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"On my bathroom scale"
- Thread starter MultiScaleMale
- Start date
I have a bad feeling that my '74 Jazz would top out your scaleI use a kitchen-scale that has a 5 kilo limit.
Looks a lot like this one,
I just screw the glass-plate off and reset the tare weight. The instrument's strap-button sits snuggly in a seemingly made-to-measure depression on the scale's surface and can then be steadied well enough so that a very accurate figure can be determined. Hopefully I'll never have anything that weighs above 5 kilos so I should be set. Even boat anchors have a fair chance
I never trusted a bathroom scale since you need to hold the bass and that will alter the reading. But I just read that some people do it the following way:
-First weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the bass and do the subtraction. Pretty elegant solution (at least if your bathroom scale is precise enough).
[Much better than my own previous solution anyway, which consisted in calculating the volume that your bathtub can hold, then filling it and dunking in the bass. Make sure to catch all the water overflow. Measure the overflow's volume. Now, you have you bass' total volume. Then, take the different materials your bass is made of (body wood, neck wood, machine heads metal, etc.) and find out what percentage they each represent of the total instrument. This way, you get the exact volume of maple, rosewood, steel, etc. that make up your bass. Finally, find out the weight per volume for all of those materials and add them up.
Now that I'm saying it, it seems a bit silly...]
-First weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the bass and do the subtraction. Pretty elegant solution (at least if your bathroom scale is precise enough).
[Much better than my own previous solution anyway, which consisted in calculating the volume that your bathtub can hold, then filling it and dunking in the bass. Make sure to catch all the water overflow. Measure the overflow's volume. Now, you have you bass' total volume. Then, take the different materials your bass is made of (body wood, neck wood, machine heads metal, etc.) and find out what percentage they each represent of the total instrument. This way, you get the exact volume of maple, rosewood, steel, etc. that make up your bass. Finally, find out the weight per volume for all of those materials and add them up.
Now that I'm saying it, it seems a bit silly...]
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Right, I shouldn’t have said “tuner,” I was actually trying to describe your picture, but I should have said “winding post.” Just wanted to be sure that method wouldn’t have any adverse effects on a bass.
Assuming it’s on a flat surface. Many tile floors are uneven enough to throw an otherwise fairly accurate bathroom scale off by a few ounces.
Wow, just saying that my bathroom scale, with me on it, gives consistent measurements of my instruments (with me and without me) repeatedly, and two of my instruments (one is no longer my instrument) were also measured on shipping scales, and it was within, let me try to do the math... roughly a quarter of a pound for both instruments (which weighed very different amounts).
So I've been using my bathroom scale (again, with me on it as well to do the comparison) for years to weigh instruments, and feel confident that it's an informative tool to supply the basic weight of the instrument give or take 2 or 3 tenths of a pound. Why would anyone need more accuracy than that? We're not taking our instruments to outer space. It'll tell me if it's a 12 pound, 11 pound, 10 poudn, 9 pound, 8 pound instrument, and as noted I have confirmed it, and I trust it's accuracy to about a quarter of a pound, even half a pound is good enough to give me very helpful information though.
And if someone in an advert says the instrument they are selling was weighed on their bathroom scale at x Kg (erm, pounds for you Americans), it gives me an an idea if it's a light instrument, medium, or pretty heavy... from that number, before I go out and check out the instrument myself.
Now I don't buy used instruments without playing them first, so it's not like the number matters to me compared to my validation of it by feel in person.
But I'd MUCH rather have a weight supplied to me with an honest "on my bathroom scale" measurement then no weight idea at all. It's pretty easy to tell if it's a 12 pound bass or an 8 pound bass with a bathroom scale, again assuming you are smart enough to weigh the instrument with you holding it, and having stepped on/off before use, etc whatever blah blah.
Also, I wouldn't have a clue how to use a fishing scale or any other type of hanging scale for weight a bass.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I completely agree that if it really matters to a buyer, that's perfectly fine, and something that can be measure at a shipping location (maybe not canada post, for you canadians, because we all know how seriously they take their jobs and being sticklers for the rules.. but go to a fedex or something).
So if you are buying and really want to know with accuracy, cool, never be afraid to ask, specify the quality of measuring device you want used if the person may not know these things.
So I've been using my bathroom scale (again, with me on it as well to do the comparison) for years to weigh instruments, and feel confident that it's an informative tool to supply the basic weight of the instrument give or take 2 or 3 tenths of a pound. Why would anyone need more accuracy than that? We're not taking our instruments to outer space. It'll tell me if it's a 12 pound, 11 pound, 10 poudn, 9 pound, 8 pound instrument, and as noted I have confirmed it, and I trust it's accuracy to about a quarter of a pound, even half a pound is good enough to give me very helpful information though.
And if someone in an advert says the instrument they are selling was weighed on their bathroom scale at x Kg (erm, pounds for you Americans), it gives me an an idea if it's a light instrument, medium, or pretty heavy... from that number, before I go out and check out the instrument myself.
Now I don't buy used instruments without playing them first, so it's not like the number matters to me compared to my validation of it by feel in person.
But I'd MUCH rather have a weight supplied to me with an honest "on my bathroom scale" measurement then no weight idea at all. It's pretty easy to tell if it's a 12 pound bass or an 8 pound bass with a bathroom scale, again assuming you are smart enough to weigh the instrument with you holding it, and having stepped on/off before use, etc whatever blah blah.
Also, I wouldn't have a clue how to use a fishing scale or any other type of hanging scale for weight a bass.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I completely agree that if it really matters to a buyer, that's perfectly fine, and something that can be measure at a shipping location (maybe not canada post, for you canadians, because we all know how seriously they take their jobs and being sticklers for the rules.. but go to a fedex or something).
So if you are buying and really want to know with accuracy, cool, never be afraid to ask, specify the quality of measuring device you want used if the person may not know these things.
I didn't read the previous 9 pages, but this seems like a very silly thing to be up in arms about. I don't think anyone expects precise measurements when using a bathroom scale. Mine, for instance, goes in 0.2 lb increments. So whenever I tell people the weight using bathroom scale, it's understood that it's a ballpark. I suppose if that .5 lb or so margin of error costs me a sale, oh well.
OP if $10.99 for that fishing scale isn't a big deal for you, I'll PM you my address and you can send it to me. Don't presume that just because people have instruments they can afford to buy better scales. The fact that they don't have extra money may be the reason they're selling in the first place.
OP if $10.99 for that fishing scale isn't a big deal for you, I'll PM you my address and you can send it to me. Don't presume that just because people have instruments they can afford to buy better scales. The fact that they don't have extra money may be the reason they're selling in the first place.
Yeah, "bathroom scale weight" bothers me too.
I found a solution that works for me; I do not do business with these people. I feel it would be my fault if I ordered a bass from an advertisement that listed OMBS and I was not pleased with the actual weight.
I found a solution that works for me; I do not do business with these people. I feel it would be my fault if I ordered a bass from an advertisement that listed OMBS and I was not pleased with the actual weight.
It ain't for saleI'd still buy it
By the way, I own a hanging luggage scale, but not a bathroom scale...do I win this thread?
Only if you can use your hanging luggage scale to weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding a bass, then subtract the first weight from the second, then repeat the process 3x, then calculate the average result…
If only you could use the metric system: 1 litre = 1 kilo. .5 litre = 500grams. We have the English to thank for the imperial system I believe. Happy to be corrected if that’s not so but who in the world would invent a monetary unit of a guinea - 1 pound sterling plus 1 shilling - when the pound and shilling units already exist separately. Go metric, the buyer will cope. The rest of the world does. I know that will come across as a slur at the English and American methods but you can change, really. Australia’s currency went metric in 1966 and weights and measures about then too. It is soooo much simpler.
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I use a kitchen-scale that has a 5 kilo limit.
Looks a lot like this one,
I just screw the glass-plate off and reset the tare weight. The instrument's strap-button sits snuggly in a seemingly made-to-measure depression on the scale's surface and can then be steadied well enough so that a very accurate figure can be determined. Hopefully I'll never have anything that weighs above 5 kilos so I should be set. Even boat anchors have a fair chance
No good for me . P bass comes in at 12lb 2oz . I weighed mine on the HGV weighbridge at work which reads up to 56 tonnes and apparently it weighs nothing at all . Does this make it it valuable ?
I would suggest that if weight is of any concern to you , do not buy a bass that you have not played in person .
Wow this thread is still going on. Digital bathroom scales are not that inaccurate ( .1 to .2 tenths for every 50 lbs on my inexpensive digital scale ). But they typically do not display sub 10 lbs and I do not know why not - so I am okay with the body + bass method. How much precision do you you really want. Those kitchen scales I feel are too small and if we are talking about precision, I do not trust them also. You probably need a produce scale that is legal for trade maybe even certified by your state's department of agriculture. I like mechanical analog scales that uses metal weights that you slide. Also you probably need a a proper jig to get that bass to stand vertically. Lying them on horizontal on those kitchen cocaine scales is suspect to me. (sarcasm implied)
I thought only wanna-be road bike racers cared about precise weights. Weight Weenies they are called.
I'll make note of all the anti bathroom scale guys and will get a proper scale or recertify our produce scale and add it to the purchase price if I ever sell one of my basses to you. Weight unit will be in potatoes and Hatch Green Chile pods.
I thought only wanna-be road bike racers cared about precise weights. Weight Weenies they are called.
I'll make note of all the anti bathroom scale guys and will get a proper scale or recertify our produce scale and add it to the purchase price if I ever sell one of my basses to you. Weight unit will be in potatoes and Hatch Green Chile pods.
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Urinating into the wind there mate. Metric is mathematically much simpler and they'll probably adopt it eventually, but it won't be through individuals changing their usage. When you're surrounded by certain kinds of units, you use them in order to function in that place. Even when I drive in the UK now, I think in miles for speed & distance because it's easier to just use what's signposted, even though the speedometer has both mph & km/h displayed.
"A pint's a pound, the world around."
The world around? Well, maybe for the 3.5 countries and 425.5 million people in the world that still use imperial measurements.
For the other 192.5 countries and 7.5 billion people who use the metric system, one litre of water weighs a kilogram.
I bought a digital luggage scale before I sold my last bass. I tested it with some hand weights of different sizes and it seemed quite accurate.
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If someone weren't to list their best guess at the weight, they'd get bombarded with emails from all us broke back talkbass users asking "What's the weight?"
Honestly I feel like some people might be setting the bar too high for the "USED" market. If you want a lightweight bass on a budget, shop for an Ibanez. A Soundgear can probably fit that bill, the electronics can be swapped, the body rerouted. Their new headless models regularly clock in at 7-8.5lbs as far as I can tell. If you know what you like you could order a custom build. Or here's an example I can relate too.. I recently purchased a 55-02, seeing an average of about 9lbs 3oz to 10lbs 3oz according to Sweetwater. If weight mattered more than cost, I could've opted for a USA made 55-94 which regularly come in at 8.5ishlbs. I could've ordered from Sadowsky NYC, where they regularly post pictures of basses on a scale clocking in at less than 8lbs. The list goes on.
If you're going to nitpick, by all means do so, but if weight is concern #1 there are bass guitar models that were designed with that consideration in mind.
For me this thread is just one more reason I refuse to list any of my gear for anything other than local sale. I'm not a retailer with a warehouse full of stock that I'll be making a profit on. I'm a bass player who might want to make room for a different instrument or a piece of gear and I'm going to be taking a loss on it without shipping insurance etc etc. It's risky shipping a bass as an individual. I'm more than happy to step on a scale multiple times with and without a bass guitar in my hands and give you an idea of the variations and I will list everything as honestly as I possibly can. From there you can come by and play it.. you can bring your own scale just be aware, you damage it you buy it and there will be video footage. If you give me money, shake my hand, and leave with the bass the deal is then considered finished. I'm more than happy to explain some features you overlooked if you call me and ask.. but beyond that, it's your bass now and you can list it if you don't like it.. or toss it in the fire for all I care, okay that might secretly hurt me a little bit if I found out because I sold you a decent bass that someone could've enjoyed. But it's out of my hands. It's the same exact thing when I go out shopping used locally. I don't feel entitled to more than that from a potential seller.
If you want better service than that you should probably call *insert retailer here*, Guitar Center has always been happy to take a used item back if I wasn't happy with it. Minus shipping as long as it wasn't due to a defect. Seems fair.
Honestly I feel like some people might be setting the bar too high for the "USED" market. If you want a lightweight bass on a budget, shop for an Ibanez. A Soundgear can probably fit that bill, the electronics can be swapped, the body rerouted. Their new headless models regularly clock in at 7-8.5lbs as far as I can tell. If you know what you like you could order a custom build. Or here's an example I can relate too.. I recently purchased a 55-02, seeing an average of about 9lbs 3oz to 10lbs 3oz according to Sweetwater. If weight mattered more than cost, I could've opted for a USA made 55-94 which regularly come in at 8.5ishlbs. I could've ordered from Sadowsky NYC, where they regularly post pictures of basses on a scale clocking in at less than 8lbs. The list goes on.
If you're going to nitpick, by all means do so, but if weight is concern #1 there are bass guitar models that were designed with that consideration in mind.
For me this thread is just one more reason I refuse to list any of my gear for anything other than local sale. I'm not a retailer with a warehouse full of stock that I'll be making a profit on. I'm a bass player who might want to make room for a different instrument or a piece of gear and I'm going to be taking a loss on it without shipping insurance etc etc. It's risky shipping a bass as an individual. I'm more than happy to step on a scale multiple times with and without a bass guitar in my hands and give you an idea of the variations and I will list everything as honestly as I possibly can. From there you can come by and play it.. you can bring your own scale just be aware, you damage it you buy it and there will be video footage. If you give me money, shake my hand, and leave with the bass the deal is then considered finished. I'm more than happy to explain some features you overlooked if you call me and ask.. but beyond that, it's your bass now and you can list it if you don't like it.. or toss it in the fire for all I care, okay that might secretly hurt me a little bit if I found out because I sold you a decent bass that someone could've enjoyed. But it's out of my hands. It's the same exact thing when I go out shopping used locally. I don't feel entitled to more than that from a potential seller.
If you want better service than that you should probably call *insert retailer here*, Guitar Center has always been happy to take a used item back if I wasn't happy with it. Minus shipping as long as it wasn't due to a defect. Seems fair.
