On the fence due to weight....

[Stewie]

I had an imbuya(walnut that sinks in water) P bass. It weighed close to 14 pounds. It was good for one or two sets. I played a J bass for years that was just over 9 pounds. Go strap it on and dance around for a couple minutes. You'll know if it's a fit. Good luck, and here's hoping you really get along with your new bass.

 

[Ed Goode]

I'm considerably older than you (70) and I have to really think about weight of an instrument due to a CRT-D (cardiac re-synchronization) device implanted in my left shoulder area. I have been playing ABG's exclusively for the past 18 months or so, which really helps to keep weight off the shoulder. I use a wide Moody strap which also helps.

Point is, just like you I was in great health, and bass weight meant almost nothing to me … up until the time that it all of a sudden did. It is a drag to have to start to consider age issues, but it's also a reality. Trying to sell off big/heavy basses was a challenge for me recently, so unless reselling is a non-issue for you it likely makes sense to be giving thought to weight ….

 

[N4860]

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?"

I'd be curious if that's actually true of the resale question. It seems to be mostly just a TB thing about asking the weight when buying and selling. I've sold many basses locally and I've never had anyone ask about the weight.

 

[DRBP]

i find that sometimes a heavier bass that just "sits right or hangs right" when playing-if that makes any sense- is easier to play for a gig than a lighter one that doesn't. so if this bass is comfortable on you that extra pound or 2 might not be too bad. if you love the bass i would say go for it if the price is right!

 

[bassdude51]

I'd be curious if that's actually true of the resale question. It seems to be mostly just a TB thing about asking the weight when buying and selling. I've sold many basses locally and I've never had anyone ask about the weight.

I just sold a USA Stingray on Craigslist and the first two inquiries were "how much does it weigh?". When I told them 9.75 lbs, they said, "no thanks". Finally, someone bought it and never asked the weight.

I had a Fender Custom Shop 1951 Anniversary model on Reverb. It weighed 10.25 lbs. 4 months later, no buyers. Finally sold it at a big loss to a fellow in CA. Never asked the weight.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading your Canadian experience. Perhaps you fellows up there are not as picky as us wimpy Americans.

 

[Geri O]

I'm 63 and have two Mike Lulls with perfect weights for my shoulder and back these days (7.9 and 8.3 lbs). I can wear them for seemingly forever (for the time being, anyway...).

I also have, on extended-term load, a Music Man Stingray SR5 that is almost 11 pounds.

I still really, really enjoy playing the SR5, but how long I can manage playing it varies. Sometimes, I can play it a whole 90-minute show, sometimes I have to change to one of the Lulls after 30 minutes. It just depends, and I really don't know on what. If I keep/buy the SR5 (buy it back or get another one like it), I'll look into some Hipshot UltraLites for it.

This is probably the long version of the same thing already being said. I'd get the bass and see how it fits and plays and wears on you.

Best of luck to you on that...

 

[MCS4]

I wouldn't buy a bass that heavy for gigging unless it was so much better than any other basses I could find that I felt I had no choice but to use it. However, if it *was* that good, then I would use a double strap (like the Gruv Gear DuoStrap) and call the slight awkwardness a fair price to pay. Otherwise there are just too many good basses out there that are friendlier to the shoulder and neck.

 

[Killing Floor]

Everyone's journey is different. So only you can decide what is best for you. I have a saying that I'll keep pounding until someone else copies it, then my work will be done here. Play it or weigh it. If you weigh your basses now it it'll probably tug at you like a strange dream. If you play first it won't bother you. Think of your basses as 6 packs of your favorite beer. Sometimes you enjoy a cold one and the pack is a little lighter. Sometimes they double bind the packaging and it's a little heavier.
How long are your gigs?
The marching band practices in summer heat at your local high school are 6-7 hours. Those Sousaphones weigh 45+ pounds. So do the toms.

I'm not an NFL nickel but I get by. I get inspired by Suzi Quatro and Mary Ford. Either of these is heavier than your bass.
Even Randy Rhoads, the dude was positively jacked, arms like tree trunks. He at least had a wide strap.

 

[Nashrakh]

Leave it for the younger folks who don't care about weight. Despite our intuition, we don't need to buy every last instrument on the market, especially if they come with caveats.

 

[Snarf]

Go light. A bass is just a bass.

 

[Bonafide]

Its about balance. I have played many 10 lb basses that are easier for 2 hour gigs than other 8lbs basses. It's nothing new. Weight does not have to affect your back, neck, nerves etc. It's all relative with too many parameters unique to the player.

 

[Moving Pictures]

I just sold a USA Stingray on Craigslist and the first two inquiries were "how much does it weigh?". When I told them 9.75 lbs, they said, "no thanks". Finally, someone bought it and never asked the weight.

I had a Fender Custom Shop 1951 Anniversary model on Reverb. It weighed 10.25 lbs. 4 months later, no buyers. Finally sold it at a big loss to a fellow in CA. Never asked the weight.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading your Canadian experience. Perhaps you fellows up there are not as picky as us wimpy Americans.

I'm one of those picky Canadians and I definitely prefer lighter basses. The thing that's important with a heavier bass, or any bass really, is how does it balance. If it balances well the weight is much more manageable. If it neck dives it can be a bear at any weight and make a gig interminably long. And yes I have been asked about weight when selling a bass

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

I'm not a particularly big guy (6', 225#), in moderate shape, and have had a few minor back issues over the last few years, but I've never let the weight of a bass concern me. My main axe is somewhere between 11 and 12 lbs and I can get a comfy 2-3 hours of constant playing (more with breaks) before I notice any back/shoulder fatigue. I attribute that largely to using a GruvGear Solo (I think) 4" wide strap with that particular bass. It took several trials with different straps to find the right one, but that's the one that ultimately did it for me for that bass. I also practice with that bass and strap regularly and I think that also helps keep my body "conditioned" to play with that bass.

TL/DR: I believe that if you find the right strap/bass combination, it'll be fine. If you like the bass, go get it.

 

[overit]

if you've already got a red flag, do not proceed.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

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.

If you think you'll like the bass and money is not a problem for you then do it! NBD threads are one my favourite things on TalkBass. Buy that thing so I can like and comment on your NBD post

 

[Jefenator]

Light weight is very trendy right now, and I get why (I'm 51). But there is something about my 10 1/2 pound Warwick Streamer Stage I that just really does it for me - there's this crazy sustain. I'm not sure a 7# version would be quite the same. I've done two sets with it without having my back get too cranky about it.
4 or 5 sets might be a different story, but that doesn't come up much, anymore. (If it does I can always alternate sets with my lighter axe, which is kind of fun to do anyway.)
I say go for it.

 

[31HZ]

Depends on the bass, how it balances on the strap, and how the ergos work with your particular physiology.

For me that means:

11-pound Fbass BN5? Yep
9-pound Warwick Thumb? Nope

And yeah, start working out now -- and if you can, find a trainer who will help you engage all of those back/core muscles that go disengaged when we sit (which then cause all kinds of back problems and mobility issues).

Getting old, it ain't for sissies, but with work, cunning and luck you can postpone the inevitable.

 

[Planespotter]

Weight matters. When I was in my 20s I was flabbergasted that all the middle aged players were unloading their 10lb cbs era Fenders and/or Norlin era Les Pauls for lighter brand new models. Now that I'm 46 with a multi level spinal fusion I understand fully. Leave the boat anchors for the strapping young kids and macho masochists.

 

[SwitchGear]

10.5 lb bass =

 

[sethlow3]

I've dealt with issues from the weight of basses for years. What I eventually did is give myself a weight limit of ONLY basses less than 7 lbs. While that seemed daunting at first, there are actually plenty of options, you just have to change your requirements and shop around.

This lead me to basses that are:

Solid body basses made of empress, pine, or super light ash. (G&L empress LB100, mine is 6.75lbs!)

Hollow body basses (Hofner, Rob Allen, etc)

Acoustic bass guitars (Tacoma, Taylor mini, etc)

if you stick to those parameters, it becomes even more comfortable to play without getting those health issues raging back. It's been great for me. I've never been more comfortable playing bass.

Another thing to note about those 3 types is you get a different SOUND from each. Solid, hollow, and acoustic. Surprisingly, it's much more fun comparing a P to a hollow and acoustic rather than just the standard old P and J sounds (which to most average people sound super similar) That makes for you having a lot more tonal variety for things like the studio, different genres, acoustic gigs etc.