"On my bathroom scale"

[Jeff Elkins]

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.

I just came by to give you flak for misspelling flak!

And actually, radius isn't always that easy to find. Some companies don't even post it, so it takes a little asking around. (At least not on the basses I cared about when I cared about such things. I finally stopped chasing smaller radii and forced myself to get used to flatter fretboards because, like lefties, my desired radius was not super available.)

 

[davec]

Remember when There were 4 accepted weights for a Fender Bass light, right, heavy and boat anchor, and amazingly we all know exactly what that meant?
On the bathroom scale means +\- 8 oz but no one want to say 1/2 lbs because if it came in at 10 oz over the person would likely get flamed on talkbass.

 

[red_rhino]

How hard is it to step on a bathroom scale, use your bodyweight as a baseline, and then repeat while holding a bass and doing some math? Even a poorly calibrated bathroom scale isn't going to be far off at those weights. I think where people get into trouble is by trying to weigh a bass by itself. Bathroom scales aren't really made to be accurate at those low weights.

 

[singlemalt]

I bought a fishing scale at Walmart for $8. When my wife bought a digital scale for the kitchen, the first thing I did was take it down to the man cave and weigh my basses. Pretty close, between the two, but I have more faith in the digital. Maybe because I like the blue led display.

My first bass was a Kramer 450B, walnut and maple with the aluminum neck. I was 18, so what did I care about weight? That thing weighed over 12 lb. I had that bass for 36 years. I'd put it on, take a look at my posture, and take it off. Sold it a few years back.

Nowadays, 8.5 lb is the limit, and only because I already own it, and it's a minty Cirrus. If I'm shopping, I'm looking for under 8lb and would prefer under 7. So, yeah, an accurate weight is going to be a deal breaker. Pretty much only looking at Rob Allen basses these days.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Remember when There were 4 accepted weights for a Fender Bass light, right, heavy and boat anchor, and amazingly we all know exactly what that meant?
On the bathroom scale means +\- 8 oz but no one want to say 1/2 lbs because if it came in at 10 oz over the person would likely get flamed on talkbass.

If only there were an easy and accurate way to weigh a bass….

 

[Polk Salad]

I understand the discussion but damn, it wasn't that long ago we bought the item we wanted with no way of knowing how much it weighed (or whatever).

This is a great example of "technology makes life better!" Does it? Now some people will EXPECT a seller to have a digital postal scale and if they don't, the judgement vultures come out.

Frankly, I think its courteous for a person to offer a weight from a bathroom scale. Don't like that idea then move on.

Trust me, I don't want a boat anchor of an instrument either but not every seller will have a digital scale, text you photos or play an instrument for you over the phone or on zoom.

You just bought the fastest computer but as soon as you get it home you're bound to be unsatisfied.

Technology has screwed our societal expectations.

 

[monsterthompson]

This thread is the most Talkbass thread I've ever seen on here.

Seriously.

It’s not that mysterious. If the ad says “bathroom scale” then that means the weight is not a selling point, and the seller is not interested in selling to anyone who considers weight a deal maker/breaker issue. It’s like go-away pricing. Here’s a fuzzy number so you don’t ask, and you can’t hold me to it later.

 

[Yogi Bear]

But if it weighs the same as a duck. She be a witch!

 

[59jazz]

I had a few purchases that were a pound or more over what was advertised, at that point I don't leave any feedback for the seller and just move on. I'll sell it eventually with the accurate weight.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Want to know what else isn't accurate - Levi's jeans. 34 waist, right? Don't go near a tape measure or buy a suit.

 

[kmon]

I always thought that body weight, then body weight plus bass WAS the bathroom scale method.

 

[BBassBassington]

I like the “gallon of water” unit of measurement.
Ex. “My peavey T-40 weighs 2.5 gallons of water”

My Dimension weighs 247.5 pickles!

 

[VincentGrim]

Gonna chime in:

I have only ever been asked for weight on Talkbass. Now, I am always willing to get an accurate weight, but Usually by the time I see the inquiry I already have people wanting to buy it without me going through the trouble.

Now, to my recollection, I have never provided an accurate weight and had that be the factor that secures a sale. Usually, even on remarkably light basses, I never hear from that person again (or someone else buys it before they can make a decision, hence ending our communication).

Point being: most people on here aren’t buying and selling for a living. They’re selling gear that they don’t want anymore and they can do it very easily without buying an accurate scale. Or a scale at all for that matter, regardless of how cheap they are.

 

[Jackcrow]

If you buy and sell (and ship) a lot, I think an accurate scale is a must-own.

 

[BlueTalon]

"A pint's a pound, the world around."

A liter of water is a kilogram at sea level the world around.

Doesn't quite roll off the tongue the same way.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

"A pint's a pound, the world around."

Good to know! Similar to 1 Litre (pure at 4 degrees C) water = 1 kilogram.

Most of us around the world wouldn't have a clue what a pint or a pound is

I kid! We know this much about pints:

Don't get me started on what a pint means in Adelaide vs anywhere else though!

edit: I see that @BlueTalon just beat me to it

 

[nutdog]

I'm not saying it's the gold standard, just saying that it is an expensive way to obtain a very close weight. The bathroom scale method varies greatly in both accuracy and precision. They're tuned for the 100-200lbs range. And if the weight listed turns out to be different when it arrives, would you take a return if there is a half pound difference?

I wouldn't feel obligated. My bathroom scale is pretty accurate. It would have been on you to ask for a different weight method before buying.

But I probably would. I've had two transactions where the buyer had a problem and I told them to ship it back at my expense and I'd give a full refund. Turned out they didn't really have a problem so they didn't take me up on it, but I don't want anyone to feel slighted after a transaction. If you're not happy I can eat the shipping. But if you think I'm trying to get away with something because I tell you it's a bathroom scale weight then don't buy from me.

 

[BassNugget]

What kind of bait do you use for digital fish?

Do digital fish dream of electric sheep?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

A liter of water is a kilogram at sea level the world around.

Doesn't quite roll off the tongue the same way.

It's mostly temperature dependent 4 C. The change in density due to atmospheric pressure is slight.

 

[Tom Bomb]

I use a kitchen-scale that has a 5 kilo limit.

Looks a lot like this one,
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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
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