Is 4 lbs and 12 ounces too light?

[theleveebreaks]

I'm looking at a P Bass body and was wanting to know if 4 lbs and 12 ounces would be a good body weight for a P. This is my first time building (well, putting together a bass with a luthier) and am not sure what all adds the most to a basses weight. My jazz weighs in at around 9 pounds all in all so I'm used to that sort of weight.

[Greenman]

Check Warmoth Showcase, they list all the weights of their bodies. The weights you have mentioned are close to average. I think everyone will agree 9 lbs. for a finished bass is light.

[tjclem]

Go for some light weight tuners.

[bwbass]

We compile average weight data from bodies that have been in the showcase over the years. Here is what I have on P-Bass style bodies at present:

Swamp Ash 4 lbs, 9 oz
Alder 4 lbs, 12 oz
Black Korina 5 lbs, 3 oz
Walnut 5 lbs, 6 oz

These are for unfinished bodies, by the way. Paint adds around 4 ounces.

Hope this helps!

[vintager]

personally i prefer fender-style bodies that weight min. cca 5 lbs since i'm really sensitive about neck-dive and like solid built necks with vintage tuners. i'm afraid that for example combination with Warmoth P neck (well done but not lightest) wouldn't be too harmonical.. but i can be wrong ofcourse. and 80% of time i play in studio so in sitting position the possible neck-dive is more remarkable.

all the best,

mike

[moro]

Originally Posted by bwbass

We compile average weight data from bodies that have been in the showcase over the years. Here is what I have on P-Bass style bodies at present:

Swamp Ash 4 lbs, 9 oz
Alder 4 lbs, 12 oz
Black Korina 5 lbs, 3 oz
Walnut 5 lbs, 6 oz

That's very cool. Do you have the numbers for Jazz bodies? Will 5 string bodies be heavier or are they the same size? Thanks!

[bwbass]

At the risk of derailing this thread, I'll just add the following:

Standard JBass Style:
Swamp Ash 4 lbs, 10 oz
Alder 4 lbs, 12 oz
Mahogany 5 lbs, 3 oz
Black Korina 5 lbs, 4 oz
White Korina 5 lbs, 5 oz
Koa 5 lbs, 5 oz
Hard Ash 5 lbs, 11 oz
Walnut 5 lbs, 14 oz

Deluxe 5 JBass Style:
Alder 4 lbs, 3 oz
Swamp Ash 4 lbs, 5 oz
Black Korina 4 lbs, 8 oz
Mahogany 4 lbs, 10 oz

Alder and ash being flipped in the D5 table is a statistical anomaly, as swamp ash is usually lighter. All the woods listed are from a sample size of 5 or greater. Your mileage may vary. Offer not valid in Idaho.

[moro]

Thanks for the info! That's interesting stuff.

Sorry if it seemed like I was trying to hijack the thread--I thought it was a relevant question. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

[theleveebreaks]

Oh no! It wasn't a hi jack at all, I'm just interested in building a fender style bass and the P was a cool showcase piece on warmoth, I'm way interested in building a jazz too, so the info was a great help. I'm pretty excited for the build, I've got a good idea of what I want to do.

[moro]

Originally Posted by theleveebreaks

Oh no! It wasn't a hi jack at all, I'm just interested in building a fender style bass and the P was a cool showcase piece on warmoth, I'm way interested in building a jazz too, so the info was a great help. I'm pretty excited for the build, I've got a good idea of what I want to do.

Cool. Let us know what you decide to go with.