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Why are people obsessed with weight??

#41
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? ;)
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I care because I won't buy ANY bass if it's much over 9 pounds. That's heavy enough that my shoulder hurts when I wear the bass for a couple of hours. Maybe it doesn't bother the OP, but it bothers plenty of other people.

There are plenty of good basses out there that weigh under 9 pounds...and that's all I buy.
 
#44
I totally understand not wanting to have a boat anchor hanging on ones shoulder for 3+ hours a night. I had a Status Gruuv Bass several years ago and I ended up trading it and it was darned near 14lbs. I could handle it fine but anyone that would borrow it would play it for a few tunes and it would be too heavy. What I don;t understand is the people that are able to handle an 8lb bass but an 8.5 lb bass is just a bit too much. Unless someone has chronic back pain this would be a little harder to understand.
 
#45
TonyFranklinFan said:
In fact, I tie a brick to the headstock and a bowling ball to the bridge ashtray with heavy grade fishing line lined with steel bobbers all the way down for looks on my P-bass because it's too light...gets rid of neck dive as well.
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Where would you like your Darwin Award shipped to? :D

pewter_trophy_lrg.jpg
 
#46
I am in my mid 40's, have lower back problems, and have played many long sets without really any problems. I don't think I've ever weighed one of my basses on a bathroom scale:rollno:. Some weigh more than the others, but if they have the sound I need, I play them.

To me, I'm more concerned about my back when I'm moving my amp gear in and out of a club. A 9 to 11 pound bass strapped on my back for 4 to 5 hours hasn't given me a reason to bellyache -yet. :D
 
#47
TonyFranklinFan said:
Get over it, I played a 32lb. brass tuba/sousaphone in marching band in highschool marching 5+ grueling miles everyday during class and after school practices in step, and at attention for 20 minutes at a time because of a strict drum major... doing manuevers and dodging horse sh!t and road/field obstacles for 6 years {including jr. high} then did drum corp...so I don't want to hear about how your little 9 lb piece of wood hurt your poor little shoulder for a couple hours a night,standing in one spot onstage a couple times a month! Could I do it as gung-ho now at 30? probably.. ...~rant off~
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Dude. I too played tuba/sousaphone in high school and college. I marched in the Rose Parade, a grueling 7-mile march in black wool uniforms in 90-degree heat. Could I do it as gung-ho now at 61? No. Hell no. All of my basses have balsa wood bodies with flamed yucca tops.
 
#50
2 car accidents and a broken back later I'm starting to care. Throwing my T-40 around for an hour lays me up now. Is it my primary concern when looking at a bass? No. In fact I don't look at it at all. However, an hour or two with a heavy bass no matter how well balanced will take an effect on you.
 
#57
I still don't understand. I don't see how a 10 pound bass can destroy your back and put you in a wheelchair, but a 9 pound bass allows you to hop around like Riverdance all night.

14 pounds I can understand...but I don't understand the nitpickiness over 2 pounds???
 
#59
for every pound you can knock off an hour of playing time for me. I play 3 hour gigs with a bass under 9 lbs. I could play a one hour gig with an 11 lb bass (my band mates would not be happy)

mmbongo said:
I still don't understand. I don't see how a 10 pound bass can destroy your back and put you in a wheelchair, but a 9 pound bass allows you to hop around like Riverdance all night.

14 pounds I can understand...but I don't understand the nitpickiness over 2 pounds???
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