What the cutoff for heavy vs light weight.

[ThinCrappyTone]

I have been on lightweight bass quest for 2-3 years now, due to horrifically crappy shoulders. For me, it's not a weight cutoff threshold, so much as a "how low can you go" (and not have wicked neck dive) quest. I always chime in on these threads with my custom built Muckelroy (weighs in at 5 lbs, 12 oz) He can build you one with a P pickup if you want. Pricey, but worth it, IMO. Though it's headless and not at all a p bass aesthetic. Is there an ultra-lightweight short scale headless bass that is also beautiful? (NBD Muckelroy)

Kiesel will also make you a lightweight bass with a p pickup. You can spec light woods like swamp ash, pay an upcharge for chambering ($50 I believe) and also pay an upcharge for them to select the lightest wood pieces of a species that they have in stock. Also $50 upcharge. And headless lops-off a lot of weight and pretty much negates any neck dive issues.

All the above is moot though, if you are also going for that sweet classic p-bass look. or want to spend reasonable amounts of money In any case, best of luck!

 

[bucephylus]

Lol. There's a happy medium between geek position under the jaw and Fieldy. I like resting the body against the little pad of dad fat that seems to have collected on my belly.

Yeah, I’ve reacquired one of those as well. Two years on now struggling with Planter Facieitis and some kind of soft tissue injury in my knee prevents running; and living in Tucson where cyclist mortality is considered an indication of good cycling conditions.

 

[FingerDub]

Heaviest bass i actually gigged regularly with 11.5 lbs

Heaviest bass I’ve owned (probably like 15 lbs lol)

 

[JKos]

For me, 8 lbs is about the cutoff for light versus not-light. Both of my current main instruments are under 8 lbs with my P being 7 lbs 10 oz.

- John

 

[muggsy]

For me, light = 9 lbs or less, comfortable = 9-10, and over 10 is on the heavy side. I have one bass that's a little over 10, but it's my oldest and longest-owned bass so it's not going anywhere. All the others are less than 10. Heaviest bass I ever owned was a '74 Jazz that was probably 13-14 lbs. Great tone but couldn't deal with the weight.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

I play a Lakland DJ5 that is about 9.5lbs. A little over that. It is the most balanced instrument I have ever played.

With the same comfort strap, it feels much more comfortable than my SR Ibanez, despite the fact that the Ibby is at least a pound lighter.

The weight distribution feels perfect with the Lakland and I can play without discomfort for 2 hours, at least. Not so with my Ibby.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

IMHO, for a Fender style bolt on 4 string, 8.5-9.5 is normal. I consider below to be light weight and above to be heavy. Add .5 lbs for 5 string, subtract .5 lbs for 3 string.

I prefer my basses to be in what I consider "light weight" range.

 

[Jack Butler]

Finding a P bass under 8lbs is very doable, so I stay under that limit personally. My current Roadworn P is 6.98.

 

[Pbassmanca]

8lbs=light, preferred.
9lbs=medium, doable.
10lbs=no thanks.

Bingo!

 

[mongo2]

I DIY'd an SCPB that weighs a bit under 6 lbs...that works for me.

 

[GretschWretch]

I'm just shy of 40 and haven't felt that any of my basses are heavy, they're all under 10. Y'all are scaring me about what the future holds.

I'd be more scared of rush hour traffic on the Loop.

 

[Nephilymbass]

View attachment 2989435

HaHa!!! Funny thing that was one of my first jobs when I was a kid. Carrying shingles up a ladder all freaking day. So glad I went to college. I don’t miss that job at all.

 

[chris_b]

I have 2 basses, a bad back and a not so good left shoulder. My go to bass is 9.5 lbs and the other is 8.5. Quite often I'm wishing the go to was 8.5!!

 

[sigterm]

I'd be more scared of rush hour traffic on the Loop.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[bulldean]

Here is a question; I know that all materials, wood, era/age and such are different, but on the average which is usually heavier; a Jazz or P bass?

 

[GretschWretch]

Location of the strap buttons can have some influence as well. I spun a variation on a tip given me by @2saddleslab on one of my Gretsch 6070s -- a notoriously long bass, although not particularly heavy (8 + pounds). But, with the factory strap buttons you've got that first fret that is in a different time zone from your plucking hand, as well as radical neck dive due to the pizza-shovel headstock.

@2saddleslab added a strap button on the lower side of the heel of his G6072. I wasn't too keen on drilling holes in a 50+ year-old bass so I had to find a workaround. Rather than the added heel button I anchored that end of the strap beneath the treble side tug bar and the butt end of the strap beneath the button for the lever for the muffler/mute. I then had to find a home for the felt washer beneath the mute button, since the washer and strap together fouled the lever to the point it would not work. So I relocated the felt washer to beneath the bass side tug bar.

Benefits: neck dive gone; first fret easily within reach; bass can be hung at any angle from dead horizontal to right up there in Wymanland; visual impression now is so dingbat that *nobody* has asked to play this bass. Size matters, but a little added dementia never hurts anything.

 

[slowjam98]

How heavy is a “heavy bass”?

 

[MD Stingray]

I don’t understand how 10 pounds is labelled heavy.

I mean...come on, unless you have a health issue, how can 10 pounds be a problem?

My 12 year old has to carry a backpack to school every day weighing >10 pounds.

What’s next?
When is a glas of beer too heavy?

 

[jmceachern36]

Brady Muckelroy made me a P bass that weighs 5 lbs. it’s a joy to play.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Thing Ive been catching reading these types of threads about weight over the years is a lot of the people who are super particular about weight are playing in cover bands playing like 3 sets a night. Lot of originals bands don’t play for that long. Most of my gigs are actually only 45 minute sets. Our longest headlining sets are 90 minutes. And we even play 30 minute sets here and there mainly when opening for national acts. I think it would be interesting if we could somehow start this thread over but have everyone state their gigging situation in their post.