Jazz bass that is too heavy...

[superheavyfunk]

Aside from suggestions for straps and buying a new bass, I’d like to throw out an unpopular opinion: Start working out.

Strengthening your back, core, and shoulders will do wonders in making a heavy bass feel less burdensome. Seriously. You don’t even have to do much, just make it a regular thing… like twice a week, do an hour of focused strength training and in a month or two you’ll notice that the bass bothers you a lot less, if at all!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Most of the weight is in the body of a typical instrument. If you swap that out, you'll have a lighter instrument and it can be reversed.

 

[jmbstudios]

Just hire someone to play it for you.

/thread

 

[BaltBass5]

I stopped playing Fender USA Jazz basses for this exact reason! These days I only play Spector Euros that are all under 8 lbs. when you’re playing all night that extra couple of lbs makes a HUGE difference!

 

[jazzenfunk]

Thanks for all the replies, too many to reply to individually. Some great suggestions for me to take away:
* get into the gym
* try playing on a stool / check posture
* review the hardware (do I really need a high mass bridge? tuners are quite big/heavy and right at the end of the neck)
* look into both-shoulders strap
* sell it

I'm 67, love my jazz basses. Always seemed the heavy ones had more mojo. Since I play 5'ers, even more heavy.
I have arthritic disk disease and have constant back pain. I found if I combine sitting and standing, it seems to get me through a 3 hr gig without too much discomfort. I bought a fold up stool from Musicians Friend that also double as a guitar stand.

 

[chris_b]

Aside from suggestions for straps and buying a new bass, I’d like to throw out an unpopular opinion: Start working out.

Strengthening your back, core, and shoulders will do wonders in making a heavy bass feel less burdensome. Seriously. You don’t even have to do much, just make it a regular thing… like twice a week, do an hour of focused strength training and in a month or two you’ll notice that the bass bothers you a lot less, if at all!

This isn't a bad idea. General health and a lot more is improved if we workout. Maybe won't be the answer if the OP has damage to his shoulder, but it's something those of us who are over 50 should all be doing.

 

[Mastermold]

This isn't a bad idea. General health and a lot more is improved if we workout. Maybe won't be the answer if the OP has damage to his shoulder, but it's something those of us who are over 50 should all be doing.

True but sometimes it’s just the bass. I’ve lifted weights my whole life but that didn’t prevent a sore trapezius muscle after slinging a 12 lb bass for a long 4 hour set.

 

[superheavyfunk]

This isn't a bad idea. General health and a lot more is improved if we workout. Maybe won't be the answer if the OP has damage to his shoulder, but it's something those of us who are over 50 should all be doing.

Or under 50, for that matter. I’m significantly under 50 and had tons of pain from heavy basses until I started strengthening my bass-supporting muscles. Got so bad at one point that I had to stop playing entirely - and that’s when I started working out a bit and realized that I could play again. It’s like magic!

 

[Wretched Banana]

The solution for a heavy bass is to get a lighter bass. Everything else is addressing a different problem but they happen to slightly help. I can deadlift 3x my weight and can confirm playing a 1 hour set with 8lbs vs 9lbs still makes a huge difference in comfort.

 

[Outbush]

The solution for a heavy bass is to get a lighter bass. Everything else is addressing a different problem but they happen to slightly help. I can deadlift 3x my weight and can confirm playing a 1 hour set with 8lbs vs 9lbs still makes a huge difference in comfort.

I totally agree with what you say about bass guitar weight, that's for sure, but a dual strap that balances the weight equally on each shoulder is going to mean that the muscles on each side of the back are going to carry equal weight. I think that until you use something like the GruvGear DuoStrap for a couple of hours of constant playing it is hard to realise just how much more comfortable they actually are. From a bio-mechanical stand-point they are just a better solution to the guitar strap; in my opinion anyway.

 

[singlemalt]

Plenty of great basses out there under 8 pounds. Go exploring.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

back left: 2013 Fender FSR Jazz (M) - 10 pounds

back right: 2018 Squier VM Fretless Jazz (I) - 9 pounds

front left: 2021 Ibanez EHB-1505 (I) - 7 pounds

front right: 2021 Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz (I) - 8.2 pounds

the 10 pound FSR always annoyed me, but was never a physical problem.

i tried replacing the body. got the weight down significantly, but it completely lost its original tone and feel.
i returned it to stock neck and body. upgraded hardware and electronics.

the FSR sounds and feel fantastic - stays home for recording, seated. perfect! Bonus points for a Plek'd rosewood fingerboard!

the VM Fretless is at my limit for gigging - typically for recording use.

the Squier CV is a thing of beauty - best Jazz I've ever owned - i've been playing since the early '70s.
easy gigging bass. will probably buy another if i can find a light one to match.

the EHB is a wonder of design. i'm not really a 5 string player, but i love playing this one! always play with a strap, even seated.

 

[DaveParker39]

I have two 9.2 precisions.
I'm still working on finding the ideal strap, especially given that one is a little neck heavy.
Most recently I am trying Comfort Strapp which is so far so good, but I haven't brought it to a rehearsal or gig yet. TBD.
I played through a gig with the Neotech Mega and it was better than the previous strap but I still felt like I needed more support, had some back and shoulder pain afterward.
The previous strap was a Levy's PM48NP3 Neoprene Strap which, despite how it looks, always leaves me in a lot of pain. It seems to just distribute the weight in one spot anyway.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Want to reduce weight?
Take out the pickups.
There's a surprising amount of weight there.

 

[Koshchei]

I have Squier jazz bass that I never play because it's too heavy for me (it's 9.4lbs). I have a 3" air-pocket strap but still get neck/shoulder pain when I play. I used to play it a lot - maybe it started to feel too heavy after extended playing during covid, or maybe it was after I changed the neck to a fretless one. Not sure, but either way, I tend to play my Fender CB60SCE acoustic, or Höfner violin bass instead these days, and the jazz just hangs on the wall.

I'm thinking a different kind of strap might help, something wider, or different type? Any suggestions?

View attachment 4734370

View attachment 4734360

The Scott's Bass Lessons strap is really comfortable and can spread the weight nicely. I haven't seen them for sale for a while, but I strongly recommend one.

edit: I just saw that your issue is spinal. You need a lighter bass, unfortunately. A strap is only going to relieve shoulder discomfort - the bass still weighs what it weighs, no matter how you distribute it.

 

[Rootbeer]

I have two 9.2 precisions.
I'm still working on finding the ideal strap, especially given that one is a little neck heavy.
Most recently I am trying Comfort Strapp which is so far so good, but I haven't brought it to a rehearsal or gig yet. TBD.
I played through a gig with the Neotech Mega and it was better than the previous strap but I still felt like I needed more support, had some back and shoulder pain afterward.
The previous strap was a Levy's PM48NP3 Neoprene Strap which, despite how it looks, always leaves me in a lot of pain. It seems to just distribute the weight in one spot anyway.

I use something called the Slider strap. Its not perfect but it does distribute the weight to both shoulders. Gets me through the night with a 10 pound bass.

 

[bdplaid]

I've got a 7.5 lb G&L JB4 made from Empress I could let go if you're interested. PM me.

edit: oooh, I see you're in the UK. nevermind, the shipping would kill you!

 

[bdplaid]

I think I might use this as an opportunity to finally buy a stand that holds the bass while I play. I've wanted one for a long time, I don't actually need one but have always liked the idea.

 

[Gruff]

front left: 2021 Ibanez EHB-1505 (I) - 7 pounds
View attachment 4737220

That is a lovely looking instrument, and only 7 pounds!

I've listed my jazz bass for sale, if someone buys it then end of problem. But I'm also going to strip it down to find out which parts weigh what. If the body is making up a lot of the weight then I found a British company who make bodies in a variety of wood including "white limba" which they'll hand-select for lightness. Though I'm expecting the machine tuners are part of the problem, being on a massive lever arm at the end of the neck... but we'll see once I get the scales out.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

I'd like to try a paulownia body for my ash jazz

Hard to find

Warmoth has a 4lb 3oz ash body, borderline weight, probably not a significant diff.

Plus 12 weeks to finish it.

Finished, lightweight jazz bass bodies are tough to find.