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

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.  

wolf weighs in at 9, scarlet weighs 12. app

Spoiler 7 fretless 13.6
Spoiler wide 6 12.6  Who knew?

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

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.

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

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)

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!!!!

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

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

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.

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

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.

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