I have a 8.8 fender p bass that I consider a bit to heavy. And a 4 pound Hofner that I love. Im on the quest for the lightest weight p bass I can find. Whats you cutoff?
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My semi arbitrary cutoff is 9 1/2 pounds. I won’t play a bass much over 9 1/2 pounds. I have one over 9 1/2. It’s an Alembic. I think it’s about 9 3/4.
I agree. 9.5 to 10 is my cutoff also. That said, some of my heavier basses feel lighter because they balance better than others.
My G&L L2000 is 7.3 pounds and I thought it'd be too light, not because I believe that "heavier is better for tone" nonsense, simply because I don't mind heavy basses.
My SB-2 has to be 2 pounds heavier.
Doesn't bother me in the slightest.
It has been a while since I've played a T-40, though, so…
My SB-2 has to be 2 pounds heavier.
Doesn't bother me in the slightest.
It has been a while since I've played a T-40, though, so…
Agreed. Balance matters.
Also, heavy does NOT equal bad. It’s just heavy. Heavy basses do tend to have a different vibe to the tone. Plenty of great players prefer them.
8lbs=light, preferred.
9lbs=medium, doable.
10lbs=no thanks.
9lbs=medium, doable.
10lbs=no thanks.
Below 8 lbs. is light; nine and above is heavy. Between 8.0 and 9.0 is sort of a no man's land.
But balance and how the bass hangs from a strap also are relevant. A heavy bass that does not hang heavy might still be acceptable.
But balance and how the bass hangs from a strap also are relevant. A heavy bass that does not hang heavy might still be acceptable.
I don't like my 4 strings to weigh much over 9 lbs - 8 to 8.5 is perfect... For 5ers, I try to stay 10lbs and under, but that's tough sometimes...
My Ibby SR600 weighs in at 7.5 lbs which is just right ... for me anyway.
Over 9 lbs. equals heavy to me.
My #1 guitar is a 9.5 lb. Les Paul and I make a special exception for that one, but otherwise, I want no instrument of mine to be over 9 pounds.
But what about 9.1 lbs? So, it’s a bit of a slippery slope. For me, 9.5 lbs. is still absolutely playable but not worth it without a special reason because it’s just heavy and weighs on one (so to speak) over time. My favorite Precision is 9.1 pounds and...it’s just too heavy over time. Short term, usually no problem, but regularly playing it for extended periods does weigh me down.
So, 2 of my 3 favorite electric instruments are over 9 lbs., but I consider them heavy. Not epic-ly heavy (10 lbs. +) but unnecessarily heavy considering my shoulder and back and that lighter instruments are out there. My personal rule for the last few years and going forward when buying anything new is "9 lbs. max".
Age is a factor. When I bought my 9.1 lb. Precision in my mid 30’s, I didn’t particularly consider it heavy (definitely not light, but I didn’t feel every time I put it on "This is a heavy bass"), but by the end of my 40’s I was perceiving it as "It’s a heavy instrument". My 9.5 lb. Les Paul I always perceived as heavy, but it didn’t bother me in my 30s. Heavy, but not a problem. My back and shoulder are actually in a good place these days, so I’m back to "heavy but not a problem" with it, but I know that it can be a problem, sometimes a big problem, so why put myself through that when getting a new instrument? It’s just not good to have all that weight pressing down for hours and hours, day after day, on the nerve that runs from your neck out along your shoulder and weighing asymmetrically on your spine. YMMV though, especially if you’re a big strapping young dude with no back/neck/shoulder issues (yet)
My #1 guitar is a 9.5 lb. Les Paul and I make a special exception for that one, but otherwise, I want no instrument of mine to be over 9 pounds.
But what about 9.1 lbs? So, it’s a bit of a slippery slope. For me, 9.5 lbs. is still absolutely playable but not worth it without a special reason because it’s just heavy and weighs on one (so to speak) over time. My favorite Precision is 9.1 pounds and...it’s just too heavy over time. Short term, usually no problem, but regularly playing it for extended periods does weigh me down.
So, 2 of my 3 favorite electric instruments are over 9 lbs., but I consider them heavy. Not epic-ly heavy (10 lbs. +) but unnecessarily heavy considering my shoulder and back and that lighter instruments are out there. My personal rule for the last few years and going forward when buying anything new is "9 lbs. max".
Age is a factor. When I bought my 9.1 lb. Precision in my mid 30’s, I didn’t particularly consider it heavy (definitely not light, but I didn’t feel every time I put it on "This is a heavy bass"), but by the end of my 40’s I was perceiving it as "It’s a heavy instrument". My 9.5 lb. Les Paul I always perceived as heavy, but it didn’t bother me in my 30s. Heavy, but not a problem. My back and shoulder are actually in a good place these days, so I’m back to "heavy but not a problem" with it, but I know that it can be a problem, sometimes a big problem, so why put myself through that when getting a new instrument? It’s just not good to have all that weight pressing down for hours and hours, day after day, on the nerve that runs from your neck out along your shoulder and weighing asymmetrically on your spine. YMMV though, especially if you’re a big strapping young dude with no back/neck/shoulder issues (yet)
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8 pounds and below--nice and light.
8 to 9.5 pounds--reasonable.
9.5 and up getting heavy.
8 to 9.5 pounds--reasonable.
9.5 and up getting heavy.
My parts P bass is under 8.... closer to 7 (I don't recall the exact weight). Resonates really well. Growls like a beast with that PAF era DiMarzio in it. Honestly, I wasn't going for a lightweight bass. It just turned out that way.
Over 12 pounds might be tough. My 1975 Rickenbacker 4001 is about 11.
I don't think I'd want a bass under 7-8 pounds. In my experience they tend to feel fragile and don't balance very well.
I don't think I'd want a bass under 7-8 pounds. In my experience they tend to feel fragile and don't balance very well.
My 5-string Hamer is 10 lbs
My 4-string First Act Delgada is 11.2
Ive never owned a light bass I guess?
Sustain for days~
My 4-string First Act Delgada is 11.2
Ive never owned a light bass I guess?
Sustain for days~
First of all...i consider a lighter bass 2 b "heavey" if it's even a little neck heavey. I've modded all my basses w lighter tuners (which does change sound & response).
Second...on louder gigs i can't use a "lighter" bass because the wood doesn't give back wen u play harder, unless i use pickups which r hotter in some way.
Either way...8 1/2 is borderline too light...9 1/2 borderline too heavey depending on how long a show is
...i also hav 2 destroyed shoulders
Second...on louder gigs i can't use a "lighter" bass because the wood doesn't give back wen u play harder, unless i use pickups which r hotter in some way.
Either way...8 1/2 is borderline too light...9 1/2 borderline too heavey depending on how long a show is
...i also hav 2 destroyed shoulders
