x2
Most people on here will find that out after 15-20+ years lifting.
Some, however, have the right physiology for these exercises and seem to be able to do them for years.
Me personally, I used to love squats and DLs and did them for years heavy. Also bent barbell rows. My lower back is so screwed up now that leg presses seem painful in that area.
I think there are plenty of other back movements that pack on mass.. and many of them using a lighter weight with a higher rep scheme. Seated cable rows done with a weight getting about 12 reps works great if you perform them correctly with a good squeeze at the end.
i dont lift to "pack on mass" -anymore-. I lift to feel and look good, mostly to the direct benefit of my girl and for my job, not to "get bigger". You can get respect being fit without being "big". I lift weights to maintain a certain level of muscularity, but not to "increase" it. As a natural, reach your plateau after two or three years training correctly, then maintain it, but that's about all you can do realistically speaking.
I basically think that if you re born an ectomorph, it's pointless to want to "pack on mass". You ve been designed for something else, period. It's the skinny kids who want to "pack on mass" who use retarded, harmful execises and go the steroid route imitating the bullshiters they see in the ads and mags. Just because they cant deal with who they are, cause they want to "get bigger" to feel less insecure. Had they had a decend father figure, they would have developed more useful for both themselves and others skills and goals to insure their survival in this world.