I love my Aerodyne for many, many reasons I've already raved about all over TalkBass. Mine weighs in at 8.5lbs, notably lighter than most Jazz basses.
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Lightest bass for a small girl?
- Thread starter Born Villain
- Start date
I love my Aerodyne for many, many reasons I've already raved about all over TalkBass. Mine weighs in at 8.5lbs, notably lighter than most Jazz basses.
My niece is a petite girl, I gave her an older Jackson bass that wasn't too heavy. They do seem to vary though. When she was visiting here last month she tried all of my basses out and she found my Schecter C-4 XXX to be the most comfortable . A couple of young ladies that I know ("FurryMonkey" who is on TB for instance) play them and find them comfortable as well. I've never weighed it, but it is by far my lightest bass.
By the way, my 15 year old niece tried my Telecaster bass out. (Which is by far my heaviest bass...) Words came out of her mouth that I hadn't heard a 15 year old girl say since I was a 15 year old boy. lol
Oh, one last bass I just thought of. If you like the look and sound of a precision (but not the weight) an older Peavey American made Fury would be a great choice. They have a jazz like neck, are far lighter than Fenders and sound pretty good. They also are readily available cheap.
Good luck!
By the way, my 15 year old niece tried my Telecaster bass out. (Which is by far my heaviest bass...) Words came out of her mouth that I hadn't heard a 15 year old girl say since I was a 15 year old boy. lol
Oh, one last bass I just thought of. If you like the look and sound of a precision (but not the weight) an older Peavey American made Fury would be a great choice. They have a jazz like neck, are far lighter than Fenders and sound pretty good. They also are readily available cheap.
Good luck!
I looked at it in images and i can't stop laughing
(thats totally me except a foot higher)
Totally you? You wear footie pajamas?
Yeah so I'm actually really small and I don't have a lot of strength. I'm in a band now and we want to play gigs, but my bass is way too heavy. It's an Ibanez 5 string (I dont want a 5 string), and I'll probably end up selling it. I only have 100$ right now but I could save up for one, I'm using the drummers Fender right now. So, what's the lightest bass I can get? I spent 1200$ on my Schecter guitar so hopefully the bass will be a LOT less, but at this point it doesn't matter. Thanks.
The Squier Precision Mike Dirnt model is very light, very cheap used, and with a lovely thin neck.
That would be my choice.
I thought it would be a not very good instrument, but it amazed me after I set it up well.
II am a rather big guy, but even so, I really appreciate both light weight, slim neck profile (my fingers are not the long piano player variety) and short scale.
I haven't got many suggestions, but I would recommend 30" and 32" scale basses. The reason is that you actually get a selection of string sets for these. To get those deep tones on a short scale, you need a pretty thick E-string (assuming standard EADG tuning here). With a thick string, you need it to taper correctly in the end to go in the tuner.
Good luck!
Edit: Could this be an option?
Link Removed
It says nothing about weight, but comparison with other Rondo basses suggest that it is less than 8 punds.
I think it looks cool.
Edit2: What about a Cort? I have a Cort as my primary bass, and love it. Cort factories also make basses for other brands (Ibanez and Fender included), and Cort gives (IMHO) a lot of bang for the buck.
This is the one I have in mind, a Cort Action Junior:
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That body design has a great balance to it, too (I am sceptical to those Beatle-basses in that respect).
I have found users reporting a weight of less than 7 pounds.
I haven't got many suggestions, but I would recommend 30" and 32" scale basses. The reason is that you actually get a selection of string sets for these. To get those deep tones on a short scale, you need a pretty thick E-string (assuming standard EADG tuning here). With a thick string, you need it to taper correctly in the end to go in the tuner.
Good luck!
Edit: Could this be an option?
Link Removed
It says nothing about weight, but comparison with other Rondo basses suggest that it is less than 8 punds.
I think it looks cool.
Edit2: What about a Cort? I have a Cort as my primary bass, and love it. Cort factories also make basses for other brands (Ibanez and Fender included), and Cort gives (IMHO) a lot of bang for the buck.
This is the one I have in mind, a Cort Action Junior:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
That body design has a great balance to it, too (I am sceptical to those Beatle-basses in that respect).
I have found users reporting a weight of less than 7 pounds.
A lot of good suggestions already, so I won't go and repeat them, especially since I don't have personal experience with most of these instruments.
Just a crazy thought in a different direction - what about getting an electric upright? Could you do the style of music you're playing with one? Then you don't have to worry about the weight at all (except for schlepping it to the gig, of course).
Just a crazy thought in a different direction - what about getting an electric upright? Could you do the style of music you're playing with one? Then you don't have to worry about the weight at all (except for schlepping it to the gig, of course).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOklECilhNs
Upright bass can be used for Everything.
As for electric basses. You really cannot go wrong with a Mikro. Awesome light basses that sound sweet.
Maybe you should start doing some muscle exercises as well? Helps with being able to support basses.
Upright bass can be used for Everything.
As for electric basses. You really cannot go wrong with a Mikro. Awesome light basses that sound sweet.
Maybe you should start doing some muscle exercises as well? Helps with being able to support basses.
The Aerodyne weighs about 8 1/2 pounds and is a nice player. I did a setup on one for a coworker and I thought it was really comfortable. If you are OK with the size and full 34" scale, I think it's a very good choice.
You can get lighter with short-scale basses. My Mustang weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and sounds a lot like a Precision.
The Hofner Shorty is about $200, 30" scale and weighs about 4 pounds. It's tiny and light, but the neck is as chunky as an old Precision. Very good sound, though. I put flatwound Chromes on one and it set up well for such an inexpensive bass.
Just weighed my lightest bass, a Peavey BXP Millennium. It is about 3.7 kg (about 8.1 pounds) including strap.
It feels really light compared to my other basses. They aren't even close.
I do not recommend that Peavey here, though. It needs a lot of setup and tweaking to sound and feel good to play, and the 34" scale is not for small people (even I have to stretch my fingers when playing scales starting on the 1st fret, and I am 185cm tall).
What I'm trying to say is that anything lighter than 8 pounds is really light weight. I realize that weight is the main selection criteria, but do not let it be the only criteria. There are other ergonomic, playability and sound criteria to consider as well.
It feels really light compared to my other basses. They aren't even close.
I do not recommend that Peavey here, though. It needs a lot of setup and tweaking to sound and feel good to play, and the 34" scale is not for small people (even I have to stretch my fingers when playing scales starting on the 1st fret, and I am 185cm tall).
What I'm trying to say is that anything lighter than 8 pounds is really light weight. I realize that weight is the main selection criteria, but do not let it be the only criteria. There are other ergonomic, playability and sound criteria to consider as well.
CAREFUL CAREFUL WARNING TAKE HEED
TB has a habit of giving incomplete (often wrong?) advice based on limited input. Don't get me wrong, there are many smart folks here who really DO know what they're talking about but we can only give advice based on what You tell us; and so far we have only part of the story.
What type of music do you play?
Can you sit down or must you stand while playing?
Is neck-dive an issue or is the issue truly the total weight?
Is the sound important?
What about an EUB or acoustic bass guitar?
Is the issue one only at home, at band practice, at gigs or all the above?
Have you considered PT or exercises to strengthen yourself?
Is your guitar's weight acceptable or does it give you issues as well?
Short scale, hollow body, lightweight - all these things combine to change the sound of the instrument. Also, as you take weight out of the body, you amplify the issue of neck dive. You'll be constantly lifting with your left hand trying to keep the bass in a playable position.
Another issue (often overlooked) is the way the body shape affects the reach to the neck. A body with an upper horn that ends at the 12th fret (standard Fender) shifts the neck to the player's right making it easier to reach the lowest frets. A body with an upper horn that ends, say at the 16th fret (G&L ASAT) will shift the neck to the players left, increasing the reach to the low notes further.
- Keith -
TB has a habit of giving incomplete (often wrong?) advice based on limited input. Don't get me wrong, there are many smart folks here who really DO know what they're talking about but we can only give advice based on what You tell us; and so far we have only part of the story.
What type of music do you play?
Can you sit down or must you stand while playing?
Is neck-dive an issue or is the issue truly the total weight?
Is the sound important?
What about an EUB or acoustic bass guitar?
Is the issue one only at home, at band practice, at gigs or all the above?
Have you considered PT or exercises to strengthen yourself?
Is your guitar's weight acceptable or does it give you issues as well?
Short scale, hollow body, lightweight - all these things combine to change the sound of the instrument. Also, as you take weight out of the body, you amplify the issue of neck dive. You'll be constantly lifting with your left hand trying to keep the bass in a playable position.
Another issue (often overlooked) is the way the body shape affects the reach to the neck. A body with an upper horn that ends at the 12th fret (standard Fender) shifts the neck to the player's right making it easier to reach the lowest frets. A body with an upper horn that ends, say at the 16th fret (G&L ASAT) will shift the neck to the players left, increasing the reach to the low notes further.
- Keith -
Very true, Keith. The ergonomics of body shape and weight distribution is often forgotten.
But short vs long scale is not only about reach. It is also about the length between the frets. Even if I am a big guy, I haven't got long, flexible fingers, and playing scales over 1st to 4th fret is a stretch on a 34" scale, even for me.
But short vs long scale is not only about reach. It is also about the length between the frets. Even if I am a big guy, I haven't got long, flexible fingers, and playing scales over 1st to 4th fret is a stretch on a 34" scale, even for me.
Yes, quite true. One of my favorite basses (the one that got away?) was my Kubicki X-factor. One reason for my love for it was the 32" scale really did make it easier to play in the lower registers since you didn't have to stretch your hand so much.
- Keith -
Out of curiousity, what Ibanez 5 string bass do you have and how much does it weigh? I have a Soundgear SR505 that weighs 7.5 pounds. Even though I'm 5'10" I have arthitis in my lower back and anything heavier than that gives me a lot of pain in a short amount of time. So I understand where you're coming from.
I was excited when the Chinese Hofners were announced. When I got to try one I was not impressed, only looks like the German originals.
I like Epiphone guitars, but haven't tried the bass suggested above.
Based on weight and tone, I vote for a Danelectro! Unique sound from the series-wired lipstick pickups, as on their guitars, and the hollow body (more resonant than a Hofner IMO). And lots of tones with three-way pickup switching plus stacked, independent pickup volume and tone controls.
Three body shapes, original single cutaway, Longhorn and the new Wild Thing, which has a 32" neck. Excellent quality for the street price.
Try 'em out before you buy anything.
I like Epiphone guitars, but haven't tried the bass suggested above.
Based on weight and tone, I vote for a Danelectro! Unique sound from the series-wired lipstick pickups, as on their guitars, and the hollow body (more resonant than a Hofner IMO). And lots of tones with three-way pickup switching plus stacked, independent pickup volume and tone controls.
Three body shapes, original single cutaway, Longhorn and the new Wild Thing, which has a 32" neck. Excellent quality for the street price.
Try 'em out before you buy anything.
What about a headless / practically body-less bass... a Steinberger Spirit or something similar, like one of the Hohner licensed knockoffs?
Or get one of the GFS (Guitar Fetish) pre-finished P or J bodies made of typically-very-light paulownia wood, get neck / hardware from somewhere, and slap together the light bass of your dreams for 3 or 4 Benjamins. (May help if you are mechanically / DIY inclined or know someone who is, but in my experience, if the body's already finished you're DEFINITELY not talking about a ton of work or skill required.)
Or get one of the GFS (Guitar Fetish) pre-finished P or J bodies made of typically-very-light paulownia wood, get neck / hardware from somewhere, and slap together the light bass of your dreams for 3 or 4 Benjamins. (May help if you are mechanically / DIY inclined or know someone who is, but in my experience, if the body's already finished you're DEFINITELY not talking about a ton of work or skill required.)
another vote for hollowbody. my jay turser beatle bass copy weighs nothing and really does sound very good.
I tried several Danelectro guitars (especially baritones) for a while, but I was put off by the cheap and flimsy hardware. The wood in those guitars are often not exactly tone wood either. I would definitely try to play one before considering to buy a Danelectro. They have their charm, but they are not for everyone.
