What do you consider a heavy bass?

[bigdaddybass12]

I am not quite as young as I was. Basses don’t seem as light! I was weighing my EBMM USA SUB. 9.4 pounds. Nicest-best made i have owned. So, is it worth the trouble to sell it, try to find something 1
Pound lighter? May not be made as well as this one? Side note, I weighed my Sterling Ray4, it’s even 10 pounds! Thoughts?

 

[Polfuste]

My limit is 4 kilos (8,8 pounds). I've upgraded my basses with light tuners, and even a lighter bridge (gone from badass II to babicz on one bass) to always be under this limit. Now that i'm a shortscaller, my heavier is 7,3 lbs. No more weight problem.

 

[Old Blastard]

For me, at 68, the lighter the better. However, some of my favorites are pushing 10 pounds and I'm not ready to give them up.

 

[mpdd]

just started dealing with this myself, I love my 2024 L2000, but it's 10.75 pounds and my 2019 JB is even heavier

in my case I've just accepted that i'm going to most likely be playing my 94 LB100 or 91 ESP M-IV for shows, because they are manageable on a strap

however, I guess I could play the other two if I could get an innovative strap solution

 

[aero58]

…. Nicest-best made i have owned…..

There’s your answer. Keep it.

 

[Hot Rats]

9 pounds and above.

 

[manchego_eggo]

9 pounds and above.

I'd agree. modern production has come a long and some of the more pioneering brands (i.e. Ibanez) make sure to keep their basses under the 9lb mark and even the 8lb sometimes depending on the woods on models.

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

I would do 9lbs even-ish if it was a rare bass or a really nice example of a bass that is usually heavy, like an older stingray. Still, I would really try and hold off for one under 9lbs.

For stuff that’s in current production, I go for 8.5-8.75 lbs (along with desirable cosmetics) on sweetwater.

I don’t really like low 8s or less. Feels too dainty and often has neck dive. Balance is also crucial.

My basses are in a rack in my studio. Never gigging. I pick them up and put them down a lot. I play with them sitting down with no strap. If too heavy the put my leg to sleep. That weight matters.

 

[michael_t]

I'm 69 yrs of age and prefer something under 9 lbs. That said, I'm not about to give up on the two basses weighing 9.4 lbs. For me, how the bass balances is more important than the weight itself.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I'm 69 yrs of age and prefer something under 9 lbs. That said, I'm not about to give up on the two basses weighing 9.4 lbs. For me, how the bass balances is more important than the weight itself.

Yeah. I just turned 65 this week!! My USA SUB rocks. Best sounding bass I have ever owned. I would hate to take the journey of selling it, finding another, online or at a store and it weighs 6 ounces less! And not sound as good. Sidebar: I thought my Indo SUB sounded pretty good until I got the USA SUB.

 

[TyBo]

I mostly have parts basses I put together. I keep 'em light. 1st Jazz Bass is around 6 1/2 lbs. Sits very comfortably, plays and sounds great. Paulownia wood. 9 lbs is the limit, but not ideal or preferable.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

For stuff that’s in current production, I go for 8.5-8.75 lbs (along with desirable cosmetics) on sweetwater.

I don’t really like low 8s or less. Feels too dainty and often has neck dive.

Back to my question, do I go thru selling my nice bass for a bass that is 8 ounces lighter? Today I say no, 2 or 3 years from now I may feel different!
I did order a Revsound 12” cab 22 pounds!! Looking forward to that !

 

[gidbass]

I am not quite as young as I was. Basses don’t seem as light! I was weighing my EBMM USA SUB. 9.4 pounds. Nicest-best made i have owned. So, is it worth the trouble to sell it, try to find something 1
Pound lighter? May not be made as well as this one? Side note, I weighed my Sterling Ray4, it’s even 10 pounds! Thoughts?

10 lbs is my limit, although I don't do much gigging anyways these days.

 

[Clark W]

I am not quite as young as I was. Basses don’t seem as light! I was weighing my EBMM USA SUB. 9.4 pounds. Nicest-best made i have owned. So, is it worth the trouble to sell it, try to find something 1
Pound lighter? May not be made as well as this one? Side note, I weighed my Sterling Ray4, it’s even 10 pounds! Thoughts?

I guess it depends on what shape your back and shoulders are in. I wouldn't sell what I considered to be my nicest bass cause it's 9.4lbs. My custom made bass is about 9.5 lbs, it's also well balanced. I have no idea what weight my Jazz V, my Am PJ, or my MIM P are. To be honest I'm guessing they're all just under 10, the AM PJ feels the lightest. Never paid much attention to it really. I do have a 1988 Epiphone Accu Bass that feels a little heavy to me when compared to the others, I'm guessing it's between 10 - 11lbs, but I don't ever play it. I bought it for 65 bucks and used it to learn some setup and wiring skills on. Played it for about a year. It hasn't been out of it's carry bag in about 5 years now but when I did play it, it would wear me out.

 

[Moving Pictures]

I agree with balance being a big factor. I prefer lighter weight basses but if they neck dive it’s as bad as too heavy a bass. For the OP, you may want to research the lighter ones that work well for you so you can get one when needed. If the SUB is special to you it can be played seated if it ever comes to that. Such a personal decision on that bass.

 

[lomo]

I have 5 basses weighing between 7.5 and 8.3 lbs. I won't consider a bass over 8.5 lbs. In my eyes/ on my shoulder 9lbs is about average and over 9.5 is a boat anchor. There are many superb, light options with zero tonal compromise.

 

[LowWay]

These are all between 6.5 and 6.75 pounds. I target 7 and under.

 

[Sharko]

I’d say Kim Coletta on any Jawbox recording, Sergio Vega, especially in Quicksand. Godflesh “street sweeper”. There’s others…

 

[darwin-bass]

Anything above 8.5 lbs is too heavy for my preference. Between 8 and 8.5 lbs is fine as long as the bass balances very well.

 

[alembicbones]

My Alembic Europa 5 String w/ Series I electronics clocks in at about 13.5 lbs. I would qualify that as heavy. That said, it balances well and I have a nice strap for it. Back in December I did a two set show with it and didn't notice the weight. It's really a fantastic sounding bass so if I need to put up with a little weight, so be it.

Bones