Lighter alternative to Fender P's with the same tone. Is it out there?

[bass81800]

Fender P-Bass Lyte and P-Bass Lyte Deluxe. Fender does not make them anymore, but there are several on Reverb right now. I have the Ibanez SR650e at less than 7 pounds now. An extremely versatile instrument sound wise and easy to play. Be sure to check music stores that list the weight of of many of their basses, such as Sweetwater and Melody Music Shop (a mostly hidden gem of a store).

 

[iiipopes]

Ibanez has some light weight P or P/J variants that are light weight.

 

[JakobT]

I LOVE the tone(s) of my 3 Fender P basses. After two lumbar spine surgeries in 2019 and having my chest cracked for triple bypass this past July I'm really wanting to find that tone in a lighter bass. I tried a couple of lower end Ibanez's. The weight was fine but the tone wasn't there. Marcus Millers, Harley Bentons both sound good but as heavy or more so. Any suggestions? I'm wondering about Spector Legend mid price and the Ibanez SR1600/2400 basses..

You might look into the Orange «O» bass, which is fairly light at 7.5 lbs.

O Bass – Orange Amps

 

[zubrycky]

Well, Danelectros can sound like a pbass and they're very lightweight.

 

[gtlover]

Fender P-Bass Lyte and P-Bass Lyte Deluxe. Fender does not make them anymore, but there are several on Reverb right now. Be sure to check music stores that list the weight of of many of their basses, such as Sweetwater and Melody Music Shop (a mostly hidden gem of a store).

Ditto on the Lyte Deluxe, mine is less than 6 lbs. The Fender MIM Zone is another option, basically a P-Bass Lyte with a poplar body.

Maybe a Steinberger copy with P/J pickups; doesn't get much lighter than those.

You can also get undersized bodies in lightweight woods from Warmoth and USAGC, and get them chambered for even less weight.

 

[ClusterFlux]

There's plenty of options. E.g. Ibanez SR650 series is around 7.5 pounds, PJ, Norstrand pickups. Spector has a few in that weight range. Some Squiers are under 8 pounds.

You could also go nuts and get a Squier Precision Mini (short scale). Mine is 5.5 pounds, less than $200. You'd have to put some work into it, though.

 

[EmuBass]

 

[Killing Floor]

Said a few times already above. Get the pickup you like, if it's a Custom Shop P or whatever floats your boat. Stick it in a parts bass. Basically the dirty truth is any P that's not a real Fender P is a lighter P.
If you don't want to part build or pay for premium look at semi-hollows. Or Lakland. Or literally any brand.
Not knocking Fender at all. I am a proud owner. But low weight isn't one of their design criteria.

 

[GretschWretch]

Get a Glarry or some of its early kin like a Crescent. Weighs in (usually) at under seven pounds and sounds like a P, and can be had for under $125. Lots of room for upgrades if desired, and still cheaper than more prestigious brands.

 

[CatchaCuda]

Glarry, if only for the body. I believe @EatS1stBassist has been using bodies like these...check out the weight. Unfinished Electric Guitar Body Maple Barrel Body for P-B Style Bass Guitars DIY | eBay

Otherwise an Empress body from a more expensive retailer.

 

[blastoff]

ive always wanted to try a Landing bass. i don’t know if he’s still in business

 

[Michael Jewels]

Would you consider an Epiphone Jack Casady bass?

I don't know the exact weight, but mine feels pretty light when I pick it up.

The tone is in the P-bass neighborhood, but less percussive.

The biggest downside would be its size; not the most comfortable bass to play, but not that bad.

I am used to playing mine.

Good luck in your search.

Mike

 

[micguy]

Warmoth build - picked a very light body, roasted maple neck (with graphite rods), Hipshot aluminum hardware (even the knobs are aluminum). It balances great on a strap - you can jump up and down without holding onto the neck, and it won't budge.

6.6 pounds

 

[Bassamatic]

#1 to the Peavey Fury if you can find one. Great J neck and sound.
Also - again if you can go short scale - my Mustang P/J with flats sounds 95% like my USA P and is really well made and comfortable to play.

 

[Nedmundo]

ive always wanted to try a Landing bass. i don’t know if he’s still in business

He is, but his company web site seems to have disappeared. He's on Facebook and LinkdIn. (Jimmy Wilson, that is, who runs Landing.) They are really cool basses. A few years ago, I tried one with a Telecaster body, and it was awesome.

For a lightweight 34" scale P, I'll add to the chorus saying an empress-bodied G&L LB-100 is the way to go, unless you go with a parts bass or a custom. Not only is empress (paulownia) light, but it's very resonant. I have an empress JB-5 bass and Comanche guitar, and wouldn't hesitate to order empress on any further G&L(s) I get.

Also, some older American Deluxe Precisions (active electronics) were very light. I had a 1999 in ash with a natural finish, which was about 7.5 pounds. That generation had downsized bodies, which reduced the weight. I forget when that generation ended, but I think it was around 2007. Remove the preamp to get much better tone (IMO) and save even more weight.

If you're willing to go short scale, there's the Fender Mustang, but I'd lean more toward the Reverend Sentinel, which also has a P-bass style pickup. Those have korina bodies, and my understanding is that they're generally very light. It won't sound exactly like a traditional P-bass of course, but with that pickup it should be close:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[mikecd1]

#1 to the Peavey Fury if you can find one. Great J neck and sound.
Also - again if you can go short scale - my Mustang P/J with flats sounds 95% like my USA P and is really well made and comfortable to play.

Totally agree and Furys are out there. My Peavey Fury was a win-win in every way - great Pbass tone, thin 1.5 Jazz neck, $200, and it only weighs 7.5 lbs. Its a poplar body, but it sounds great and my back loves it!

 

[gtlover]

Also, some older American Deluxe Precisions (active electronics) were very light. I had a 1999 in ash with a natural finish, which was about 7.5 pounds. That generation had downsized bodies, which reduced the weight. I forget when that generation ended, but I think it was around 2007. Remove the preamp to get much better tone (IMO) and save even more weight.

The MIM version, AKA "Cowpoke", has a poplar body. Mine is a bit heavier at 8 lbs but still not bad.

 

[Funk With Me]

Check out the ESP LTD AP-4 (or 5 if you like). I would post a link or pic but I’m on the phone here. I’ve been gassing for the 5er in Pelham blue.

 

[darwin-bass]

Warmoth build - 6.66 lbs.
Warmoth low-cost light-weight 32" scale P bass build - Done!

Post 33 has the summary details.

I eventually made some updates. Weight went up a bit then back down while balance improved.
NND: Warmoth 32” Scale Wenge Neck Swap

BE CAREFUL. If you reduce body weight while not addressing (the oppressively large) headstock weight you'll quickly create a neck dive monster. My G&L LB-100 empress was light (7.5 lbs or so) but was on the verge of neck dive until I put Hipshot tuners on it.

Sound wise my 32" scale Warmoth > G&L LB100 > Fender P.

 

[winston]

Will also 2nd G&Ls.
My alder-bodied mid-90's SB-1 is a shade over 8-1/2#, perfectly balanced, no neck dive.
IMO one of the very best Ps Leo Fender ever made.