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What do you consider a "heavy" bass?

smcd

smcd

Jun 28, 2009
6,965
1,711
Boston, MA
#1
And does it really bother you to play it?



In my opinion:

under 9lbs. = light
9-12lbs. = average
over 12lbs. = heavy

I have 2 basses that weigh over 13lbs., a 70's Fender Jazz and a 70's Ibanez Black Eagle. Though I'd classify them as "heavy", they certainly aren't heavy enough for me to be bothered by them.


So is a 13lb. bass really too much for you to handle? I mean, it's 13lbs. That's really not a lot of weight. I have several jackets that weigh 13lbs. Hell, I have a cat that weighs 13lbs.
 
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#4
'Hell, I have a cat that weighs 13lbs.'

WTH???????

I guess it is all relative to age and build. I think 9-10lbs. is just fine. 13? I don't think I have ever held a bass that weighed that much. Then again, I don't weigh every bass I pick up either.
 
#6
I agree with johnk. 10 pounds or more is what I consider to be heavy. But then, I am 54 years old and I am not as strong as I used to be.

My Birdsong Cortobass weighs about 7.5 pounds, and I love it. My US Lakland Glaub P bass weighs 8 pounds, and it feels great. My 4003 Ric weighs a little over 9 pounds, and it is fine with me.

If a bass weighs 10 or more pounds, I am not interested in owning it. But that's just my personal preference. For others, a 13 pound bass may not be an issue.
 
#12
For me any single neck over 9 pounds would be concidered heavy. And anything over 12 and half pounds for doublenecks. If played for extrended time these become uncomfortable to me. But just as important as main reason I avoid such instruments is the tone just isnt really what I'm after. Here its not so much the weight as the woods used. The heavy woods just dont produce the sound tweak of my fave wood which is mahogany. And a few others I like which also happen to be lightweight woods. The only exception I can think of for me is bubinga. I like this wood tone wise though it is a heavy one. However basses Ive tried and the one I owned just didnt have the right pup type for me. So for me, the reason I dont do heavy single neck or doubleneck instruments is the body woods used for them just arent good match for me tone wise. (Bubinga would be the exception) and theyre not as comfortable wearing wise.
 
#13
My goal is to stay under 8lbs. I easily beat that with my two main players at the moment, and my 3rd that will show up tomorrow will as well:

Deep 5 - 7.5lbs
Solid 4 - ~7lbs
Mouse - 5.5lbs

The only fly in the ointment is the 5-string fretted choice. Currently my Zon is about 9.5lbs. I'm still pondering a Nordy to replace it, but that would likely be a tad over 9lbs as well. For weight the logical candidate would be a Sadowsky as I could get one at right around 8lbs no problem. Just don't have the budget for it at the moment.

No way I'd play a 10lb or over bass. Just not going to happen...ymmv.
 
#14
fu22ba55 said:
Jackets?

Pics please of these elusive 13-pound jackets.
Click to expand...

straight%20jacket%20cotton%20webbing.gif
 
#17
smcd said:
10lbs? I don't think I ever owned a Fender or Musicman bass that wasn't over 10lbs.
Click to expand...

i currently own 12 Fender basses (four split coil p's, 4 single coil p/teles, a jag, and 3 jazz basses) and the lightest one is 7lbs 3 oz (55 p bass) and the heaviest is 9lbs 4 oz (both my jaguar bass and a '68 Tele bass). most of them are 8 to 8 1/2 lbs.

my EB/MM musicman stingray is 10lbs 3 oz, but i'm currently making my own swamp ash body for it to get it into the 8 - 8 1/2 lb range.
 
#18
johnk_10 said:
i currently own 12 Fender basses (four split coil p's, 4 single coil p/teles, a jag, and 3 jazz basses) and the lightest one is 7lbs 3 oz (55 p bass) and the heaviest is 9lbs 4 oz (both my jaguar bass and a '68 Tele bass). most of them are 8 to 8 1/2 lbs.

my EB/MM musicman stingray is 10lbs 3 oz, but i'm currently making my own swamp ash body for it to get it into the 8 - 8 1/2 lb range.
Click to expand...

7lbs 3oz 55 p bass???

me want!!!!!!!!!!
 

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