Depends upon balance more so than weight..... but to answer the question. I believe 9.6 to be heavy for a Jazz bass..... 9.75 if its a 5 string. Now a P-bass is less.... 9.4 is heavy...... Ideally, they all weigh under 9 and no neck dive.
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What do you consider a heavy bass?
- Thread starter bigdaddybass12
- Start date
There was a time I would have said the same thing. Your day has not yet come.
I have never weighed any bass before.
But the 2025 Rickenbacker 4003SW Walnut feels like my lightest.
Followed by my 2019 MTD Bass KZ4 SA Kingston Z bass.
I sit and play these days.
The heaviest is my 1985 Gibson Explorer bass.
But the 2025 Rickenbacker 4003SW Walnut feels like my lightest.
Followed by my 2019 MTD Bass KZ4 SA Kingston Z bass.
I sit and play these days.
The heaviest is my 1985 Gibson Explorer bass.
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i've had some really heavy basses over the years. some I logged countless very long gigs with.
I think 10 pounds is roughly the marker. a few ounces less, say 9.5 is "normal," and significantly less - the 9.2 and below range - is noticeably "light" and extra comfortable.
obviously many other factors go into this, as many others have said and will say. basses with extended upper horns can feel lighter than they are sometimes.
I think 10 pounds is roughly the marker. a few ounces less, say 9.5 is "normal," and significantly less - the 9.2 and below range - is noticeably "light" and extra comfortable.
obviously many other factors go into this, as many others have said and will say. basses with extended upper horns can feel lighter than they are sometimes.
If you like the bass get this Hopf Dynarette Low
I had an injury and could not play standing for a few days. The cushion worked great, although I think the higher version would be better for bass guitar.
I had an injury and could not play standing for a few days. The cushion worked great, although I think the higher version would be better for bass guitar.
Early 60s, but lean and fit and have no major health or structural issues so I have problem doing an extended and active gig with a 12.5lb bass (my ATK), provided it's balanced.
I ruck with a 20kg (44lb) plate plus a backpack with water and scooby snacks. I also lost 110lb (50kg) recently so any bass is light.
I ruck with a 20kg (44lb) plate plus a backpack with water and scooby snacks. I also lost 110lb (50kg) recently so any bass is light.
So Anyway, I bought a walnut Ric because it was 1 pound lighter than my current Ric. It arrived the week all the joints in IL closed due to Covid. I never really bonded with it, so I sold it.
I inherited a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz that was 'Crafted In Japan'. It played effortlessly and sounded great. It was over 10 pounds, so I never gigged with it too much. In the early 70s, my first solid body bass was a Gibson Les Paul Triumph. It was close to 11 pounds, but I was a lot younger then.
For the last 10 years or so I've been using a Slinger strap that puts the instrument weight on your hips instead of your shoulder. It requires an extra strap button on the lower horn, but it sure helps on a 4-hour gig.
I inherited a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz that was 'Crafted In Japan'. It played effortlessly and sounded great. It was over 10 pounds, so I never gigged with it too much. In the early 70s, my first solid body bass was a Gibson Les Paul Triumph. It was close to 11 pounds, but I was a lot younger then.
For the last 10 years or so I've been using a Slinger strap that puts the instrument weight on your hips instead of your shoulder. It requires an extra strap button on the lower horn, but it sure helps on a 4-hour gig.
Since I started using a Gruvgear Duostrap, the weight doesn't matter. My 10+ pound 6 feels like a 7 pound bass using that strap. It was a life saver for my old arthritic back. 
Yeah. I'm in the party that believes there's much more to the equation than mass. Balance a big deal, strap is critical. I've never had a scale that can properly measure guitar weight so I'm not sure about what I have, but they're all less than that Peavey that I played once - ONCE. 
This Yamaha TBR5 was 11.x pounds. It was a rock. Sounded great but my shoulder was sore at the end of every night.
Ergonomics are usually more important than sheer weight to me. Some lightweight basses that have terrible balance wear me out.
Anything past 8.5 lbs is getting close to my limit. It would depend on the playability / sound / appearance / balance of the instrument. If all four of those were great, a little extra weight could be tolerated. Once a bass exceeds 9.5 lbs, it would have to be pretty spectacular on all four to be acceptable on weight.
On the other hand, if I find a 6.2 lb bass that played and sounded good, I wouldn’t care if it looked like it was painted with wet clay mud using a broom…
On the other hand, if I find a 6.2 lb bass that played and sounded good, I wouldn’t care if it looked like it was painted with wet clay mud using a broom…
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
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At 68 with shoulder and back issues, a heavier bass isn't just a shoulder or back issue that wide or specialty straps can address.
It affects everything down to my shoes - especially where the gig expectation requires more movement or performance.
It affects everything down to my shoes - especially where the gig expectation requires more movement or performance.
I have built 2 34" 4-string basses at 6.8 lbs and one of them has a headstock. Both balance perfectly. I don't understand why anyone would accept a 4-string bass over 8lbs...
- Dec 20, 2024
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- Owner of SoCal Bass and Fx
I think a big component is how you're using it. If it's for home/studio or <45 min gigs than a wide cushioned strap should be enough. If you are doing long or multi-set gigs, then weight is critical.
Personally I would never ditch a bass I love due to weight, I'd just relegate it to home or practices where I'm sitting. I know owning multiple basses is a luxury not everyone has of course but we all have a "wish I'd never sold xyz" story.
As a bass retailer if the player is under 40 they may never ask about weight. If they are over 40 weight is one of the first questions. Also the vast majority of my GR Bass cab sales are to the 40+ crowd who remember dragging boat anchors up 2 flights of stairs and are so over it.
Personally I would never ditch a bass I love due to weight, I'd just relegate it to home or practices where I'm sitting. I know owning multiple basses is a luxury not everyone has of course but we all have a "wish I'd never sold xyz" story.
As a bass retailer if the player is under 40 they may never ask about weight. If they are over 40 weight is one of the first questions. Also the vast majority of my GR Bass cab sales are to the 40+ crowd who remember dragging boat anchors up 2 flights of stairs and are so over it.
