"On my bathroom scale"

[Syd Rayne]

Yeah, if you have a wife, then your bathroom scale could be altered to read lighter. Not that I would ever do that... if called before a jury, I will deny it.

 

[Moon Fetus]

I must be dense (in a thread about weight) because I'm having a hard time understanding what exactly the problem is here... If you're shipping a bass, the weight needs to be accurate regardless to pay the proper rate. If you're not shipping it... do you need to know its exact weight to the ounce? Why nitpick the type of scale? I know sometimes people are concerned about weight for gigging etc but this just seems particularly... particular

 

[Killing Floor]

Ummm, no. In the can means you can hear it in your headphones.

My answer is funnier. Do you know how many hits were sung in the bathroom?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I must be dense (in a thread about weight) because I'm having a hard time understanding what exactly the problem is here... If you're shipping a bass, the weight needs to be accurate regardless to pay the proper rate. If you're not shipping it... do you need to know its exact weight to the ounce? Why nitpick the type of scale? I know sometimes people are concerned about weight for gigging etc but this just seems particularly... particular

I'm not nitpicking the type of scale, but the precision/accuracy of the reading. If a weight is listed as 8.5 lbs, it should be 8.5 lbs. "On my bathroom scale" tends to mean, "If it turns out to be 9.5 lbs, too bad". Mentioning the type of scale just was a means of showing that for about ten bucks you can give a very accurate/precise weight.

 

[FishDub]

Also, scales are usually more accurate in the range they are expecting to see. For weighing a bass I would weigh myself and the bass. Then just myself and subtract.

This^..And remember to place the scale on a hard surface and NOT a carpet. Apparently it reads differently.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Why do sellers list a weight with "on my bathroom scale"? Whatever means you use, the weight is the weight. When I see OMBS, I think "it's probably a little heavier, but that's the lowest number I got on this imprecise scale". Then when the bass arrives, it's a full pound heavier, "sorry man, the bathroom scale is all I had". It's similar to listing a bass as "34", using an old shoe string" or a $1350 selling price and I'll just pay in CAD.

Use a postal scale (and don't touch the bass to balance it, balancing is nothing more than lower the weight on the scale by a pound or so.) A cheap solution is a fish scale or a luggage scale like this where you hang it by the neck or a tuner, hands off the instrument, and you get an accurate reading.

https://www.amazon.com/HEETA-Portab...YVWTJ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=fish+scale

I bought a bass awhile ago listed at 8.2 lbs and it turned out to be 8.9. It was a really good sounding bass, so I just let it slide but if I were looking for an instrument because I had shoulder surgery or something, an accurate weight is a big concern. So, why list the weight if it's not accurate? When you can get a means to measure the weight at +/- an ounce for ten bucks, it's really inexcusable, IMHO.

Because a bathroom scale isn't accurate. The only way to accurately weigh your bass is to use a fish scale. Hang it. The weight needs to be centered, and not being touched during measurement.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Why do sellers list a weight with "on my bathroom scale"? Whatever means you use, the weight is the weight. When I see OMBS, I think "it's probably a little heavier, but that's the lowest number I got on this imprecise scale". Then when the bass arrives, it's a full pound heavier, "sorry man, the bathroom scale is all I had". It's similar to listing a bass as "34", using an old shoe string" or a $1350 selling price and I'll just pay in CAD.

Use a postal scale (and don't touch the bass to balance it, balancing is nothing more than lower the weight on the scale by a pound or so.) A cheap solution is a fish scale or a luggage scale like this where you hang it by the neck or a tuner, hands off the instrument, and you get an accurate reading.

https://www.amazon.com/HEETA-Portab...YVWTJ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=fish+scale

I bought a bass awhile ago listed at 8.2 lbs and it turned out to be 8.9. It was a really good sounding bass, so I just let it slide but if I were looking for an instrument because I had shoulder surgery or something, an accurate weight is a big concern. So, why list the weight if it's not accurate? When you can get a means to measure the weight at +/- an ounce for ten bucks, it's really inexcusable, IMHO.

Thanks Rich! I went to link you posted and bought one! Thanks again for your post, I so needed one but somehow overlook buying.

 

[Moon Fetus]

Ummm, no. In the can means you can hear it in your headphones.

whoosh

I'm not nitpicking the type of scale, but the precision/accuracy of the reading. If a weight is listed as 8.5 lbs, it should be 8.5 lbs. "On my bathroom scale" tends to mean, "If it turns out to be 9.5 lbs, too bad". Mentioning the type of scale just was a means of showing that for about ten bucks you can give a very accurate/precise weight.

I see what you're saying, maybe you just end up in more situations where that matters than I do, since I genuinely do not give a second thought to the weight of an instrument outside of how it affects postage costs. I can't see splitting hairs over a pound difference unless it meant I had to go to the post office and make up the difference on the cost of an improperly weighed package. Then I'd be cranky.

 

[Bikeguy57]

I'll probably take some flack for this, but why ask in the first place? You are on talkbass, you have access to the internet, you have the model and the year, google is your friend.

Same with nut width, neck radius, and all the other silly questions sellers get asked. Unless the bass has been modified, and if it has that should be clearly stated and explained, model and year is all you need to know.

Not sure if serious. Do you really think all 2018 Fender Pro Jazz basses weigh the same?

 

[EatS1stBassist]

What kind of bait do you use for digital fish?

A number 3

 

[Thumpin6string]

I use a bathroom scale for shipping heavy items and my postal scale for under 5 pound items. Unfortunately most people don't have all the fancy scales if they have any at all. If I was selling a bass and was asked the weight, I'd say I don't know, but if you want I can weigh it on a bathroom scale for a rough idea. If that isn't good enough, they can pass.

 

[Herrick]

New digital bathroom scales have 0.1 lb precision. Absolute accuracy questionable but as someone suggested above, easy enough to test it. Grab a 10-lb weight to test it, gallon of water or whatever. The weighing self with and without bass trick should get you very close.

I've tried that method and according to the scale, my Carvin PB5 was about 6 pounds. There's just no way that's right. But I know the scale isn't that far off because it showed my 50-pound dumbbell was 50.2 pounds.

Not sure if serious. Do you really think all 2018 Fender Pro Jazz basses weigh the same?

Yeah I couldn't tell if he was serious either. Maybe that was his way of saying he doesn't care about exact weight so no one else should?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'll probably take some flack for this, but why ask in the first place? You are on talkbass, you have access to the internet, you have the model and the year, google is your friend.

Same with nut width, neck radius, and all the other silly questions sellers get asked. Unless the bass has been modified, and if it has that should be clearly stated and explained, model and year is all you need to know.

Scale length, nut width, bridge spacing are all searchable, but weights of instruments are almost never listed because they can vary by +/- 2 lbs due to variants in woods. Why ask for pictures? You can find pictures of any instruments online, but you would like to know the physical condition of the instrument you're purchasing.

 

[Syd Rayne]

What kind of bait do you use for digital fish?

Depends on if it's a chromatic tuna.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I use a bathroom scale for shipping heavy items and my postal scale for under 5 pound items. Unfortunately most people don't have all the fancy scales if they have any at all. If I was selling a bass and was asked the weight, I'd say I don't know, but if you want I can weigh it on a bathroom scale for a rough idea. If that isn't good enough, they can pass.

You can weigh it at the post office, FedEx, UPS, etc.

 

[Thumpin6string]

You can weigh it at the post office, FedEx, UPS, etc.

Not worth the drive.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I've tried that method and according to the scale, my Carvin PB5 was about 6 pounds. There's just no way that's right. But I know the scale isn't that far off because it showed my 50-pound dumbbell was 50.2 pounds.

Olympic competition plates are probably accurate to the ounce, but typical dumbbells, kettlebells and gym rat plates are "close". They could get them dead on, but nobody would want to pay for the extra labor involved.

 

[vvvmmm]

What kind of bait do you use for digital fish?

LOL cheesy dad joke

Yes, they are called, "fingerlings".

Also, since the advent of the plague, my bathroom scale broke and keeps adding about 2lbs. every month.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Not worth the drive.

Depends on what you're selling.

 

[DrMole]

Ummm, no. In the can means you can hear it in your headphones.

Sarge, Sarge, Sarge- we need you clear-headed to see these facetious-traps before we stumble into them.