Ajoten Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Recently I have been suffering from painful tendons in right shoulder and elbow - Dr reckons rotator cuff thing. My bass weighs 13lbs. Is that particularly heavy? And even then, given the weight is supported by wide strap on the painless shoulder, it might have nowt to do with it. Any road up, I am musing on getting something nice and light - that won't neck dive. I'd expect Steinbergery things to fit the bill, but what else should be on the shortlist? Apparently Danelectros are light, but it might be that the lighter the body the divier the neck. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmaxblues Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 I have an Ibanez Single cut 5 which is surprisingly light and manageable with a killer tone! very capable and comfortable. Worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 13lbs is a very heavy bass in my opinion. Most P basses I've owned have been around 8.5 to 9lbs. My current Jazz build is around 7.5lbs and that's with a high-mass Hipshot KickAss bridge fitted. The body is made of Paulownia, which is a very light wood which behaves in a similar way to swamp ash. Apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Hello Ajoten, There are a few people on here with various shoulder/back injuries etc, so we might be able to help. 13lbs is an extremely heavy bass in my experience - that's about 5.8kg. The average weight is about 4kg (9lbs) for a long scale, solid body bass like a Precision or a Jazz. There are lots of lighter basses tho, depending on how much you want to spend. At the budget end, SGC Nanyo Basses are Japanese 1980s instruments, which come up for sale here from time to time and are very good value and very lightweight. At the other end of the scale, American-made boutique builders like Mike Lull produce basses which are often sub-4kg but are expensive, very fine instruments. There are a hell of lot of instruments in between the two, so its not too hard to find something that fits the bill. I don't know exactly what tendon problems you have, or what impact a heavy bass in having on them, but try wearing a lighter bass on a strap maybe and see if it feels more comfortable, and take things from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 (edited) The Nanyo factory built Bass Collections are famously light and come up for sale on here fairly regularly. Edit. Bassbisscuits beat me to it. Edited November 14, 2017 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 (edited) 13lbs is pretty darn heavy. Most folk with shoulder issues around here often seek a bass under 9lbs. My heaviest bass is 10.7lbs and that can be uncomfortable at times. Any particular pickup configuration you favour? I've been eyeing up the Gibson EB basses myself, they are renowned for being consistently light in the region of 7lbs for a 4 string and 8 lbs for a 5-string. There is a new 2018 range inbound with some new colours, so the 2017 range and the differently styled 2013/2014 ranges are discounted everywhere. A good tip is to see if any basses you fancy are stocked by Sweetwater (in the US) or Bass Direct (UK)- as both list the weights of the basses in their ads, e.g: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BAEB17NSBC Edited November 14, 2017 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 13lbs is insane. Maruszczyk built me two Jakes (traditional Precision style) which each weigh around 7.2lbs, with no neck dive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 I've been having the same issue but i can't find a replacement for my TRB5PII that sounds half as good so i'm sticking with it. From time to time i give myself a rest and put new strings on the lighter TRB5P and gig with it for a while before going back to the one that has my tone out of the box. From every bass i tried the one that came closest to the tone in my head with the minimum weight possible was a Jerzy Drozd but it was too much money for a backup bass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 The lightest bass I've ever owned is an Ibanez Soundgear, compared to some other basses you'd barely notice it was hanging off your shoulder. The Yamaha TRBX I had was ok for weight, a little heavier than the Ibanez but not as heavy as a standard Precision or Jazz style bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Yes 13lbs is horrendous! Especially if it doesn't balance well. Even my single-cut Fodera through 5er was only 10.5lbs . But that balanced beautifully. I had Maruszczyk build me a 33" Precision (Jake) bass, chambered, just about 7.2lbs, was a joy! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 13lbs will leave a dent in the pavement if you put the case down heavily! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ajoten Posted November 14, 2017 Author Share Posted November 14, 2017 Can't really grumble about its balance. FYI Mike Dirnt MIM Precision. Probably the nicest bass I've ever played tbh. Will have to play it sat down for a few weeks and see if things improve. Not very rock n roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 13lb is mental. I'm shuddering at the very thought! I won't have any bass that weighs over 9lb no matter how good it sounds. Even my much modified Ray 5 is only 8.5 lb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GILLY Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 I went down this route when I had a shoulder problem and the bass I found most comfortable was a Chowny SWB-1. It's a short scale so an easy stretch to the low F and, at 8lbs, was quite comfortable for a couple of hours on a strap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Really surprised a Mike Dirnt is weighing in at 13lbs that is heavy for a Fender even in their darkest days.....if you like the Mike Dirnt bass the Squier option may be a great way to go, they were built for the budget market and I assume the younger player, mine is one of the lightest Precisions I own and is a great bass, I have upgraded the bridge, tuners, pickups and wiring which has probably brought it up to the cost of a Mexican bass but it still weighs in at less than 9lbs....nice and manageable for my 50 year old back and shoulders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Nanyo factory built Bass Collections. I've go 3 5 strings and they weigh about 7.5lbs each. I won't have a bass over 8.5lbs due to a double compression fracture of the spine. Bass Collection, sorted, and one of the nicest necks you will ever play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 I`ve a Squier VM 70s Precision and it`s very light. If you like the Precision sound def worth looking at these, or any basswood bodied Precision, they usually come up pretty light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 My German crafted Hofner Club Bass can't weigh more than 1 pound. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Just now, Bluewine said: My German crafted Hofner Club Bass can't weigh more than 1 pound. Blue Cancel the BassChat expedition to Milwaukee, he's back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 1 minute ago, Bluewine said: My German crafted Hofner Club Bass can't weigh more than 1 pound. Nice! Hey, there's a guy looks just like you on this forum! Can't remember his name, now... begins with a 'B'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 2 hours ago, Ajoten said: Can't really grumble about its balance. FYI Mike Dirnt MIM Precision. Probably the nicest bass I've ever played tbh. Will have to play it sat down for a few weeks and see if things improve. Not very rock n roll. You can save half a pound by fitting Ultralite tuners. Not so sure it would make that much difference, however... 12.5lbs is still considerable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 5 hours ago, Marvin said: The lightest bass I've ever owned is an Ibanez Soundgear, compared to some other basses you'd barely notice it was hanging off your shoulder. The Yamaha TRBX I had was ok for weight, a little heavier than the Ibanez but not as heavy as a standard Precision or Jazz style bass. My Thunderbird is a real tank so when I picked up my Ibanez fretless it just feels,like there is nothing there at all. The thunderbird will remain number 1 despite its weight and my neck and shoulder issues, I have found that it doesn’t matter as long as I have a wide we’ll padded strap. Even 2 1/2 gigs don’t cause any fatigue for me. I think I could go to sleep with the Ibanez on and not notice it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 4 hours ago, Cato said: Cancel the BassChat expedition to Milwaukee, he's back. Yeah, I had some password issues. Blue 3 hours ago, T-Bay said: My Thunderbird is a real tank so when I picked up my Ibanez fretless it just feels,like there is nothing there at all. The thunderbird will remain number 1 despite its weight and my neck and shoulder issues, I have found that it doesn’t matter as long as I have a wide we’ll padded strap. Even 2 1/2 gigs don’t cause any fatigue for me. I think I could go to sleep with the Ibanez on and not notice it. I find my Gibson 1991 Thunderbird relatively thin and light. Blue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Word to the wise if you have shoulder issues stay away from the Gibson zLes Paul bass unless you're a boat owner and use it as an anchor. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 6 hours ago, Bluewine said: Yeah, I had some password issues. Blue I find my Gibson 1991 Thunderbird relatively thin and light. Blue I will have to weigh mine but it’s proper heavy, at least three or four pounds over the Precision I had I am sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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