On the fence due to weight....

[two fingers]

I'm 50 years old, but in good shape. That said, I'm not sure how I would do with a 10 1/2 pound bass around my neck for a gig.

In my area, there's a screaming deal on a bass I REALLY like. I did hundreds of gigs with an 11 pound version several years ago. I recall it felt heavier than my other basses. But I don't recall avoiding it due to weight. Like I said, I did a LOT of gigs with that bass!

I think I could flip it if it winds up being just too heavy.

Spitball with me. Throw out the first thing that comes to mind. I need to talk this out.

 

[scott sinner]

 

[fretno]

Dooo ett. Flip later if you must

 

[chris_b]

I'm 50 years old, but in good shape.

That's excellent news. Start looking after your back now, when you don't need to, and you'll stay like that.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I'm 56, with neck issues. I have a parts Fender I've owned for 36 years. For a few years I avoided playing it on gigs, but now I m playing it more again.

Try it out. Unless it feels like a total boat anchor, get it, and a nice wide padded strap with some of the money saved on your "screaming deal".

 

[stingray69]

I'm assuming you already own a nice, wide strap to mitigate some of the burden of heavy-ish instruments?

If not, get a wide strap and get that bass!

 

[ctmullins]

Yep, try it out. You might be able to shave some weight through a bridge swap, or tuner swap. But if it's calling to you, you owe it to yourself to at least give it a shot!

 

[lug]

I'm 63 and occasionally gig with a T40. I laugh at death!

 

[Oddly]

Get it.
You're fit, and with a wide strap that weight shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Koshchei]

I'm 50 years old, but in good shape. That said, I'm not sure how I would do with a 10 1/2 poind bass around my neck for a gig.

In my area, there's a screaming deal on a bass I REALLY like. I did hundreds of gigs with an 11 pound version several years ago. I recall it felt heavier than my other basses. But I don't recall avoiding it due to weight. Like I said, I did a LOT of gigs with that bass!

I think I could flip it if it winds up being just too heavy.

Spitball with me. Throw out the first thing that comes to mind. I need to talk this out.

Go lighter. You're over the hump, so if you do something to your back, it's probably going to be permanentish.

 

[bassdude51]

First off, sometimes up to one full lbs can come off of the weight of a bass with hardware changes. Lighter tuners. Lighter bridge. Replacing metal knobs with plastic or aluminum. Dumping the pick guard. Aluminum strap buttons. Buying Alumitone pickups.

IMO, the worst thing about a heavy bass is...........RESALE! It is very difficult to sell a heavy bass guitar and it is usually the first words out of a potential buyer's mouth............."How much does it weight?"

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I'm 50 years old, but in good shape. That said, I'm not sure how I would do with a 10 1/2 pound bass around my neck for a gig.

In my area, there's a screaming deal on a bass I REALLY like. I did hundreds of gigs with an 11 pound version several years ago. I recall it felt heavier than my other basses. But I don't recall avoiding it due to weight. Like I said, I did a LOT of gigs with that bass!

I think I could flip it if it winds up being just too heavy.

Spitball with me. Throw out the first thing that comes to mind. I need to talk this out.

Get the bass! You don't have to play it all night. Alternate with another bass or two. Also, invest in a nice, thick 4 inch wide padded strap... it does wonders!

 

[Kipp Harrington]

..."sometimes up to one full lbs can come off of the weight of a bass with hardware changes"...
^^^^^^^^
This is great advice!

 

[Ric Vice]

There are a couple of new double straps that will distribute the weight of the bass evenly over both your shoulders. I use the Duo Strap from Gruv Gear expensive but IME worth it. That said my favorite Lakland 55-94 is 8.5 lbs. With the Duo Strap it's very comfortable. My other Lakland is 55.94 is 9.5 lbs and feels fine with the Duo Strap.

 

[bucephylus]

The only way to find out whether an instrument meets your needs is to take it out on the gig. The rest is hearsay.

I do tend to prefer lighter instruments; but, not for the reasons most talk about. I just find that the lighter instruments tend to have preferable (to me) resonant characteristics. And, I will admit that resonance is purely a playing thing. My heavier instruments sound excellent through the signal chain, even though they don't vibe as much. I just like the vibe. For me, it is an acoustic thing, not a weight on the shoulder thing. YMMV

But, I sure hope this thread doesn't dissolve into the pointless macho exchanges usually associated with this topic. Really sick of those.

 

[Spidey2112]

If it's heavy enough to do inverted curls with it, I say get it and get in even better shape.

 

[Spidey2112]

But, I sure hope this thread doesn't dissolve into the pointless macho exchanges usually associated with this topic.

Too late... let's all get our Popeye on! Spinach, on the house!

 

[DaveDeVille]

... I laugh at death!

... hahahahaha ....

 

[sleddogn]

I was thinking this after thread title....

 

[mmbongo]

I'll be honest. I was beyond thrilled to find a few extraordinary basses that weigh around 8.5 pounds. I love all of them and scoffed at anything over 9 pounds.

Then I got a Dingwall bass. 6 pounds, 10 oz. Sounds huge...sounds bigger than any of my other basses and plays better. Now sadly I can't play my other basses, no matter how awesome they are. They just feel like boat anchors now.