Heavy bass

[jazzyvee]

I have always found my Europa 5 with Bocate top to be a heavy bass. I don't have a problem with it at all just it's heavy.  
 
So today after practicing i decided to weigh it and I was quite surprised to find that it weighs in at 12.5 pounds, with the flight case as well it weights 44 pounds ... yes that's right 44pounds. .
 
I've heard members here expressing back problems with heavy series basses. I;'ve read that some of the series basses are solid and some newer ones have a hollow core, so I just wondered what these series basses weigh and what year did they start to be made with a hollow core.
 
Jazzyvee
 
Jazzyvee

[keavin]

My case weighs in at 20.5 pounds, the bass weighs in at 11.5 & power supply/25 ft cable comes at around 2.5?..........so im lugging around 33 to 35 pounds of Bass/Case.actually ive never had any back problems from years of playing but i do have wrist pain from years  carrying such a load for long distances.  

[flaxattack]

wolf weighs in at 9, scarlet weighs 12. app

[dannobasso]

Spoiler 7 fretless 13.6
Spoiler wide 6 12.6  Who knew?

[keith_h]

My question is why do you want to know the weight of the bass? For me it would only become something to obsess over every time I feel a twinge in my shoulder. Personally I'd rather be oblivious to how much weight is hanging on me. :-)  
 
Keith

[kungfusheriff]

Ignorance may be bliss, but only until the adrenaline wears off.
My S2 sixer weighs 14 pounds, according to the store I bought it from. Playing it slung on a normal strap is torture. Something at least 4 wide and made of supple leather (hint: an Alembic/Moody strap)makes the experience tolerable.

[Bradley Young]

SII Six is 13.5 lbs (on the bathroom scale), and the case + bass is 36 or somesuch.
 
4 strap isn't optional.

[blackelan]

I found my Breaking point so to speak was around 10-10.5 pounds for guitars and I can tolerate about 11 pounds on a bass. In fact I was considering asking if Alembic could find the lightest pieces of wood for my custom Elan. I have seen great varietion in wood density among Mahogony for example. No two pieces of wood weigh the same.
 
ETA by Breaking point I mean that if its heavier than this I can maybe play comfortabley for an hour without getting sore anything under this weight I can play hours on end standing up.
 
(Message edited by BlackElan on March 23, 2009)
 
(Message edited by BlackElan on March 23, 2009)

[terryc]

Yep weight is the problem with my MK..14 pounds UK(1 stone).
Comfortstrapp to prevent vertebral overload but still causes aches after a long gig.
The Signsature series are all solid as opposed to the SI & SII's which have hollows plus they have more wood removed for the electronics etc.
Anyone who picks it up are surprised at the weight.
The case(which I call the coffin) adds more, mine is getting shabby and when it does I am getting one of those aluminium flight cases made for it as my MK is medium scale and the case is for a standard long scale..more weight!!!!

[funkyjazzjunky]

Do any of you with back pain exercise to strengthen your back and abdominal muscles?

[811952]

I injured my back badly while shooting video of a subsistence whale hunt North of Barrow some 20 years ago.  Rock climbing, lots of walking and playing in the woods (lots of hills) have really made a difference in the daily persistent level of pain for me.  Trying to maintain good posture is very important (and gets easier).  Managing your body weight makes a very tangible difference in what stresses your back must endure as well.  Just about any activity is going to help your back long-term.  It's important to start slow if you're a couch-potato or otherwise not very active already..
 
John

[white_cloud]

I had a bad back injury last summer followed by a nasty left shoulder injury last October - even with a very high pain threshold Alembics are now way way out of my comfort zone.
 
I have also had to completely stop using my Prometeus fretted live for the same reason
 
John.

[gtrguy]

Interestingly enough, your stomach muscles have a whole lot to do with keeping your back aligned, and the better tone they have, the less trouble you will have with your back.
 
How about a thread showing guitar and bass cases to see who's has the most stickers and mojo?
 
Bye,
Dave

[benson_murrensun]

I was in a car crash 23 years ago, got bad whiplash, and my back has not been the same since. I find that exercise most definitely helps manage the pain. I do push-ups and weight training with medium-weight dumbells. I really should do aerobic stuff, too, but I don't... Use of a wide bass strap helps alot, as well.

[keurosix]

I started a post like this one a while back. It didn't take off, but here's a link to it.
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/34438.html
 
Kris