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Why are people obsessed with weight??

#61
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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It's hardly an obsession.

People may prefer lighter basses for ease of playability and people may avoid really heavy basses for the same reason, but thats hardly makes it an obsession.

If everyone here had a persistent disturbing preoccupation regarding weight, that would be different.
 
#62
I find the weight of the case to be a bigger factor for me.

Whilst the Ibanez Prestige guitars are light as a feather, their cases are easily twenty pounds.


Also, weight is a bigger factor on basses because you have to deal with dead weight spread over a larger area. A 10-pound dumbell and 10-bass would feel quite a bit different.
 
#67
Sartori said:
This. Talkbass is populated by old farts with bad backs (and lots of valuable experience and knowledge, of course).

I'm 22, so weight is not an issue for me. In fact, I actually prefer heavy basses. Perhaps that's because a lot of the crappy basses I've played have been very light.
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We have bad backs because, when we were young and stupid, we played heavy basses.

edit: This is not to say you are necessarily young and stupid if you like heavy basses.
 
#68
For me, it just feels better to play a 9 pounder (or less). What is this macho crap about using a heavy bass. If it feels good to you, do it. Why would you give a crap about what others like? Put all the bowling balls and lead weights on that you like. It's what you like.
 
#71
TonyFranklinFan said:
LOL..u guys kill me! at least some of you can take some heat. Ever see the bass player for GWAR?

Tell me THIS is for sissies? LOL:bassist::hiding:

l_09eda0f4150b418cb0a47ab86689c89d.png
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It's probably all styrofoam...
 
#72
LLink24 said:
Of course stretching, working out, and padded straps were not yet invented back in the day.
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Stretching meant our paychecks. Working out involved a shovel and the sun, and padded straps... yeah, we really didn't have those. :)

We also had to load in and out of every show up three flights of stairs... in the snow... with an SVT in one hand, and Twin Reverb loaded with SRO's in the other.
 
#73
who cares, first off its probably a opinion based thing, just like baseball players all use different size/weight bats. whatever works for you is what you like, if you are more comfortable with a light bass thats what works for you.
if your play a gig that has a few different sets in it and you have had a few drinks, you start to feel the weight alot more. if you sit down when you gig or just play at your house (never play gigs) then im sure having a heavy bass doesnt matter.

+ why would it bother anyone if people ask about weight or like light or heavy basses over the other.

lets all be friends and stop being petty
 
#75
I also noticed this:

Every time somebody asks 'how much does it weigh??' The response is ALWAYS:

"8 pounds by my bathroom scale"

I think that's basically a way of the seller saying "look, who cares how much it weighs...if you are looking to buy this bass what difference would half a pound make?"

And the bathroom scale thing....by using the most inaccurate measuring tool in existance allows the seller to say "hey, I did the best with what I had" if the buyer does not like the weight.

LOL I just looked at the FS ads and there is a fretless Sterling...and yes a 'how much does it weigh?' question, like through some miracle of modern science it's going to weigh different from any other Sterling.
 
#77
mmbongo said:
And the bathroom scale thing....by using the most inaccurate measuring tool in existance allows the seller to say "hey, I did the best with what I had" if the buyer does not like the weight.
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Most bathroom scales i've seen and used in the past recent years have been digital and auto zero themselves prior to weighing. Most are pretty damn precise. Or at least precise enough to tell the weight of a bass guitar to sell it.
 
#78
mmbongo said:
LOL I just looked at the FS ads and there is a fretless Sterling...and yes a 'how much does it weigh?' question, like through some miracle of modern science it's going to weigh different from any other Sterling.
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All wood weighs the same?

I've played P basses that ran 13+ pounds, and ones that weighed in at just a tick over 7 pounds. What miricle of modern science made one weigh more than the other?

Sterlings are Ash, and there is a tone wood that can vary wildly in weight.
 
#79
holllowbody said:
One bass causing back and shoulder pain and another not causing any pain and having to choose between one and the other is not a matter of opinion. One is simply not usable and the other is.
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no kidding thats kinda exactly what i was saying. some people like heavy basses but some people dont, because they might cause problems, dont take half a statement out of context.
 

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