Weight

[zon5string]

This was originally a Facebook post, but I thought I'd share it here, too.....just because.




Backstory: I frequent multiple groups related to bass guitar and playing bass. I see bass-for-sale ads all the time. Almost always, someone's comment is "How much does it weigh?" I never really considered that an attribute that would affect my decision to get a bass...but merely an observation that a bass is particularly light or heavy.
So, I decided to weigh all my basses. Here's what we've got:

Zon Sonus V 8.6 lbs
Fender "Classic 70s" Precision 9.2 lbs
Warmoth reverse-neck jazz 9.3 lbs
Fender Jazz 9.4 lbs
MusicMan DarkRay 9.7 lbs
Dingwall NG3 5-string 9.7 lbs
Dan Armstrong 10.0 lbs
Rickenbacker 4003SC 10.3 lbs
Jackson CBX V 10.5 lbs
Gibson LPB3 12.0 lbs

 

[Parzival]

Hope you don't have to sell those

 

[Killing Floor]

Nut width?

 

[5StringBlues]

Heavy.....

 

[Parzival]

 

[michael_t]

I see bass-for-sale ads all the time. Almost always, someone's comment is "How much does it weigh?"

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/bass-weight-obsession.1652330/

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/time-to-tell-the-truth-how-much-does-your-bass-weigh.409213/

 

[JRA]

"How much does it weigh?" I never really considered that an attribute that would affect my decision to get a bass.

sounds like you're in the group that doesn't care about EB weight.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

If those were my basses, I'd be only gigging the Zon and maybe the Dingwall.

 

[RattleSnack]

I'm one of those buyers that first asks about weight, then the rest of questions. In reality balance matters more to me, but if it's over 4.3 kg (about 9.5 lbs.), I will not even consider it. There are lots of bass guitars to choose from, unless it's some unicorn I'll just find another one that suits me.

 

[vvvmmm]

Of those, which one is the best for ...

... never mind.

 

[micguy]

I have a small herd of basses I built. All 5's, all between 7 and 7 3/4 pounds. All balance beautifully, and sound great. I used to own a couple aluminum necked Kramers - 11 and 12 pounds. Ugh. OK when I was in my 20's but that was quite a while ago.

Why would I want to lug around a heavy bass?

 

[sawzalot]

I care about how a bass plays and sounds, not how much it weighs.

 

[gln1955]

Well, it's been days since the last weight thread. Might as well rehash it all again.

 

[arbiterusa]

I’ve developed a fairly nasty case of scoliosis just south of my neck, so weight went from “not a consideration” to the #1.

Along with the other number ones of “must sound awesome” and “really needs to look cool”.

Ibanez came out with that EHB right in time, gotta say.

But sometimes things you just wouldn’t think of happen, and stuff you never cared about becomes real important.

 

[Ghastly]

Random post: my heaviest bass. A slightly modded Fender Modern Player Jazz...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I care about how a bass plays and sounds, not how much it weighs.

Me too… for now (as was pointed out to me years ago on this site). I’m sure there will be a day, but at almost 72, I haven’t got there as of yet.

 

[singlemalt]

Oooooh! I’ve been waiting for another weight thread!

“Get a wide, padded strap.” How many times have we heard this?

So, I weighed my wide straps! Italia, 4” wide, leather straps. One with suede underside, and the other with smooth leather underside. Both with strap locks.

One was 14.8 ounces, the other ( trimmed slightly shorter) 12.5 ounces.

I get the wide spreads the load a bit on your shoulder. Ok.
But how does adding almost another pound to an already heavy bass make any sense?

And then there’s the sweat factor of all that strap leather.

After all these years, 8.5lb is my hard limit, and I’m happier with 7.5.

And I’m thinking about lighter straps.

 

[KenD]

You have committed heresy: you don't have a P Bass in your collection

 

[Polfuste]

My limit is 8,8 pounds (4 kilograms). And my heavier bass is 8,7 pounds.

 

[onda'bass]

I can handle a 10lb bass still but open to a good sounding light bass.