• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What's the bid deal with WEIGHT ?

#22
I use light weight basses when I can because I have a bum shoulder, and since I don't recall asking for anyone's approval or disapproval, I couldn't care less what you think.
 
#23
faulknersj said:
IMO the type of gigs u play are the key here. For the 10+ years that I played 60 minute sets in strictly original bands I could care less about weight. Playing 4 hour sets 5 nights per week for the last 3 years has changed all of that for me. 9lbs is as heavy as I'll go now. If you don't play long sets, it shouldn't matter as much.
Click to expand...

This..

I played a Guild B301 which was fairly heavy with bad neck dive for 20 years with no problems. But, that was all in originals bands with short sets. Now its 4 hour cover gigs, and Im older too so it DEFINITELY matters to me. My G&L L2500 is pretty heavy, and I cant play it for the entire gig without it killing my back.
 
#24
JimmyM said:
I use light weight basses when I can because I have a bum shoulder, and since I don't recall asking for anyone's approval or disapproval, I couldn't care less what you think.
Click to expand...

This is generally the point where some gym rat would give uneducated advice on working out more. :p Man, maybe I've been here too long.

I simply don't see that gear needs to be heavy to function well and sound good, so what's the point in lugging more weight if it's not absolutely necessary? Then again, my race bike is slightly under 14lbs......
 
#25
Roy Vogt said:
It becomes very important the 4th hour of a 4 hour gig, IME.
Click to expand...

And there you have it. Also take into consideration that some of us are old. I'm 56. I've done too many 4 hr gigs, the years of playing organized tackle foortball all take their toll as the years go by. I've been playing for 41 years and weight is critical. A gig where I can sit down and play is DA Bomb. The 4th set is sometimes very painful.
 
#28
Roy Vogt said:
It becomes very important the 4th hour of a 4 hour gig, IME.
Click to expand...

^^This.

I've also found that the older I get the more I consider weight. For decades my beloved 1978 aluminum neck Kramer 650-B was my primary bass (sole owner BTW). Though I've never actually weighed it, I've seen it said that it weighs anywhere from a low of 15 lbs to a high of 20 lbs. It is definitely somewhere in that range. When I was younger, it was nothing to play all night with that heavy bass. As I am now on the cusp of 50 (November this year), I find that it becomes very uncomfortable after a single set.

I retired the Kramer last year and moved to Fenders, of which, my Aerodyne Jazz is the most comfortable of all of them. I go back and forth between it, my Geddy Lee Jazz and my five-string Jazz. All three are much better on the shoulder than my Kramer.
 
#30
Roy Vogt said:
It becomes very important the 4th hour of a 4 hour gig, IME.
Click to expand...

^^This.

I've also found that the older I get the more I consider weight. For decades my beloved 1978 aluminum neck Kramer 650-B was my primary bass (sole owner BTW). Though I've never actually weighed it, I've seen it said that it weighs anywhere from a low of 15 lbs to a high of 20 lbs. It is definitely somewhere in that range. When I was younger, it was nothing to play all night with that heavy bass. As I am now on the cusp of 50 (November this year), I find that it becomes uncomfortable after a single set.

I retired the Kramer last year and moved to Fenders, of which, my Aerodyne Jazz is the most comfortable of all of them. I go back and forth between it, my Geddy Lee Jazz and my five-string Jazz. All three are much better on the shoulder than my Kramer.
 
#31
i'll lend you my 20lb thunderbird copy and we'll see how you feel about weight after that.

honestly however i used to be in the "who cares about weight" camp untill i started getting back problems due to the job i had at the time and then doing more lifting to get my gear into glasgow. my amp and pedal board still weigh about the same as a rolls royce but thats besides the point. my back isnt paying for it during 3 hour practace sessions
 
#34
plankspanker13 said:
Lighter basses also make it easier to move with your bass, onstage. Let's not forget the visual component to performance.
Click to expand...

Right, right. People think I'm scowling becasue I'm getting into my playing when it's the pain that's killing me and I'm thinking how many songs are left in this set!!! Then the band leader says we're playing over and does not hint as to how much longer we're playing. And I'm thinking of very choice words. For my age I'm in very good health. I still look good in a wife beater. As a matter of fact my wife just bought me some new ones. She thinks I should show my muscles more often. I use to work out everyday to include running. Sometimes would run 8-10 miles on Fridays. It's an age thing believe me, moreso than anything else.
 
#36
Heavy basses don't necessarily sound any better than light basses. I find anything over 9.8 pounds or so distractingly heavy. I'm already prone to lower back pain and so the last thing I need is some heavy object hanging off me. I spoke to both my doctor and physiotherapist about the subject. The first thing both suggested was not "going to the gym" - it was avoiding heavy objects.
 
#38
mcm said:
Most people are just plain out of shape. Sorry had to be said.
Click to expand...

Getting in shape doesn't always fix things. Hell, the way people work out incorrectly, trying to get in shape can hurt things even more than being out of shape.

For the record, I'm in good enough shape to win bike races. :smug:

Even then, a bass doesn't need to be heavy to sound good, so why lug any more weight than necessary.

Time to play this bass....or perhaps I'm just out of shape! :D

koa1-1.jpg
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back