Lighten the load…

[/\/\3phist0]

If you choose to replace the bass:
Okoume and Paulownia bodies can make for a sub 7 pound bass, hollow body semi hollow / chambered also.

many of the Sadowsky Metro Express at 7 ish lbs. and really decent basses. They have Okoume bodies. And pretty inexpensive.

short scale basses are often lighter.

 

[wintremute]

Maybe try a waist strap.

https://slingerstraps.com/products/leash-strap

 

[bdplaid]

I have a Fender Mod Shop P bass. It sounds great and plays great. But it’s about 8 ounces to a pound heavier than my old, surgically repaired back and neck can handle.
Are there any bona fide means of reducing the weight that are worth doing?

I did that and the weight reduction was negligible. Heavy wood is just heavy everywhere.

I recommend like the others, find a bass that's a better weight.

 

[Ggaa]

You could drill out holes under the pickguard. Hard to say how much it will save you though.

also, depending on the tuners it has in it currently, Hipshot ultralights will shave off 4-5 ounces from my experiences.

Gotoh Resolites too.

 

[BobKos]

Go to Warmoth's site and study up on 'chambered' bodies. This is what you need, but it is difficult (not impossible) to do to an already built bass. IMO barring the chambering treatment, your best bet is to simply buy a bass that meets your weight requirement. One back / neck complication can cost way more than my 7.7 lb Alien Audio Constellation costed!

 

[lomo]

This will dissolve the load. Game changer.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/a-bass-belt-can-save-your-shoulder.1098791/

 

[markjazzbassist]

Sell it and buy a German hofner. They weigh 5 pounds and are fully hollow.

/end thread

 

[bherman]

I'm in the camp that would avoid modding a bass like this. The only way that I believe you can make a huge dent in the weight is a light body. Not sure what the bass weighs now, but a chambered body made of lightweight wood from Warmoth will get you a much lighter bass. They used to have a bunch of bodies on their site that you could pick and choose from. but lately there are few. I imagine that if you called them they would guide you through the best choices. I imagine that a chambered basswood body would get you into the 8 lb range for a completed bass.

 

[DrBnz]

Lightweight (Gotoh) tuners and maybe a bridge. Tuners first, to see how it affects balance. Then select your bridge. Remove extra thumb rest and strap button. You don't really need 3 wraps on a tuner, one will do. I stop about there.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

I have a Fender Mod Shop P bass. It sounds great and plays great. But it’s about 8 ounces to a pound heavier than my old, surgically repaired back and neck can handle.
Are there any bona fide means of reducing the weight that are worth doing?

Personally - No - I wouldn't bother.
Don't know the details of the mod-shop, but I think it's an uphill battle - against time as well.
I find a lighter-weight alternative, and recover as much as you can from the mod-shop.
A "swiss-cheese" bass is going to be a hard sell down the road.

Okoume and Paulownia bodies

I put together my 1st parts bass with a JVG/Joe's vintage Paulownia body 2 years ago. It turned out fantastic.

 

[Mastermold]

I have a Fender Mod Shop P bass. It sounds great and plays great. But it’s about 8 ounces to a pound heavier than my old, surgically repaired back and neck can handle.
Are there any bona fide means of reducing the weight that are worth doing?

If I were you, I'd keep your Fender as-is (or sell it) and get another bass for when you play standing up. There are Hofners, Danelectros, even Squiers if you want a Fender-style bass, that are much lighter.

 

[George Himmel]

good luck shaving off some ounces, or maybe even pounds!

(to actually reduce weight) as others have suggested:
- lightweight tuning machines (i've used hipshot ultralites or gotoh res-o-lites, even gotoh carbon-o-lites).
- lightweight bridge (i favor hipshot: aluminum).
- lightweight knobs (trade in those brass knobs for some resin knobs, or aluminum, or plastic).
- aluminum neckplate.

this 6 lb. P-bass also has the benefit of a lightweight paulownia body: View attachment 5491975 it has a heavy bridge (schaller) but it balances, so i'm leaving well enough alone.

Very thorough! Removing frets seems like a bit of an extreme weight reduction measure to me though

 

[LiptonJigglers]

Try an Ibanez bass.

 

[JRA]

...Removing frets seems like a bit of an extreme weight reduction measure to me though

every little bit helps!

 

[Watchootognbout]

Stand Up Guitar Holder Performance Stands for Acoustic & Electric Guitars

 

[chris_b]

I have a Fender Mod Shop P bass. It sounds great and plays great. But it’s about 8 ounces to a pound heavier than my old, surgically repaired back and neck can handle. . . . . Are there any bona fide means of reducing the weight that are worth doing?

In my experience bad backs never get better so cut to the chase and start checking out 6lb or 7lb basses.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

 

[Gervais Cote]

View attachment 5493200

WHAT !!!!! A p bass without the headstock ?????!!!!!

My dream comes true !

Okay, so if I may ask : is it a custom bass or is it available as is on the market ? And if yes, what brand and model is it ?

You really got my attention here.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

WHAT !!!!! A p bass without the headstock ?????!!!!!

My dream comes true !

Okay, so if I may ask : is it a custom bass or is it available as is on the market ? And if yes, what brand and model is it ?

You really got my attention here.

Cort made them in Korea in the mid to late 80's. Pretty rare

There is a conversion thread here
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/nova-guitar-parts-headless-p-bass-conversion.1531440/
Whether the final result is less weight I dunno.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Cort made them in Korea in the mid to late 80's. Pretty rareView attachment 5493207

Thanks a lot for the info, I’ll probably try to build one myself……………..