Best lightweight bass used $250-$500 range

[DavidEdenAria]

Its getting to the point where I must find a 6 to 8 pound bass.....too many back issues.

Needs to be fairly well balanced but I have several really wide straps that grip well and I am used to vintage Gibson SG 6 strings so I can cope with neck heavy instruments (to a point anyway!)

I prefer no more than 7 pounds ideally.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I feel like a broken record, made the same response on other similar threads:
My son and I recently sat in a GC and played nearly every bass under $500. Hands down, the best bass (IMHO) in that price range was the Ibanez SR500 4 string and the SR505 five string. Its a very light, well balancd bass, with versatile electronics, thin fast neck, really nice all around. If I was in the market, id buy one in a heartbeat. My son ended up buying a Jay Turser beatle bass cause thats the sound he wanted, also very light, but not as versatile.

 

[snyderz]

My Gamma Beta jazz weighs 7 on the dot. WAY under $500 used.

 

[wmhill]

I've played an MTD artist for 3 years now, and everyone that's held it comments on how light it is. It's advertised at "approx" 9lbs- but mines much lighter than that. It's a great sounding and well balanced bass. I have a history of back issues so I won't play anything close to heavy..... see if you can find one to try out- you should be able to find one in the top end of your price range (second hand).[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Moving Pictures]

I feel like a broken record, made the same response on other similar threads:
My son and I recently sat in a GC and played nearly every bass under $500. Hands down, the best bass (IMHO) in that price range was the Ibanez SR500 4 string and the SR505 five string. Its a very light, well balancd bass, with versatile electronics, thin fast neck, really nice all around. If I was in the market, id buy one in a heartbeat. My son ended up buying a Jay Turser beatle bass cause thats the sound he wanted, also very light, but not as versatile.

This. Other options are the Yamaha TRBX series, Epiphone RumbleKat, Gretsch Jet Junior, Peavey Millennium BXP or Cirrus BXP. There are a number of options out there but Gilmourisgod is pretty bang on with the SR50x basses.

 

[Haji]

I've got a Sterling SUB SB4 that scales right at 8 pounds. Really wide range of tones and a comfortable neck. I dig it a lot.

 

[1stnamebassist]

My Jack Casady weighs under 8 lbs. My fantastic Ubass and Goldtone Microbass are under 3 lbs. my granddaughters Dano Longhorn probably weighs about 5 lbs but is a short scale.

 

[bebass]

I just picked up a Peavey Millennium AC. I don't know what it weighs but seems light to me. I was so shocked at how well it played that I thought maybe I should just go check out everything else for comparison. I played every bass in the GC and NONE, to me, had the playability and feel of the Peavey by a wide order of margin. And they are inexpensive.

 

[blindrabbit]

A used Precision Lyte will fall in that weight range, certainly in the 7s and maybe even in the 6s. A little tough to find, but they are fantastic basses.

 

[wmhill]

A used Precision Lyte will fall in that weight range, certainly in the 7s and maybe even in the 6s. A little tough to find, but they are fantastic basses.

I'm not a fender guy BUT..... those are really nice. It's been a long time since I even thought about one of those. there must be some around.

 

[Sav'nBass]

For lightweight in that pricerange it is hard to go wrong with any Ibanez...

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I forgot about the Aerodyne Jazz and P-basses, really light, but only in your price range if you can find used. The Aerodyne Jazz is an outstanding instrument, but it will neck dive a bit, still better balanced than a stock Fender jazz.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I forgot about the Aerodyne Jazz and P-basses, really light, but only in your price range if you can find used. The Aerodyne Jazz is an outstanding instrument, but it will neck dive a bit, still better balanced than a stock Fender jazz.

With respect, that's a bit of a generalization. My Aerodyne can balance on three fingers at the neck joint. No neck dive there, but perhaps mine is a superlative example of an excellent model? (Am I biased, or what?)

However, unless there exists a remarkably light 'Dyne, even by it's standards, I doubt it would fall below Dave's "7lbs or less" criteria. Mine's quite light, but still weighs-in at 8.5lbs.

There's a new short-scale Fender Modern Player P/J Jazz coming soon. But for obvious reasons, there's no way to tell if it's "the best" since no one has it yet.

 

[Texas twelve]

I had a Fender jazz clone and started having back problems. I got a Hofner ignition, and the weight difference is incredible, plus I like the feel and tone of the other guitar.

 

[mpdd]

i've got an 84 squier jazz i got for 365 in joshua tree, after the installation of the new bridge and pickups it is every bit as sweet as my skyline and usa g&l

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Yeah, I haven't played anything lighter than a Hofner clone, but the sound and feel aren't for everyone.

Malak, I'll take your word for it on the Aerodynes, my nephew has one with no pickguard and no fretboard markers, gorgeous bass. I don't know if that's the American or Japanese version, he got it at GC (i pretty much made him buy it). I call it neck dive if the neck wants to tilt at all when you are sitting down, and his definitely does. It's nothing you'd notice standing up with a strap, and worlds better balanced than a standard Jazz bass. If you have the scratch, that's a really nice bass. There are a few on ebay right now listed for less than $500.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Malak, I'll take your word for it on the Aerodynes, my nephew has one with no pickguard and no fretboard markers, gorgeous bass. I don't know if that's the American or Japanese version, he got it at GC (i pretty much made him buy it). I call it neck dive if the neck wants to tilt at all when you are sitting down, and his definitely does. It's nothing you'd notice standing up with a strap, and worlds better balanced than a standard Jazz bass. If you have the scratch, that's a really nice bass. There are a few on ebay right now listed for less than $500.

"Listen up, kid! Yer gonna buy that there 'Dyne, and by God, yer gonna like it!"

Seriously though, I see what you mean by "dive". There's never really any way to tell if one or another will balance the exact same way.

Oh, for the record, all Aerodynes come from Japan. However, there is a difference between "export" and "non-export" models. The all-black, no-pickguard, Strat-jack bearing models are the "exports" and made for the American market. (see below) We in The States call the rest "non-exports".

My "export model" CIJ Aerodyne, mojo-esque finish chips and all…

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That is some sweet shizzle. I always thought they'd look cool with a bound fingerboard and block inlays like a 70's jazz, but this has a sleek appeal. My nephew plays mostly upright now, I've offered to buy it off him, nice uncle, huh?

 

[jonnybass1]

At that weight and price I would say Ibanez. SR500 or better.

 

[honeyiscool]

Sweetwater often has weights listed for their bass guitars. I see a couple of SR500s around 7 lb 2-3 oz, but individual examples can vary so much that if weight is a concern, you should either buy new from a retailer that has weights listed or buy it in person.

But really you should consider short scale instruments which can often be truly featherweight. Some aren't, but a Bronco Bass or Hofner are very light basses and if you have back problems, it might be that lessening your stretches might also be a good idea, too.