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Lighter fender bass?

#21
MakoMan said:
Agree. I picked up a Fender MB-5 from the TB classifieds last week and it is stunningly light. In fact it weighs less than either of my short scale basses.
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The MB-5 is extremely night. It has a tiny body made from poplar with the dinkiest headstock ever. If you like the Jazz Bass sound, this is right up your alley, and I like the pan pot better than two vols.

Beware though, as much as I liked the bass, it suffered from deadspots due to all that tiny dinkiness.
 
#22
Verify the compatibilty/fit first, but I believe you could get a nice lightweight ash or korina body from Warmoth and transfer the parts over. It seems like most traditional/standard model Fender 5 string bodies tend to be on the heavier side.
 
#23
ggvicviper said:
The MB-5 is extremely night. It has a tiny body made from poplar with the dinkiest headstock ever. If you like the Jazz Bass sound, this is right up your alley, and I like the pan pot better than two vols.

Beware though, as much as I liked the bass, it suffered from deadspots due to all that tiny dinkiness.
Click to expand...

I read your original thread on your MB-5 and the issue with deadspots and it made me check mine over just out of curiousity. Not sure what caused the issues with yours, but mine plays perfectly.
My Squier Jag SS and the MB-5 weigh almost exactly the same at just under 8 lbs. The Jag is feels very light, but for some reason the MB-5 feels even lighter once strapped on. It feels like the body weighs nothing and all the weight is in the neck. Despite that, and the longer, wider neck, it has absolutely zero neck dive, whereas the Jag likes to level out a bit. Very comfortable to play and doesn't put any strain on my back at all.
 
#24
The Guild Pilot was/is an amazing U.S.-made PJ bass that's a joy to play and amazingly light. It was made in both poplar and maple, neither of which wood was particularly light but the body shape was such that it was balanced, crazy light, and with more frets than a Fender. I'm thinking about selling mine since it doesn't get much playing time, but I put EMG-Xs in it and I keep recriminating about losing it. It's a tone monster.
 
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#25
Genericusername:
+1
adding that new Ibanez SR1200/1205/1206E Premium couple Nordstrand BigSingles with exposed polepieces with mahogany body/ovangkol top, retaining lot of snap n'punch, even on passive modality, making them Warwick looking, but Jazz sounding... I had one: I let it go for an SR4500E Prestige because I need ultralowend provided (either active or passive) by US Custom Made Bartolini.

@JHH:
Come on man
I myself attended my call of duty an Italian Aeroforce Rifleman not a Pilot, I've experienced bootcamps, unexpected tryouts and modern "light" field artillery assault machineguns and NBC equipment...
We play the bass, not bozouki
Some said: "no pain, no gain"

Crewcontrol:
Right
The only "lighter" Fender is the Aerodyne thanx to slim shaped basswood body...
I once briefly owned a Frank Bello and was conceived out of the Aerodyne concept, except for alder body, Precision Classic satin maple neck (with Fender ultralite -plastic- machineheads to balancing the heavier Precision neck) and yeah heavier than the proper Aerodyne. But never sounded (and weighted) like my weapon of choice Fender Reggie Hamilton Ken Smith Design Proto Jazz and my undisputed heavyweight Champion of the World: the one and only Yamaha Attitude limited II!

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#26
I have a back problem so I understand(those who don't, won't until it happens to them) your problem. I have an Amer. Deluxe Jazz V that weighs 9lb.30z. and have not seen any 5's that are as light so I'm looking for an 8lb. 4 string myself and having a problem finding one. The only store website that publishes weights that I've found is Sweetwater.com in their Gallery.
 
#30
Buzter said:
Ok, I got a MIM 5 string fender j bass a while back but didn't get to use it much til last night...Waaaay heavy. Hurt my back. Is there another fender 5 string or even a squier that
is light weight? I got a squier p bass special that's light as a feather. Have no idea about woods just need something that one put me in a permanent back brace.
Click to expand...

Just a quick question.....

When you used it last night...was it at a gig or just a practice?
How long did you play for?
If it was a gig...was the backline provided?
 
#31
Haven't weighed it, but my 90's Squier Protone P5 is surely the lightest bass I've ever owned. I bought it for a "trunk bass", but it has become my "go to bass"! My back sure digs it! Pretty awesome bass for the money in every way. A little hard to come by though, unless you get lucky.
 
#32
Nevermind.....doesnt even look like you have signed in for awhile

Anyways...chances are that if it was a gig, the backline wasnt provided. Which means you moved in your own gear.

Chances are that you also would/should have helped your bandmates load and unload their gear as well.

My guess is that this is the time you did something to your back and not from the bass. I have LOTS of experience because i have a REAL bad back.....I have lots of heavy gear...and lots of heavy basses. As long as i always lifted properly and got help loading and unloading my back was fine.

To say it was the bass is what hurt your back is a FAR stretch in "most" scenarios

I dont hang around guitar forums....but do they complain about heavy guitars?
Arent Les Pauls around 10lbs? (theres only a billion people playing those)
 
#34
I see you're looking for a fiver, but I also have to throw in on the Fender Aerodyne (2007 CIJ Export model: 8.5lbs!). Can your music/playlist let you can get away with a four-banger with a Drop-D tuner? If so, Hipshot makes one specifically for Japanese Fenders.

If not, I might suggest the Squier Deluxe Active Jazz V. Like the Aerodyne, it's a basswood body, so it's not a weighty beast. Sure, it's still a fiver so it'll be heavier than most fours. But they seem pretty commonplace, or at least, I've seen more than a few here and there. See if you can get your hands on one to try out. And if it's up your alley, I've seen several used models available on Guitar Center's used gear list.
 
#35
Fender Aerodyne Jazz bass is light. Mine is up for sale. It weights 8.68lbs.


F210 and Fender Aerodyne Jazz - 1.JPG
 

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