What's the bid deal with WEIGHT ?

[Lou Bottini]

Never playing four hour gigs anymore I don't really care about the weight of a bass. That being said it seems to me a super light weight alder bass sounds better (warmer) than a 10lb+ heavyweight. Give me a 7 1/2 lb alder Pbass with a rosewood board. Then again I love 11lb+ ash Musicman Stingrays with maple necks from 1978. Go figure.

 

[Polfuste]

weight never phased me until I was in my forties..suddenly my back and shoulder became very aware of the difference between a 7 lb bass vs a 10 lb bass. I won't even consider buying anything that weighs over 8.5 lbs

the same. except it was in my thirties.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

I had to think on this one. I have two go-to basses for stage, an FSO Jazz 5 which probably approaches 11 lbs and a 9lb-ish custom.
Its not stage time that bothers me- its load in and load out with the 11 lb beast in a hardshell case. On a friday night gig after a long workday, after playing with my 3 year old twins and picking them up a hundred times...I simply shrug and grab the lighter bass.
Fatigue is what drives me these days

 

[FretNoMore]

Age comes into play for a lot of us; most everything is problem free in your twenties, but maybe not so much in your fifties.

My left side neck and shoulder muscles protest after a while when hanging a heavy bass on the shoulder. Not that I have looked for a lighter bass though, I've solved it with a combination of playing sitting down and using a belt strap to support most of the weight on the hips.

 

[MrLenny1]

Yea, what Roy said.
25 years of gigging & wearing a 10 lb bass has resulted in
nerve damage in playing hand, arm & shoulder.
Yes, weight matters Mr. Champoux.

 

[frankieC]

I prefer a lighter bass for long gigs. I always bring a lighter bass with me, even if I don't end up using it. Sometimes I'll just pull up a stool and have a seat.

 

[iriegnome]

I have been playing for 35 years. I have a pinched nerve in my L1/L2 vertebre and playing a heavier bass with my 4" leather strap drapped over my left shoulder causes numbness in my right leg and severe cramps in my mid back. Heavy basses cause even worse issues. This issue with my back has even caused problems with foot cramps while I play. Big deal about weight is that it is heavy.. I mean, no pun or funny anything. After so many years, it sucks getting old and trying to move around on stage with a 10 pound bass. And then you have people like Phil Lesh who is over 70 and doesn't miss a note with that big heavy Modulus 6 string.. Hmm. Go figure.

 

[BawanaRik]

Always shopping for new basses (damn GAS), and I'm wondering what's the big deal about basses weight? I feel like everybody is looking for the lightest bass... I'm very curious to know what's the difference, tone wise... Or if this is just a matter of comfort and playability? I thought the heavier the instrument, the better the sustain and attack... Am I wrong?

IE. I've seen a beautifull P-Bass at 10 pounds lately... Should I stay away and search for one more around 8 ?

Do heavier basses have a lower resell value?

Opinions welcomed!!

EDIT : sorry about the 'BID' deal typo in the topic...! Still related though!

At this point in life it's all about my back.

I had a CAR P back in the eighties that would sustain for days. It was probably the heaviest P I played.

 

[onda'bass]

hey if you want to wear a boat anchor...go ahead. I have my 7lb ibby and love it weight or lack of.

 

[willop]

You'd think they'd have it figured out by now. It's only been 50+ years.

nobody yet has figured out what stradavarious did on his violins, not well enough to copy them anyway.

 

[bassdude51]

I go with the "Goldie Locks" factor for bass weight. Not too heavy and not too light. The disadvantages with a heavy bass is obvious. One that is too light (ha ha ha, very rare!) neck diving and sometimes reduced dynamics in sound and tone.

Eight to nine pounders are my choice.

Yeah, it's easier to re-sell a light bass over a heavy one.

Wider straps or sitting on a chair or stool helps with heavy basses.

Go with sound and tone first and then second weight. Or compromise.

 

[Webtroll]

Go with sound and tone first and then second weight. Or compromise.

Weight alone does not dictate the quality of tone, there are some great sounding light basses and guitars out there. I see no reason not to have cake and eat it too if you have the patience to wait for the right instrument.