Body Weight

Ampig · #1 06-11-2009, 04:58 AM

I'm working on a "lightweight" bass project.
When purchasing a body sans hardware, what would be considered light?
What can I reasonably expect to find?
Are there any particular brands/manufacturers that are more likely to have light bodies available?

pilotjones · #2 06-11-2009, 05:50 AM

Go to warmoth.com, showcase. You'll see J bodies of different woods, and their weights, and be able to get an idea of the ranges.

Bassorama57 · #3 06-11-2009, 05:55 AM

Basswood. Very light.

Bassmickeyd · #4 06-11-2009, 06:12 AM

Basswood- Very light, very bland
Ash- Very light, and a much better tone wood, also more $$$

Ampig · #5 06-11-2009, 06:22 AM

The ype of wood isn't the question. The weight of ash can vary tremendously. Alder, to my recollection, tends to be lighter.
My question is - if you were shopping for a Fender style bass body, what would you consider light?

mongo2 · #6 06-11-2009, 07:01 AM

I consider about 3 lbs to be just about right for me for a Fender style 4 string with a vintage style neck and I use Gotoh Res-O-Lite 350 tuners so the neck isn't overbalanced. The Gotoh Res-O-Lites are even lighter than Hipshot Ultralights.

Though bodies in that weight range are very difficult to find, I've used a couple made of Paulownia from Guitar Mill. They only guarantee their Paulownia bodies to as low as 3.5 lbs but I got lucky and mine weighed in at exactly 3lbs. and 3lbs. 3oz.

Ampig · #7 06-11-2009, 07:08 AM

Thanks. That's what I'm looking for.

rumblethump · #8 06-12-2009, 02:17 PM

I just scored a Squire? basswood body that weighs 3lb. Finished it weighs exactly 7lbs

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...73#post7527673

I think it may have been a 2nd, nothing lined up. Under the pickguard and bridge it looks like swiss cheese. I had to slot the neck holes in the body to get the neck to fit tight in the pocket.

I guess what I'm trying to say is not all P bass bodies are the same.

BTW swamp ash is my favorite tone wood. Alder can be light too.

Bassmickeyd · #9 06-12-2009, 02:49 PM

Basswood usually comes in around 3lbs, a little to light for me. Swamp Ash should sit around 4/5 lbs. So, the finished bass should be about 8/9 lbs. Very nice weight.

PasdaBeer · #10 06-12-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmickeyd

Basswood- Very light, very bland
Ash- Very light, and a much better tone wood, also more $$$

Id put basswood, or poplar for that matter, up against any ash/alder bass out there.

hell my main bass for 7 years now is a basswood bass, puchy tone out the wazoo.

HogieWan · #11 06-12-2009, 03:18 PM

ash can be much lighter than alder, but can also be much heavier. Ash tends to vary more in density than most other woods, but it look fantastic IMO. Warmoth makes a chambered body that cuts down on the weight and some say it sounds better than the solid body. All Sadowskys are chambered after having to do it to some heavy ash for weight, customers claimed the chambered basses sounded better

bwoodman · #12 06-18-2009, 09:18 PM

I'm hoping one of you experts on body weight can clarify something. I'm considering another body from Warmoth - this time from the showcase because I'll know the weight from the start. Long story short - I have a Warmoth J Bass (swamp ash) that weighs 10 # complete. I just took off the neck and it weighs 2.5# with tuners of course, so the loaded body is 7.5# - is it safe to assume that the bridge, 2 pups, and controls (Passive) weigh around 1#? If that is close to correct, than this damn body weighs 6.5#! And I thought I'd get a reasonably light bass by choosing swamp ash - not. I found a few bodies online that are 4.5# which puts the completed bass around 8# which is my goal. Sound good?

Mr. Majestic · #13 06-18-2009, 10:02 PM

You are looking for your body wood to come in around 2.25 to 2.5 lbs per board foot to yield a bass that will be about 8lbs. for a four string.

bwoodman · #14 06-18-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Majestic

You are looking for your body wood to come in around 2.25 to 2.5 lbs per board foot to yield a bass that will be about 8lbs. for a four string.

Can you translate that?
8 lb. finished bass
- neck
- parts
= ____# raw body

Thanks!

Mr. Majestic · #15 06-19-2009, 03:41 AM

On a raw blank, multiply the width x length x thickness and divide that number by 144. That will give you the board feet of the blank. If you know the weight of the blank, you can divide the weight by the board feet and get the weight per board foot. This will give you a baseline measurement to judge all your wood by, so you can compare different sizes and weights. I can't give you the exact weight of a body, because there are too many factors involved, but I do know that on a standard jazz body with standard features, that 2.25 to 2.5 pounds per board foot on the uncut body blank will yield a bass around 7.5 to 8.25 pounds.