What the cutoff for heavy vs light weight.

[mesaplayer83]

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?

Serious question - how many 4 hour gigs have you played?

 

[mesaplayer83]

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.

Absolutely a valid point...

 

[MD Stingray]

Serious question - how many 4 hour gigs have you played?

4 hours? Who plays 4 hours?
That’s bloody long.

Regular bar gigs are 3 sets of 45-60 minutes. At least in Amsterdam area. I played hundreds of those.

 

[guy n. cognito]

4 hours? Who plays 4 hours?
That’s bloody long.

Regular bar gigs are 3 sets of 45-60 minutes. At least in Amsterdam area.

In the states, bar gigs are typically 4 hours.

 

[Blake Bass]

Anything over 9 lbs is too heavy . I had a Sadowsky 5 that weighed in at 7 lbs, that was little too light, causing neck dive.
8 to 8.5 lbs seems to be perfect for me.

 

[MD Stingray]

In the states, bar gigs are typically 4 hours.

Interesting. That one hour extra indeed makes a difference.

So, 4 sets of one hour? 10 minute breaks? Just curious.

 

[mesaplayer83]

4 hours? Who plays 4 hours?
That’s bloody long.

Regular bar gigs are 3 sets of 45-60 minutes. At least in Amsterdam area. I played hundreds of those.

A typical gig I play these days is 8pm-12pm, or 9-1, with (2) 15 minute breaks... Although I'm not terribly weight sensitive, I don't see the need to play a bass that weighs over 10lbs for the gigs I play... I'm still in pretty good shape at 55, and can still pick up my 90lb GSD without any trouble whatsoever, or load my PH215 bass cab(123lbs) by myself, FWIW...

Also, there are people with back/neck or shoulder issues - I say whatever works for them(or anyone else) is fine by me...

 

[arbitrary]

Right about 30 years old....although I'm 35 and none of my gear is considered light. Mostly bc I couldnt tolerate playing another coverband gig.

 

[Manticore]

Serious question - how many 4 hour gigs have you played?

My daily driver for the last 25 years is a bit over 14 pounds. (I bought a second of the same make and model as a backup, and it weighs just a shade over 13 pounds.) It doesn't bother me a bit as it is perfectly balanced. Although I don't gig four and five nights a week now, I did play that often with that bass for over 15 years. By my calcs, that's "thousands" of 4 and 5-hours nights. It isn't the weight that matters, it's the ergonomics and balance.

 

[mesaplayer83]

My daily driver for the last 25 years is a bit over 14 pounds. (I bought a second of the same make and model as a backup, and it weighs just a shade over 13 pounds.) It doesn't bother me a bit as it is perfectly balanced. Although I don't gig four and five nights a week now, I did play that often with that bass for over 15 years. By my calcs, that's "thousands" of 4 and 5-hours nights. It isn't the weight that matters, it's the ergonomics and balance.

Whatever works *for you* - however, it shouldn't be hard to understand that might not work for some others... Regarding your last sentence - that is definitely a matter of opinion...

 

[BuffaloBill]

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

Interesting and good to read an actual preference.
Me at 64 yrs-ole, anything more than 7 lb crushes the shoulder joint after half an hour.
That said my fave base is a Peavey Grind 4 @ 8lb 14oz. I put up with it because it's my favorite.

 

[2F/2F]

I'd consider 8.5 to 9 lb. to be normal for a 34" scale Fender style bass. Not only normal, but also a good weight. Anything heavier starts to weigh on me without a better strap than your run of the mill bass strap. I play similarly to Bill Wyman, with a ton of up angle on the neck, so anything much lighter feels imbalanced to me (unless it's short scale, of course). I own a large weight range, from a '76 Musicmaster (light) to a '77 B00 bass (heavy). I like my Ps and my J the best in terms of comfort. They fall pretty squarely in the middle of the range. They're not excessively heavy, but still have a meaty enough body to provide excellent balance.

 

[guy n. cognito]

My daily driver for the last 25 years is a bit over 14 pounds. (I bought a second of the same make and model as a backup, and it weighs just a shade over 13 pounds.) It doesn't bother me a bit as it is perfectly balanced. Although I don't gig four and five nights a week now, I did play that often with that bass for over 15 years. By my calcs, that's "thousands" of 4 and 5-hours nights. It isn't the weight that matters, it's the ergonomics and balance.

What’s super cool is to get ergonomics and balance in an 8lb bass.

 

[Watchootognbout]

After having a 13 lb seven string bass,10 lbs is a feather.
Most six string basses aren't light.
My two 10 lb basses.

 

[Mastermold]

For me over 9.5 lbs. is where it feels heavy. Between 8-9 lbs is comfy for Fender type basses, and my hollow body basses closer to 6 lbs. which feels good.

 

[petrus61]

I would put 9.5/10 as the absolute threshold for my current personal preferences.

 

[mesaplayer83]

What’s super cool is to get ergonomics and balance in an 8lb bass.

Yup, got it right here - the one on the right:

The one on the left weighed 10lbs - guess which one I sold, lol...

 

[Mastermold]

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.

True but don't forget rehearsal. Our gigs are usually 30-45 minute sets but rehearsal is typically around 3 hours.

 

[40Hz]

Anywhere under 10 lbs for me - unless it's a bass with a very exceptional or unique tone like an Alembic or Peavey T-40. Then I'll go up to 12 lbs. But not over that.

 

[Mastermold]

I would put 9.5/10 as the absolute threshold for my current personal preferences.

Yeah I've got a jazz bass that's right at 9.5 and it's comfy enough but I had a Stingray that was 10 lbs. and felt heavy.