Help with making my bass light

[James Collins]

I wanted to get help making my bass lighter. I'm at 3.2 lbs, but wanted to see if I could shave off 4 more ounces to get it below 3 lbs.

I started with an old '76 Fender Jazz I almost never play and swapped out the tuners and bridge for ultra light, but it was still too heavy. So I took off the pickguard and did a big route...basically everything that the pickguard and bridge could cover. I also sanded all the finish off and made a belly cut. I left a thin piece on the back, almost like a thick acoustic. It still seemed heavy so I took the pickguard to a plane sander and got it paper thin. I restrung it with the lightest gauge strings I could find.

It had some neck dive so I sanded the neck and filed down the frets until it felt balanced. Now I'm at 3.2 lbs.

I was thinking of removing some of the extra wire since there is some slack. I don't think that will get me under 3 lbs, though. I really would like to keep both pickups, and don't know if anyone can suggest something lighter than the stock pickups, or if anyone thinks I could get there by removing some of the winds from the coil to get there. I would like to keep the headstock so people know it is a Fender, but that is the only other place I can think to remove weight.

 

[scuzzy]

pics or shens.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

Gravity is your problem here. I understand it's less on the moon, but greater on Uranus.

 

[mbelue]

Alumitone Jazz.

Supposed to be lightweight aluminum alternatives.
Haven't used them myself.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

Heat treatments can help reduce weight in the wood. I would suggest setting your bass on fire.

 

[craigie]

These are all good suggestions but I suggest something a little more unconventional:
Turn it into a 1 string or 2 string. That way you can lose half or 3/4 of the: neck width, body width, pickup width, bridge width.

Also, have you considered ordering a replacement body and just using the cardboard box it came in instead?

 

[James Collins]

These are all good suggestions but I suggest something a little more unconventional:
Turn it into a 1 string or 2 string. That way you can lose half or 3/4 of the: neck width, body width, pickup width, bridge width.

Also, have you considered ordering a replacement body and just using the cardboard box it came in instead?

2 string might work. I could do an E and G string and play everything I normally would. Plus then I could remove half the pickups and half the tuners. I kind of wish I hadn't routed under the bridge because I bet there are two string bridges. Three questions though:

1) Do they make a scratch guard the covers the bridge pickup for narrow pickups?...I don't want to have a big ugly hole that doesn't match the 2 pole pickup. I'm guessing this will need to be custom.
2) Could I split a single P bass pickup into two pickups or do they make a 2 pole jazz bass pickup already?
3) For the neck, would you taper it in and keep the headstock or just come straight down and T it at the pocket?

So far I think this is the best idea. I can probably lose a pound or more this way.

Edit: the cardboard box thing is hilarious btw.

 

[craigie]

I can’t wait for the build thread

 

[James Collins]

I can’t wait for the build thread

I'm going to make a YouTube series out of it! Stay tuned cause I will post the link when done.

Also, I found this thread that was helpful and I have an extra P bass pickup. Now just to see if I can get a custom pickguard, but I have an idea of a local place. Or maybe I will use some cardboard...ROFL.

 

[craigie]

I always wondered how anybody could play those steinberger Basses like Geddy played in the early 80’s. You’d think they’d just bounce around.

 

[bassstrangler]

Nail one string into your foot, pull hard on the other end with your left hand and pluck it with your right hand fingers.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Fill all holes and cavities with Helium. That should help.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Actually, if you get rid of the strings, the tuners, the bridge, the electronics, the pickups, the pick guard, the hardware, the neck and the body, you should get it down to around 0 pounds.

 

[Swerve]

Do u even lift bro? My boy Vinnie spent 6 months pumping iron in the slammer and when he got out he said his T-40 felt like a Ukulele.

 

[mojomike001]

Inside the routed-out body, insert small helium balloons. Also attach helium balloons to the headstock in order to combat neckdive. You might wind up with a bass that’s lighter than air.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Sometimes I don't know what to believe in TB threads Pics or it didn't happen

 

[CentralCoastBass]

Not quite sure what the goal is here....are you trying to make the bass more comfortable while sitting or on a strap?

 

[leonard]

Looking forward to seeing pics of a butchered '76 Fender Jazz. Or maybe not.

 

[PanRap]

Another suggestion is to use a wider strap. that way you are going to feel it a lot lighter and support it better.
i really think most of the problem comes from bad anatomic of the strap and the way you hold it.
try something different, even discuss it with an orthopedic and design a support system that will treat better your back.

 

[Wisebass]

wanted to see if I could shave off 4 more ounces to get it below 3 lbs.

What you need is a pro!

Wise(b)ass