The Great Weight Debate!

[Bent77]

Now on a certified and calibrated scale!



I will weigh each of my basses, giving build material details along with the weight.

All weight in pounds, no strap included

 

[Bent77]

2014 Gibson SG Standard

Mahogany body, all original including 45-100 rounds

7.65 lbs

 

[Bent77]

2010 American Special Precision
Alder body, 45-105 flats

8.06 lbs

 

[Bent77]

2011 Sterling Ray34

maple maple maple! 45-105 rounds

10.10 lbs!

 

[Bent77]

2013 American Standard Jazz bass

alder body with 45-105 rounds

8.68 lbs

 

[Bent77]

2013 MIM standard Precision

Maple maple maple with 45-105 nylons

8.58 lbs

 

[Bent77]

2010 Squier VM Jazz

Maple maple maple! 40-95 flats

9.10 lbs

 

[Bent77]

The surprise to me was the minimal weight difference between them seems like a lot after a few sets. Of course the Ray is noticeably heavier

Anyone in Colorado have a T40?

 

[Laurie Bass]

I do not have a T-40 nor do I live in Colorado....but I am surprise at the weight of the MIM Standard Precision. I thought it would have been heavier. I am also surprised that VMJ 70s is not closer to 10.0 lbs. BTW that blue stain on the VMJ looks really nice!

 

[Bent77]

Yes the MIM always seemed heavy, but not much per the scale. All mental.

Thank you. The refinishing was an idea off the luthier forum here

 

[Mike Sorr]

I just used a digital scale to weigh all of my basses. The heaviest is my Fender Precison 5 String at 10 pounds in the nose. The second heaviest is my Geddy Lee Jazz at 9.6. The lightest are my American Special P Basses at just over 8 pounds. The difference is noticable. The basses at and around 10 pounds definitely cause me some back distress over the course of a set. I'm seriously considering getting rid of anything that heavy.

 

[Geri O]

A T-40 and an Alembic Series 1 made a 25-year-old's shoulder sore, no doubt.

At 56, I wonder if I could even play those things these days. And I'm seriously lusting for an Alembic Series 1 5-string. Where's those Doan's pills?

 

[Yango]

I don't really get the fascination with instrument weights—although, I suppose if a bass was so heavy that it was difficult to play—then I might take notice. I know my Stingrays are heavier than my G&L, but that's about it. It doesn't really interest me.

Amps, speakers and combos are another story though... for me, performance, portability and weight are what I'm looking at (having come from the school of V4's and V4B's...no more!).

 

[Bent77]

Im of the mind set if a bass feels and sounds good, play it.


My point in weighing them was really only academic to prove there is very little actual weight difference, and not using a bathroom scale.

 

[buldog5151bass]

When I was younger, I didn't realize how much of a difference there was in weight. My Fender franky is just over 11 pounds. Love the sound, but don't take it out much anymore. My new build ('51 P) is 9.2, much easier at 1am.

 

[PortlandBass77]

I have a T-40! Bring your scale to Portland and we'll talk about it

 

[tjh]

... My point in weighing them was really only academic to prove there is very little actual weight difference, and not using a bathroom scale.

The surprise to me was the minimal weight difference between them seems like a lot after a few sets....

... this is the point that many of the weight conscious share .. the difference in many cases is not a lot, often just a pound or two (sometimes even less), but under many circumstances it is enough to deter one from keeping/buying a heavier bass ...

... I am surprise at the weight of the MIM Standard Precision. I thought it would have been heavier. I am also surprised that VMJ 70s is not closer to 10.0 lbs ...

Yes the MIM always seemed heavy, but not much per the scale. All mental. ...

... the MIM Standards earlier era's were all over the board for weight, and that really gave them a bad rap for being heavy .. there are 11-12 lb MIM Standards floating around out there, but the current crop ('08+) are much more consistent, usually mid 8+ for P's and high 8-very low 9's for J's ...

Squier VM J's can be all over the board as well ... maple bodies can also be very heavy, I have one with an agathis body that is just 7.6 lbs, and have had basswood bodied VM's in the mid 6 lb range ... there is a fully loaded VM body (body alone, no neck) currently on Ebay with a weight of 8 lbs ... that will be a 10.5-11 lb bass when complete ...

 

[Bent77]

I have a T-40! Bring your scale to Portland and we'll talk about it

That's, okay, I will let you send me the T-40,and I can return it once I am finished testing it in a year or so...

 

[Bent77]

... the MIM Standards earlier era's were all over the board for weight, and that really gave them a bad rap for being heavy .. there are 11-12 lb MIM Standards floating around out there, but the current crop ('08+) are much more consistent, usually mid 8+ for P's and high 8-very low 9's for J's ...

Squier VM J's can be all over the board as well ... maple bodies can also be very heavy, I have one with an agathis body that is just 7.6 lbs, and have had basswood bodied VM's in the mid 6 lb range ... there is a fully loaded VM body (body alone, no neck) currently on Ebay with a weight of 8 lbs ... that will be a 10.5-11 lb bass when complete ...

I wish I had access to this scale during my buying/trading/selling spree last year, I could have listed quite a few more.
I do find myself liking the Alder bodied basses after standing awhile tho

 

[Watchootognbout]

In my opinion,a basses body should be heavy enough to counteract any neck dive.What ever the neck may weigh.Just a bit heavier than it's neck.