Weight vs. Tone

[LBS-bass]

EDITING TO ADD: THIS IS NOT A QUESTION ABOUT FALSE DICHOTOMIES. THIS IS ABOUT PRIORITIES. I AM WELL AWARE THAT YOU CAN HAVE BOTH. I'M ASKING YOU WHAT YOU PRIORITIZE, IF YOU DO. IF YOU HAVE BOTH ALREADY, TELL ME HOW YOU ACHIEVED IT. THANK YOU.

There are threads here about the importance of weight and there are threads about the importance of tone. My dilemma will eventually be that the tone I want comes in a heavy package. Right now I'm good with the weight of my basses, but they're all on the heavier side, so that could change if I get injured or develop a back problem. At which point I have to decide what's more important to me.

What's more important to you? Weight or tone? And if you have the tone you love in a light bass, let us know what you're playing.

 

[mbell75]

Tone is more important up to about 9 pounds IMO. Once it gets past that, I don’t care how great the tine is. Plenty of lesser weight basses to choose from.

 

[Stumbo]

There are threads here about the importance of weight and there are threads about the importance of tone. My dilemma will eventually be that the tone I want comes in a heavy package. Right now I'm good with the weight of my basses, but they're all on the heavier side, so that could change if I get injured or develop a back problem. At which point I have to decide what's more important to me.

What's more important to you? Weight or tone? And if you have the tone you love in a light bass, let us know what you're playing.

Best tone, even unamplified, I ever heard was from custom, light weight, passive J bass. I don't have anymore details unfortunately. Just sayin' that weight may not be the overriding factor.

Edit: May have been Basswood

 

[Greevus]

My best sounding is my heaviest. It is a pain in the back but it just cuts

 

[Pizza1988]

Weight has never bothered me while tone is everything to me. I mean, my Warwick Thumb 5 string weighs half my body weight but soooooo worth it. I am also 31, healthy, and do physical work for a job so it doesn't bother me at all. This is just my case

When I'm older? I'll cross that bridge if I get there

 

[Bass V]

without good tone we'd have to face the world as it really is, so tone is of paramount importance.
I've swung towards the minimalist attitude after getting a T-40 and not being blown away by any of it's many colors, different strings my change that, but now that I've got plenty of lightweights with tone galore that's all I focus on when GASsing. my latest, a cheapazz Samick Silvertone is near feather light and full of huevos, the distorted tone is just shy of my #1 and equal in clean settings but much different in inherent tones. the Silvertone is classic P where my PJ Peavey Zodiac BXP (EMG HZs) is all over the place with tone, the bridge PU gives the woody goodness and the P has the most low end and grit of anything I got, plus it's a small comfy package. then there's my LTD B-50, just a brute ...in a skirt lol the petite body would well suit a girl but the neck is all business. my Epi Toby Std. IV and Cort Curbow Retro also knock it out of the tone ballpark and they are skin and bones as well. to paraphrase Kris, weight is just another word with plenty left to lose.

 

[mongo2]

If a bass is heavy I won't use it no matter how good it sounds. If a bass sounds bad I won't use it no matter how light it is.

I only use lighter basses that sound good...playability is also very important to me.

 

[ajkula66]

To me personally, it's the feel of the instrument that comes first, then the tone.

As for the weight...

I've owned exactly one bass that I deemed too heavy for prolonged use, because it would literally cut off the blood flow in my leg in a matter of minutes if I were playing seated.

When I was young I gigged a bunch of basses that are regarded as boat anchors nowadays (Gibson RD Standard, 70s Fenders, Alu-neck-Kramers...and the list goes on) and it hasn't bothered me one bit.

It still doesn't bother me, albeit for different reasons. If I were to start performing live again, I would have to be sitting. My back does not like the idea of standing for a lengthy period of time, although I can walk for miles without any issues.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Of my 4 basses, the heavier ones are tone-monsters. ‘97 L2500 weighs about 10.74, 2014 Squier VM Jazz V weighs 11.2 - massive tone, massive sustain, just plain massive.
My fret less Jazz V build weighs 9.7 and is sort of “alright”. The FrankenSquier is also about 10 or so...it’s alright.
I’ve played a 13lb ‘77 P-bass ... I think that’s where I’d draw the line... but it was awesome!

 

[JimmyM]

I don't have to choose.

 

[dreamadream99]

There is a common perception that denser woods yield a bassier tone. And conversely that lighter woods yield a thinner treblier tone. Whether or not this is true has been the subject of much debate amongst heavy industry hitters. Whether it’s true or not, think of this: I think it’s easier to darken a trebly sound, than brighten up a bassy sound.

 

[rmayer]

One word on weight vs Tone: SADOWSKY. I have two, love the tone and they're both 7.5 pounds. One's an NYC 24 Fret with Sadowsky Soapbars and the other is a NYC Satin Deluxe with Sadowsky Hum canceling P/Js. Like them in passive mode, love them in active. And why wouldn't you use that preamp?

I can't count the number of basses I've gone through to this point, vintage boat anchors, active exotics, hollow bodies, etc. I've finally found the sound I need and it has nothing to do with weight.

 

[mouthmw]

I voted weight, because I can always fix the tone. That of course means that the bass isn't a complete dud in the stability and build department. The neck needs to be stable, frets need to be decently leveled and there shouldn't be any structural issues. A good setup and strings of my choice and it's good to go. If the tone isn't to my liking, then the pickup swap fixes that. Above 9.5 lbs, I don't care how good the tone is because I can get great tone at 9 lbs and less.

 

[knumbskull]

I think i’ve come to the very unscientific opinion that some basses have good natural resonance and some don’t... so those are the ones that i reach for, heavy or not.

I don’t play long sets so weight isn’t a bother, but who knows what the advancing years will bring.

 

[Nashrakh]

Tone and Bass in the same sentence, that's how you start a joke. Punchline is: doesn't matter. No one cares but you. So get what's easier on your back.

 

[chris_b]

For me it's not an either/or choice. Both weight and tone are equally important.

I think I've bored everyone enough with my back issues, so I can't choose a bass that weighs more than I can manage. Also I wouldn't choose a bass that didn't sound better than my current bass. I don't have to buy a bass that doesn't exactly fit these requirements.

 

[gelinas666]

My basses all weigh between 9 and 11lbs.. I choose the tone I want and put on a wide strap.. Been digging the Mono "Betty" Straps lately.. Very comfortable...

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I think this may be one of those false dichotomy thingees

 

[JimmyM]

Tone and Bass in the same sentence, that's how you start a joke. Punchline is: doesn't matter. No one cares but you. So get what's easier on your back.

Oh, other people care. If I went into my little roots band sounding like Chris Squire, they'd care a lot!

 

[Frank77]

"Heavy is good..."



+1 on the false dichotomy thing.