Looking for a light weight bass

[jmceachern36]

Looking for suggestions for a lightweight bass. Currently play a Rickenbacker with flats. Also play a jazz with flats. Looking for old school sound. 4 strings. Wouldn't say no to smaller scale. Not looking to spend a ton of money currently. Those Rob Allen Mouse basses look great but I don't want to spend 2K plus right this moment. I play reggae primarily but also jazz, rock, and funk. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[screaminglucy]

p basses are usually pretty light (around 8lbs) but you have to pick one out that is light because some of them can be heavy or you could go with a hollowbody - my hofner club is 6lbs.

 

[Exploiter8]

Get a Steinberger or headless bass. Besides being light, it's case is the size of a guitar and much easier to transport to and from gigs.

X8

 

[tomas_almeida]

Either a headless bass or one with or made of graphite.

Ibanez usually has light basses (from what I can remember). P-Basses are usually light also.
Dingwall's basses are also very light, but they're not exactly cheap (but you do get for what you pay for!!).

 

[j5eugene]

Bolin NS

 

[Bass Collector]

A lot of the Fender "Squire" P basses are light

 

[cashhere]

Fender P bass Lyte, these are comfortable and light and sound good, I have had 2 through the years, always sorry when I sold one.

 

[capnsandwich]

Find yourself a used Tobias Renegade. I had one and it couldn't weigh much more than 7.5 lbs. It had an alder body and maple neck and FB.

 

[Thunder Pulse]

Without an actual figure in pounds or kilos I think this thread is doomed.

How much do your Ric and Jazz weigh and how much lighter do you want to go?

 

[kenfxj]

Peavey T-40

 

[Essthreetee]

But by light, what do you mean...how light is light to you???

Both of mine are light (to me)...Ibanez SR505 (8 lbs) and TBC (The Bass Company) AP500M (8.5 lbs)...

 

[jmceachern36]

Without an actual figure in pounds or kilos I think this thread is doomed.

How much do your Ric and Jazz weigh and how much lighter do you want to go?

Good point. My Ric weighs 9lbs and my jazz is actually light for a jazz, it's 8lbs. I was thinking less than 7lbs. My back has been bothering me during gigs and I play quite a lot. Always 3 hour gigs.

 

[leegreenman]

i love my allen woody epiphone. not sure of the weight, but it's very light. my back can't handle a p-bass anymore.

 

[Tommygunn]

A lot of the Fender "Squire" P basses are light

my squier dirnt (I swear) is like 4lbs

 

[Essthreetee]

I have one of Invalid Link Removed and it seems to help also...

 

[Tommygunn]

No... Check out "comfort strapp"

 

[Essthreetee]

No... Check out "comfort strapp"

I had one. I didn't like it. My shoulder and arm actually went numb when I used it.

 

[stratovani]

Hofner Icon. Very lightweight, with great tone, but get the flats made specifically for it - La Bella Beatle Bass Flats. I guarantee you won't be sorry!

 

[RedsFan75]

I have a Neotech Mega Bass Strap, kinda like a comfort strap.

My 96' P bass comes in at 8lbs, my Ibanez SR500 is in at 6.5 and even the DeArmond 5 string is only at 8.5lbs. My Fernandes Fretless is in at 7.

Light ones are out there, but you have to pay attention to balance as well, as someone with spine issues, let me tell you balance can make more of a difference than weight. I had one of the Yamaha RBX4-A2 'air' basses, and while the body was EXTREMELY light, it was neck heavy, and that put torque on my spine. Was painful to play it. I can play my Ibby for hours without too much trouble.

 

[jmceachern36]

Hofner Icon. Very lightweight, with great tone, but get the flats made specifically for it - La Bella Beatle Bass Flats. I guarantee you won't be sorry!

Are you able to play it fingerstyle? The strings seem very close. I was gonna actually check one out tomorrow.