s not like they’re coming to me and saying “I don’t have a scale where I can weigh it”. They’re not even saying things like “I don’t have a scale, but it feels pretty light”. They’ve just come at me with “you need to work out”, or “the weight on the bass shouldn’t matter.”
Of course this is no representation of all sellers, 98% of them are great and do what they can to help you. But there’s always those ones ......
This rant has nothing to do with the seller not listing the weight in the ad. That’s totally understandable. It is an important to them, so they don’t think about it.
It has to do with me ASKING about the weight on it, and the seller responding with all the reasons why I shouldn’t be concerned about what the weight is. I’ve even had them tell me that I “need to work out”. That’s ridiculous. I do 200 or more shows a year, most of them moving an in ear monitor rig, a heavy guitar vault, and a bunch of personal equipment. Then I also have to stand there on stage with the bass on my shoulder. My preference is to not have a big, heavy bass weighing down on my shoulder when I’ve already moved a bunch of equipment. Plus the fact that it triggers migraines with me, as I broke my neck. C4, C5, C6, and every ligament in my neck were shredded. I was a quadriplegic. I fought my way back from that, I dang sure shouldn’t have to answer why I want a lighter weight instrument, or be told that I need to “work out”.
I would respond to that remark by telling them they misunderstood. You need to know the weight because you don't want some light weight girly-man bass and won't buy from some whimpy-assed seller who can't play a man's bass.
Anyone that questions why weight is important is either young, not playing out frequently, or both. Weight is the first thing I want to know about. If it's an anchor I don't care what it plays, sounds, or looks like.I’m with ya, brother.
I don’t even mind the bathroom scale method, at least it gives me some kind of an idea. It could be half a pound one way or the other, but at least it gets me in the ballpark.
What gets to me is when I ask a simple question like that, and the seller makes all kinds of excuses or asked me why I want to know. At that point I just tell them never mind, good luck with their sale.
I use a food scale. Accurate enough for FedEx and I.I’m with ya, brother.
I don’t even mind the bathroom scale method, at least it gives me some kind of an idea. It could be half a pound one way or the other, but at least it gets me in the ballpark.
What gets to me is when I ask a simple question like that, and the seller makes all kinds of excuses or asked me why I want to know. At that point I just tell them never mind, good luck with their sale.
That, my friend is widely debated. You ask 10 different people and you’ll find 10 different answers.
I would respond to that remark by telling them they misunderstood. You need to know the weight because you don't want some light weight girly-man bass and won't buy from some whimpy-assed seller who can't play a man's bass.
Yeah, first time I had read that claim, just wondering if there was any substance to it.
Yeah. I think there is substance to whatever somebody claims, because in their mind they BELIEVE it’s true.
If someone believes that a lighter bass sounds better, then to them it does. If someone believes that a heavier bass creates more sustain and better fundamental notes, then to them it does.
Honestly, I believe the neck is more important than the body wood, but that’s just my feeling after building hundreds of instruments. But reality is that an instrument is not only the sum of its parts, but also the player. So the strings, the electronics, what woods it’s made out of matter, but also the player themselves. And the room. And the amp. And....
+1. In a shop I’d feel how heavy it is within one second of picking up a bass.... and put straight back on the shelf and move on.
I've just retired at 60 and am starting to transition from weekend warrior to full-time musician. I can't help but covet my son's 6 lb Cliff Bordwell so I'll be selling off some basses soon to see if I can order up one of his models. At 6lb that bass is a tone monster like none other Ive played. Couple of walnut Rics on the sellers block soon, maybe others.
Sadly, that wasn't much of a rant. I give it a 3.
Who are you to judge the OP's rant? Maybe he just doesn't feel much like ranting today. Maybe he had to cut the rant short because he was late for work. Maybe his internet connection is slow and a more robust rant would have interrupted his download of Ishtar. Just shut up and provide the weight of all your basses. in grams.
I list the weight, include a photo of the bass on the scale and still get PM's asking what the weight is.
I got a great bass for a great deal at the end of last Summer, but after a week of playing it & it not feeling any lighter, I returned it.
It was only 350 Grams heavier than my other bass, so I thought I could learn to live with it.
Then I thought, WHY?!
when I already have a great bass that's lighter with a more comfortable neck
It was only 350 Grams heavier than my other bass, so I thought I could learn to live with it.
Then I thought, WHY?!
when I already have a great bass that's lighter with a more comfortable neck
