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Why are people obsessed with weight??

mmbongo

mmbongo

I have too many basses.
Inactive
Aug 5, 2009
25,372
30,975
54
Upstate, South Carolina
#1
It's been bothering me and I gotta ask....why are people so obsessed with the weight of a bass? Almost every FS thread I see has somebody inevitably asking "what does it weigh?? what does it weigh??"

Why does it matter? Why the obsession? I never cared about weight as I figured most any bass in in between 8 and 11 pounds, and there are other factors that matter more. I'll take a heavy bass that's properly balanced over a light neck diver any day. Maybe these people are weak and can't hold up a bass? ;)
 
#3
I don't care about weight. To me, the heavier the better. My G&L weighs a ton, and I like it that way. The Rock Bass feels like it weighs 1/3 of the G&L...feels like a toy.
There's nothing like strapping a tree trunk to your body.
 
#4
Well most people on this forum are 40+ so bad backs?

I dont worry about weight much , i got alot of energy , but i would never want a bass over 12 pounds.To be honest tho when i test a bass i never feel how heavy it is or ask a seller how heavey it is.
 
#6
mmbongo said:
It's been bothering me and I gotta ask....why are people so obsessed with the weight of a bass? Almost every FS thread I see has somebody inevitably asking "what does it weigh?? what does it weigh??"

Why does it matter? Why the obsession? I never cared about weight as I figured most any bass in in between 8 and 11 pounds, and there are other factors that matter more. I'll take a heavy bass that's properly balanced over a light neck diver any day. Maybe these people are weak and can't hold up a bass? ;)
Click to expand...

Why has it been bothering you since weight doesn't matter to you?
 
#8
I think when I was younger it didn't matter so much. Now, I'm 44, not terribly out of shape, but any bass over 10lbs. is now a deal breaker for me, even with a wide strap. I guess as we get older we get softer? Shoulder doesn't like it. I'm not injured or anything, it just doesn't feel good if it's heavy.
 
#9
I had a bass that was light as a feather. Sounded decent, but not great. Really thin neck, so with light strings the thing played like butter.

I regret getting rid of it, it would have been a good knock-around bass.

As a NY gigging bass player, I also have to lug the thing to & from shows & carrying 15+ lbs on your back isn't much fun.

Also with a lighter bass, you can jump around more (depending on your technique & how much it would suffer form that), the heavier basses keep you rooted to earth & if you're more comfortable grooving on stage, then so is the audience.
 
#13
spade2you said:
I've become a weight weenie because I've found that heavier doesn't necessarily sound better, thus I really don't see much point in lugging the extra weight. I've really come to enjoy the sound of light ash and chambered construction.
Click to expand...

I'm interested in learning more about chambered construction. I know Sadowsky chambers these days, who else?
 
#14
Actually I have Barophobia and need the extra weight of a heavy bass to keep me locked to the earth in the case of gravity failure. I even use ankle weights at night when I go the out house so I do not float away into the sky where no body would ever find me....:rolleyes:

Actually a better question is who would want to tote all that stuff when it is no longer necessary to do so and achieve a great sound?
 
#18
mmbongo said:
It's been bothering me and I gotta ask....why are people so obsessed with the weight of a bass? Almost every FS thread I see has somebody inevitably asking "what does it weigh?? what does it weigh??"

Why does it matter? Why the obsession? I never cared about weight as I figured most any bass in in between 8 and 11 pounds, and there are other factors that matter more. I'll take a heavy bass that's properly balanced over a light neck diver any day. Maybe these people are weak and can't hold up a bass? ;)
Click to expand...
Seriously before you ask question like these you need to say whether or not you've ever had to play through and entire 2 hour gig with a 10 pound bass on your shoulder.
 

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