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Putting a dollar amount to how much weight matters, if it does.
- Thread starter beaglesandbass
- Start date
9.4 lbs is the *light* option?
Agreed.
In my current situation, a two figure weight would be a deal breaker on any bass and 9.4 lbs would be the only tolerable one. Add more $$$ for 8.5lbs and I'm in.
I build my own basses, with an emphasis (among other things) on weight. My heaviest 5 string is 8.2 pounds. My lightest (a 4 string) is 6.6
While 9.4 pounds is OK for some folks, I’d pass on all 3 of those options. None of them are my idea of “light”.
Yes, all my basses cost more than $1K to build, so light weight is worth paying for.
While 9.4 pounds is OK for some folks, I’d pass on all 3 of those options. None of them are my idea of “light”.
Yes, all my basses cost more than $1K to build, so light weight is worth paying for.
Tuners are the absolute first thing that you tackle when building a light weight bass. Especially on a 5 string, Hipshot ultralites are a given. There is no reason to use clunky Fender style steel tuners.
My lightest is 6.6 pounds. You can let go of the neck and hop up and down all you want - there isn’t a hint of neck dive. I have a 5 string that's 7.25 pounds - same thing, no neck dive.
Agreed! and its far cheaper spending a bit extra on a lighter bass than it is to visit a chiropractor, massage professional or any other person that can fix your body, after your neck and shoulders become so misaligned from too much weight over a prolonged period of time that you look like Quasimodo ( it happened!). I don’t even consider myself very old or unfit in any way, just a personal preference and belief.
My tool belt that is worn 8 hours a day, weighs more than most basses. Standard loadout when I was in the Corps was a 60lb load. I ain't no girlie man, so weight issue ain't worth spit. When I get to the point I can't hold 10 pounds while using a shoulder strap, just shoot me.
I have a 7.5lb Ibanez jazz that cost around $250 and plays really well but I’d pay $1,000 or more for a Japanese Fender jazz that weighed 8.5lbs if it was the right one. Weight is more of an issue for my shoulder than price by a long way. The difficulty is finding the right weight/tone/neck all in the same bass. This is what gives me GAS.
To answer the thread title literally, when ordering a G&L, I was very happy to add $143 to the MSRP by choosing Empress for the body, thereby guaranteeing that at worst the overall weight would be moderate.
Im a body builder. 9 lbs to 11lbs doesnt make much a difference to me. I guess its all personal preference. I've got a peavey t-40 and bop around dancing with that bass like it's nothing. I never even thought about bass weight until I got on TB. I have no idea what any of my basses weigh and really don't care. they are all light enough for me. ymmv.
The price is of no concern to me.
I chose option B.
That's the average weight of my three sixers.
They all have a Comfort Strapp.
All is good.
If a sixer's body is too light,you may get neck dive.
I chose option B.
That's the average weight of my three sixers.
They all have a Comfort Strapp.
All is good.
If a sixer's body is too light,you may get neck dive.
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I’m 65 and was given the genetic gift of degenerative disk disease by my ancestors, so for me, weight matters a great deal. If I play a four set night with my 96 Jazz, I’m lucky if I can feel my fingers at the end of the night. It’s a porker at 9.8lbs. My Dunable is much better at 8.3lbs. and is my daily driver. I’m very much looking forward to receiving my Nordy Acononyx as it’ll be quite a bit lighter.
My qualification requirement on a bass lies on whether it’s a good instrument and a useful tool. I understand there are those that have medical issues, and those that have strong preferences. A pound or two either way doesn’t tip the scale for me.
Same here. About 8.5 lbs is max I will consider.
As another 60+ player, I won’t be interested in anything in the upper 8 pound range. My fretless 5r is under 8 and it makes a huge difference. When I was younger Weight wasn’t an issue, but now?!? 10 years or so ago I had a Warwick fretless that was close to 11 pounds. It played great and had huge tone but I couldn’t last more than 45 minutes with it around my neck. It’s not so much shoulder pain as it is lower back for me.
I care more about the balance of a bass and how comfortable it is personally. Out of the choice I did go the lightest most costly but I wouldn’t consider that light weight. I dong like my basses to be over 10.5 pounds and that’s more out of comfort and what I’m used to.
Heavier Basses seem to sound better to me. They seem to sustain better and have better high end. As well of course as a thunderous low end. So when considering a bass I like to feel how solid it feels first. I only play 5 string and of the 4 that I have 3 are heavier than one that I consider light weight. And they definitely sound better despite the quality of the hardware.
Two little words fix everything for me.
Comfort strap.
Two little words fix everything for me.
Comfort strap.
One of the best sounding and playing basses I have ever put my hands on was a friends Travis Bean. The thing was amazing. I’ve owned and played many, many basses over my life and im telling you, it was awesome. I cried when I gave it back to him. I truly loved that bass.
It weighed a metric ton and it was worth every ounce of it. There is a reason they cost as much as they do now.
It weighed a metric ton and it was worth every ounce of it. There is a reason they cost as much as they do now.
