The only thing I'd change with MM bases is the

[Jim C]

weight.
My Stingray is approx 10.5 lbs
After reading weights on some of the sites, there are a few lightweights basses out there, but it seems like the average is 9.5 to 10.5 lbs, and some are way heavier still
The big wide padded strap makes it OK and the balance is very good

Why can't these bad boys be made with lighter wood?
Am thinking that the majority of the tone is the preamp; how about an 8.5 lb Ray, Bongo, Big Al as a standard instrument fellas?

 

[j.kernodle]

There are some light Stingrays out there. You seem to find more consistently light weights in the Sterlings though. My old 99 weighs 8.75 lbs. Whatcha think of Sterlings?

 

[todddlur]

mine is the lightest bass i have. the only thing i'd change about mine is the color. i bought it used for so cheap it didn't matter what color it was .

 

[keko]

No weight, no sound, tone, whatever...

 

[Moondog]

I have owned many Rays & I'm picky about weight too.

While I prefer a weight closer to 9lbs for comfort I do have to say that some of my heavier ones (>10lbs) sounded a bit better - of course there's a lot of variables that impact tone but I noticed some of my Clydesdales having more defined/articulate/punchier tone. They also balanced perfectly around 10 - 10.5lbs.

Although almost identical, I slightly prefer the sound of my 10.5lb Classic better than my 9.5lb Classic (but the boards are different too, so...??).

I had a 8.5 SLO Ray that sounded like a dud compared to my other Rays...

Preamp defines tone but body wood/density/neck/finish matters too (IMO)

 

[drTStingray]

No weight, no sound, tone, whatever...

I agree this to an extent

I have a very light SR4 HH (2007LE) - it feels featherweight to all the other Rays I've ever picked up - but it does have great tone, and reasonable sustain - it records really well also.

I have the heaviest SR5 I've ever come across - a guitar playing friend of mine picked it up the other day to have a look at it and couldn't believe how heavy it is - BUT it has monster tone and sustain - the body vibration is huge. It sounds great recorded as well but the LE is much more hi-fi sounding.

Thus my own take FWIW is lightweight = less tone and sustain but still pretty good (on a Ray at least), and definitely v comfortable. Heavyweight = monster tone and sustain and buy a wide comfy strap it's definitely worth it.

As an aside I have heard many people say their LE instruments are comparatively light - did the guys choose light planks deliberately to enhance the feel of the LE's - just a thought

 

[todddlur]

i'm going to weigh mine right now!! it came up at 8lb 9oz. and it is a really middy bass.

 

[jlepre]

I don't know about LE being lightweight...I had a 2007 Blue Dawn SR5 that weighed over 11 pounds.

I also had a Sterling 5 that was only 8.5 pounds.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

No weight, no sound, tone, whatever...

Not entirely accurate, I own a P8$ ash bass weighing in a 7.8lbs that resonates unplugged like a marimbas and plays with huge bottom when plugged. It depends on the quality of the timber

 

[oli@bass]

I'd also say that my heavier 'Rays are somewhat more thunderous and resonant. But there's the occasional lightweight one that sings and growls like there is no tomorrow.

 

[RobertB]

Probably the main thing I'd change, am DYING to change about them, is the number 'em that I own. Especially with today's diversity ... there are literally 5 basses I'd order today if I could, and that's without even getting ridiculous about it.

 

[ZiggyDude]

I actually like the weight to be over 10. I nice hefty bass feels like something solid.

My heavier wood basses do have more tone and sustain. The question is how much of that gets into the pickups and electronically sent. But unplugged I can tell the difference. Oddly - I was comparing that stuff just last night.

Be Rambo and sling that thunder machine gun over your shoulder - and let them have it.

 

[Chuck B]

10 lbs is just normal to me

 

[five7]

The balance of my bongo, kind of neck heavy.

 

[ivbenaplayin]

My 20th SR5 is pretty heavy too, so I bought a wider strap... and then I bought a bongo or 2...

 

[Psycho Ward]

I used to play bari sax, the weight of a bass guitar doesn't scare me.

 

[sitonmybass]

You seem to find more consistently light weights in the Sterlings though.

Of my four EBMM 5-strings, my Sterling 5 single H is by far, the heaviest.

 

[JayDawg]

The only thing I would change is having more of them. Even though I would never be able to use every one of them as much as I would like, right now there are at least a dozen different models and configurations that I would love to have.

 

[jlepre]

Give me a 20 lb bass.... I am a real man

I hope for YOUR sake, that you don't have an EBMM bass on order.

BP has a CRAZY sense of humor ya know....

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

The only thing I would change is having more of them. Even though I would never be able to use every one of them as much as I would like, right now there are at least a dozen different models and configurations that I would love to have.

JayDawg - you should have bought my DD II Bongo 4HHP!