Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
When did weight become the top priority in a bass?
- Thread starter melarson
- Start date
I'm not saying that at all. Myself as an example... I'm 40 years old, 6 feet tall 150 lbs. I have back and shoulder problems from working out when I was younger, but also working on fishing boats 60 hours/week the last 20 years. I'm lifting heavy coolers, and dropping and hauling up heavy anchors all day long. Also, in rough seas you get really banged up just trying to stay standing while working. I don't think I quite fall into the category of fat and lazy side-steppers. I eat right, do exercises and stretches everyday to strengthen and keep my back going because it's what I love doing and I'll keep doing it till I physically can't. Same as playing in bands like I've done since high school.
Try playing a light and balanced bass before criticizing it. It might open your eyes.
Sometimes it just feels like a perfunctory question for tire kickers to throw out. There have been times that I've listed basses and someone has immediately asked about the weight. For heavy basses it's usually, "oh, that's heavier than I want", but when it's a lightweight bass, the vast majority of the time it's radio silence after that.
But it also seems like this tends to be a conversation about extremes. I don't particularly want a 13 lb bass. And really, I don't want a featherweight bass either. And basses that are sub 7 lbs or over 11 lbs are really the exception and not the rule.
I'm nearly 50, but I've also slimmed down and been very consistent about lifting weights, which has meant that (at least so far) weight hasn't been a big issue for me. I currently have 7 basses that range from right around 8 lbs to just over 10.5 lbs. All of them are fine, and (maybe more importantly) they all balance well on a strap. I imagine for most players, the weight of a bass or guitar is a consideration but not the consideration.
That said, I get when it becomes a physical necessity. If you're older and want to keep playing when your body doesn't want to cooperate, you have to find ways to make it work. Lighter basses, playing primarily sitting down, longer breaks, a lighter touch to compensate for arthritis - it all makes sense to me.
But it also seems like this tends to be a conversation about extremes. I don't particularly want a 13 lb bass. And really, I don't want a featherweight bass either. And basses that are sub 7 lbs or over 11 lbs are really the exception and not the rule.
I'm nearly 50, but I've also slimmed down and been very consistent about lifting weights, which has meant that (at least so far) weight hasn't been a big issue for me. I currently have 7 basses that range from right around 8 lbs to just over 10.5 lbs. All of them are fine, and (maybe more importantly) they all balance well on a strap. I imagine for most players, the weight of a bass or guitar is a consideration but not the consideration.
That said, I get when it becomes a physical necessity. If you're older and want to keep playing when your body doesn't want to cooperate, you have to find ways to make it work. Lighter basses, playing primarily sitting down, longer breaks, a lighter touch to compensate for arthritis - it all makes sense to me.
TLDR, but I think bass weight consideration has a direct correlation to when one ceases to jump around in performance.
I played a 10lb. 5’er for years but wil not drag it to a 3 set gig anymore.
I played a 10lb. 5’er for years but wil not drag it to a 3 set gig anymore.
The folks on here commenting about others being soft or out of shape apparently are desperate for something to feel superior about.
Pathetic.
Pathetic.
Ive been playing bass since 1972, and I never,ever, heard of anyone weighing a bass until I joined Talkbass in 2012.
I mean...I get it. Just never heard of it.
I knew, for example, that a Hofner or a Danolectro was lighter than a Pbass. Just didn't need a scale to figure that out.
But if one Pbass was a pound lighter than another? Not a clue.
I mean...I get it. Just never heard of it.
I knew, for example, that a Hofner or a Danolectro was lighter than a Pbass. Just didn't need a scale to figure that out.
But if one Pbass was a pound lighter than another? Not a clue.
To me it's a matter of pleasure: i play bass and music to feel good and make people feel good. So as i'm not a solid guy, a heavy instrument has always been a problem for me to feel good when i play. I remember in my guitarist old past to have switched my Les Paul standard for a Les Paul Lite because of weight. And now that i've past 50 and got a tendinopathy behind right shoulder, it's a more sensitive topic. And then I've discovered short scale world (and regrets to not have discovered it before, i would have saved bucks and pain after gigs) and i've no more weight and playing comfort problems. So now i can say my criteria #1 is comfort (weight under 8 lbs and short scale 30" neck).
So Anyway, to answer the OP, bass weight became a 'top priority' me at the same time weight was a factor for my amp. I'm old and brittle.
But if someone moved gear for me, then I'm sure I'd bring a double-cab SVT to a coffee house gig.
If I was in a band that just did one set per gig, then bass weight might not be a big issue.
But I've usually had to/got to play 3 or 4 hour gigs.
But if someone moved gear for me, then I'm sure I'd bring a double-cab SVT to a coffee house gig.
If I was in a band that just did one set per gig, then bass weight might not be a big issue.
But I've usually had to/got to play 3 or 4 hour gigs.
Weight has never been an issue for me. I actually prefer an instrument to weigh anywhere between 10-11 lbs.
It's an age thing - sorry - can't be helped. But now that you know. Also know this.
- Old people have money and can likely afford your bass
- If you use the terms "About, Around" when referring to weight, we assume its heavier than we want and move on
- If we ask you specifically about the weight - you should respond with a pic with your bass sitting on a scale.
- If you say or do anything else we assume its heavy and move on
- When you get fed up with our constant whining about weight - see rule 1 - we can afford your bass. If you wanna sell it, appease the crusty old coot and show him a pic of your bass on a scale..... Unless its heavy
- Old people have money and can likely afford your bass
- If you use the terms "About, Around" when referring to weight, we assume its heavier than we want and move on
- If we ask you specifically about the weight - you should respond with a pic with your bass sitting on a scale.
- If you say or do anything else we assume its heavy and move on
- When you get fed up with our constant whining about weight - see rule 1 - we can afford your bass. If you wanna sell it, appease the crusty old coot and show him a pic of your bass on a scale..... Unless its heavy
Is it the top priority now, or is that just some hyperbole?
For me, I know what instruments I want to play and when I find it, if it weighs too much, I move on. So it’s not the top priority. It’s like a gateway specification.
I think it’s a prominent question because it is important but very often not advertised.
For me, I know what instruments I want to play and when I find it, if it weighs too much, I move on. So it’s not the top priority. It’s like a gateway specification.
I think it’s a prominent question because it is important but very often not advertised.
I personally don’t care about weight or ‘neck dive’ at all. If you aim the neck at 1:30 to 2pm… voila! No neck dive!
In the 1980s, I built a FrankenPbass with a Shecter Imbuya(densest of the South American walnuts) Body and a really macho Ken Smith bridge. Figured it would be a tone and sustain monster. After a long (painful) gig I decided to weigh it on the bathroom scale. It was something over 14 pounds. Sold it after it had gathered dust. I’ve weighed my basses since coming here. The heaviest is 19 pounds, but it’s an upright and stands on its own leg.
I played heavy basses (10-12lbs) for the first decade of playing. Then I got an 8lb Lakland Glaub that became my primary bass. It wasn't until I got a few sub 8 and sub 7 lb basses that I realized a lot of what I liked about the Glaub (I.e., the resonant feel), was common amongst all of the lightweight basses. I don't care about the weight for the sake of the weight, but I care about the weight because it simply feels more lively in my hands and against my body.
I never cared until i got a light sadowsky nyc. And that changed everything. I also think that there are so many great options out there now, that it makes sense to be picky about something.
I can still play a heavier bass but it feels a bit archaic at this point.
I can still play a heavier bass but it feels a bit archaic at this point.
Weight matters. Retailers should list it. If you don't care, you don't care, I do. I don't want over 9lbs. It should be an informed choice that's available. Just like seeing the color of the wood grain of the exact serial you will receive. Like Sweetwater,
Last edited:
I'm in my mid '50s, can squat and deadlift over 350 pounds for my work sets. It's not about strength. However, medication induced lupus left me riddled with swolen joints and nerve damage that made it impossible to go above 7 pounds on a strap.
Now that I'm about 90% recovered, I COULD play a heavier bass, but I no longer want to. I love the feel of the 6.5 pound basses I have.
Now that I'm about 90% recovered, I COULD play a heavier bass, but I no longer want to. I love the feel of the 6.5 pound basses I have.
All things being equal the lighter the better. Why work harder than you need to?
I said the same thing about the weight of my basses until i hit 50 and do 3 and 4 hour gigs. Im in pretty good shape too, workout hard, but my shoulder and back still sore after some gigs.
