| Author | Message | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Junior Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 41 Registered: 5-2007 |
I am curious and concerned to hear so many of you voice concerns about weight. A 12 lb bass is heavy? A 14 lb bass is heavy? I used to haul a 50 lb rucksack (back pack for all you hippies) for miles when I was in the US Army. I have no back problems. A wide leather strap with a sheep-skin pad works fine and I can play bass all night. If you have issues with the weight of your bass: Do you exercise regularly? Do you lift weights? Do you routinely do sit-ups to strengthen your torso core? | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 289 Registered: 9-2002 |
I have a series I and a SCD...Honestly, the weight on either does not bother me (except for when they are in the case and I am carrying them). I use a Ken Smith strap, which has some fleece padding, so that probably helps. | ||
| briant
Member Username: briant Post Number: 57 Registered: 12-2004 |
I use a normal 2" nylon strap with my JPJ Custom - which weighs around 12 pounts I believe. I do 3+ sets a night with no problems. Of course I also exercise regularly and lift weights so that probably helps. I tried using a Comfort Strap but it's too "bouncy" for me. In my cover band especially I'm running all over the stage and jumping off stuff all night long - we tend to play on really large stages. | ||
| bassman68
Junior Username: bassman68 Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2007 |
What about all those Les paul owners,i've yet to play a light one? Must be all the mahogany we strap 'round our necks...wouldn't have it any other way! I own the P.A in my function band so unloading that at the end of the night is enough weight training for me every week. I love my comfort straps, they work for me.... | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6036 Registered: 5-2002 |
Brian wrote, "I tried using a Comfort Strap but it's too "bouncy" for me ... I'm .. jumping off stuff all night long." According to Wiki, Newton's three laws of motion are: 1 - A physical body will remain at rest, or continue to move at a constant velocity, unless an external net force acts upon it. 2 - The net force on a body is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. 3 - For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Now I'm not a physicist, but I've been trying to imagine how your "bouncy" strap is causing you to "jump" while you are playing your bass, and I'm just not seeing it. I'm thinking there may be other causes for the jumping phenomena; for instance, the drummer may be applying to much velocity to the kick drum pedal, or the waiter is giving you caffeinated coffee when you order decaf. (Message edited by davehouck on January 17, 2008) | ||
| bassman68
Junior Username: bassman68 Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2007 |
LOL ;-) | ||
| trekster
Intermediate Member Username: trekster Post Number: 151 Registered: 7-2004 |
Well, cant say heavy for the one Alembic I've owned (Essence), but if you want heavy, the old Peavey T-40 basses... mine weighed 15 1/2 pounds of solid Ash and honking big metal pickups and bridge. I had to take up shoulder strengthing excerises to keep playing that bass. 20 years later, I still have memory pains. ;) --T | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1875 Registered: 4-2004 |
scarlet is 12+ lbs i use a moody 4 inch strap so far no problem | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 946 Registered: 2-2005 |
My fretless Orion is a little above 10 Lbs, Brown Bass around 9 1/2 Lbs and 5 string Orion slightly over 8 Lbs. I use 2 1/2 inch straps and have no problems with my back. Keith | ||
| eligilam
Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 87 Registered: 2-2006 |
I've found that the weight of my SC Deluxe is the same or slightly more than the weight of my 7-string Bee bass, although about half the size. Dense little sucker, that's for sure. | ||
| briant
Member Username: briant Post Number: 60 Registered: 12-2004 |
LOL @ Dave's post. :-) | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Junior Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 43 Registered: 5-2007 |
I played a Carvin Bass in junior high and high school, solid maple (Eastern hard rock maple for the set-in neck and and body) I never had a problem with its weight. As an adult, the only thing I have an issue with is a set of 8-speaker bass cabinets. Those are heavy. What can be heavier than that? | ||
| wideload
Intermediate Member Username: wideload Post Number: 118 Registered: 6-2003 |
Me. | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 915 Registered: 12-2004 |
My 6 is definitely too heavy to attempt to hold for any extended period. Good to go with a 4" Moody's strap. Feels just right! (my Epic always felt too light) | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 733 Registered: 6-2002 |
My custom Alembics are heavy by design - they kill me, but sound great. It's all about tone. I practice on my Fenders and play on my Alembics. | ||
| hankster
Intermediate Member Username: hankster Post Number: 155 Registered: 6-2004 |
One of my basses is a Les Paul bass from '69 or '70 - the thing weighs a ton, makes any Alembic I've played feel light as a feather, but I used it for years and survived (tho come to think of it, maybe that's where the cervical herniated disks come from...) It has a lovely, rich, woody sound and a 30.5" neck, which makes the weight bearable since it sounds and feels so good. R. | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 734 Registered: 6-2002 |
I wonder sometimes what the heck they're thinking over at Gibson. With the exception of the Thunderbird (which I've grown to love over the years), they keep discontinuing their Basses. Now they only offer two models; the T-bird in sunburst only, and the SG re-issue. At least offer a choice of colors!!! The 2 models they currently offer are cool, but they're really not into Bass players. What a shame. Rami | ||
| gare
Senior Member Username: gare Post Number: 414 Registered: 11-2003 |
I for one will admit I'm more than a little out of shape. I use an ash bodied jazz bass most places I've played, which I find a little heavy. (dont care that much if it were to get trashed) I also use a couple 3" straps I've had since Pikes Peak was a pimple, they distribute the weight pretty good. Recently I tried out an SG re-issue, played ok, but still sounds like..well..a fart. You'd think they would have re-worked/upgraded the pickups a bit. T-birds are also available in white. One day I'd like to pickup a Gibson RD model. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1706 Registered: 2-2006 |
It’s not the weight of an Alembic but the wait for an Alembic. I had to wait 25 years for my first one. And the weight increase on my shoulder was off set by the weight decrease in my wallet. Olie | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 926 Registered: 12-2004 |
Amen, Olie, Amen. | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 735 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey Gary, The white T-bird is discontinued for 2008. It has been removed from the Gibson website as an option. That's unfortunate because as well as being really cool looking, it featured an Ebony fingerboard compared to the Sunburst's Rosewood. Gibson also discontinued the Les Paul Bass, and the 2 Studio T-birds for 2008. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2907 Registered: 7-2004 |
Olie, I fell off my chair. Thanks for the laugh! Bill, tgo | ||
| briant
Member Username: briant Post Number: 80 Registered: 12-2004 |
heh... I LOVE LOVE LOVE my JPJ Alembic. The triple omega body is not very nice in the weight department but I play it every night now with my cover band for 3 hour+ sets with a lame little 2" strap and it doesn't bother me. I'm not sure what exactly it clocks in at but I'm sure it is something around 12 pounds. I practice with it as well but I've found a nice position to sit down and play it where the lower cutout isn't digging in and killing my leg. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1711 Registered: 2-2006 |
I'm here all week folks (Message edited by olieoliver on January 25, 2008) | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Junior Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 46 Registered: 5-2007 |
I play Jazz so I have never liked the sound of Gibson basses. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1712 Registered: 2-2006 |
I never really cared for Gibson basses either, although I did used to own a Gibson G-3. I did love all my old Les Paul Guitars though. I could kick myself for selling them. All 3 mid 60's 2 of which were Gold Top. Olie | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 736 Registered: 6-2002 |
Stanley Clarke & Jack Bruce among many others played Gibsons. It's really not about the instrument as it is what you do with it. | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Junior Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 47 Registered: 5-2007 |
Rami, I never new SC played a Gibson electric. Do you know what model? I wonder what effects he used. | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 737 Registered: 6-2002 |
He played an EB3 in the days of Return To Forever. The same model that Jack Bruce played with Cream. I suspect that the short scale Series I styling (with it's short equal length horns) is somewhat influenced by the Gibson. Of course, Alembic raises the bar about a hundred notches. (Message edited by rami on January 25, 2008) | ||
| hankster
Intermediate Member Username: hankster Post Number: 156 Registered: 6-2004 |
I liked the old (69/70) Les Paul quite a lot, due to its scale and sound. The neck was a bit narrow at the nut, and the weight was a killer. I've now loaned it to a friend for his son, who is a small guy with small hands, to learn and it suits him perfectly - a good bass, short scale for small hands. I also have a real soft spot for the Ripper - rich, even sound over the register, and recorded well. Nothing like the Alembic though. Rick | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2910 Registered: 7-2004 |
Rick Danko played Gibsons with the Band for many years. Both an EB3 and, I believe, a Ripper for "The Last Waltz". Bill, tgo | ||
| bigbadbill
Senior Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 417 Registered: 10-2003 |
Funkyjazzfunky, I used to have no problems with heavy basses. I used to weight train 4 times a week, benching around 250lb, 10 reps at 220 at weight of around 11 and a half stone (those were the days!). Strict curls with 58 lb dumbells etc. Then my back/neck problems started. Now wearing a heavy bass for any period of time causes spasm and pain throughout my pelvis, legs, back, neck and arms. A bass over 10lb causes my legs to go cold/numb (I assume the disc is compressing a nerve). I've actually had my right arm go into such spasm I could barely play at some gigs. I'm extremely grateful that I learned to play using a pick because if it was down to fingers I'd be in trouble. I have nerve root irritation in both lumbar and cervical spine, and any bass over 8 lbs causes me some problems. 10 is the absolute limit. My problems with my Alembic are well documented, and although I'm getting by at the moment, to be honest I play it as little as possible standing up. I now go to the gym again, and do lots of stretching and some Pilates and yoga exercises but to be honest the problems, while varying from day to day, are not going away. Be grateful that your back is still good and make sure you try & keep it that way! | ||
| bassbignbad
New Username: bassbignbad Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2008 |
The Moody and Italia straps have saved me from what would otherwise be a problem. I have a lump on one side of my back where the muscles have developed to accommodate the weight at the point where the strap goes over. I think it's important to stay in shape generally but I believe that the specific stresses that are caused by any activity have to be considered. Wearing a bass applies pressure at a certain point and in addition, the balance of the guitar is going to affect the way the musculature responds. I think if you play more often the muscles adjust to accommodate. Less frequent playing means more fluctuation and I can see problems coming from that alone as the body is constantly adjusting. So.... play every day! As for you bigbadbill I know there are already some strap systems that are sort of like a harness that may help. If I run across the source for those I'll post it here. I also believe that I could design a strap system for you that would at least help with your issues with more understanding of your particular needs. The challenge is to move the load to where it is not affecting the sensitive area. Let me know if I can help. Michael PS I am new to the group and new to Alembics. I just bought a used Rogue 4 and I love it. I think mine is just the right weight for me! | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 51 Registered: 5-2007 |
Shaun, I am indeed blessed to be without back problems. I pray that you will again return to form. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6117 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Michael; congrats on the Rogue, and welcome to the board! | ||
| bigbadbill
Senior Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 418 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks for your comments guys. I echo those sentiments with regards to everyone out there; I hope you all stay and play healthy! To be honest though the problems playing the bass are rather insignificant compared to other problems I have as a result(I won't go into detail!); at least I can still play the bass. However there are others far, far more unfortunate than me and my thoughts go out to them. |
