lightest bass - not hollow or wierd

[Mulebagger]

Had a very light: Fender Jazz, Jerzy Drodz, Zon, but the lightest I ever had was a Parker Fly. My current Jazz is 12lbs and I like it heavy

 

[nostatic]

he has one of each!

edit: well, it looks like he sold his (2nd, 3rd, or 4th?) mouse.

well, sadly that is the only way to really know. Until I use something in a band situation, I can't be positive it'll do what I want/need. Combine that with evolving/increasing gigging with 4 different bands plus casuals...well, churn happens

I had 3 Mice over a span of time - ordered a fretted one, while waiting a used fretted one popped up on TB so I grabbed it, when the one I ordered was done I sold the used one, ended up not bonding with the one I ordered and sold that. Then I decided to see if 3rd time was a charm (it worked with the P-Bass I bought awhile back, 3rd time trying a 4-string) and picked up a used fretless. With that I loved the bass but couldn't easily swap between 30" and 34/35" scale at a gig so I sold it and am done with the short scale experiment.

I picked up the MB-2 used as my new-found interest in 4-string made me want another Rob Allen to accompany my Deep 5. I found a total keeper, and I am probably enjoying this bass the most right now. Tone is awesome, it plays great, is light and perfectly balanced. The Deep5 is probably a pound heavier (I think about 7.5lbs - I need to get an accurate weight) and still is the best sounding bass I have. But it can't optimally do everything I want/need. Actually the new AmDlxP I got has gotten serious thumbs up from all listeners at the last 3 gigs (even over the AmStdP), but I'm still not convinced, and at 8.7lbs it is borderline too heavy for my taste...especially when I swap between it and the MB-2.

 

[Pilgrim]

A short scale Gretsch 2202 sounds wonderful, balances well and is well under 8 pounds.

If you want to go light, short scales such as the Gretsch and Mustang are worth considering.

Or a Bronco with a killer pickup:

 

[darkstorm]

Ibanez sr300 is very light weight bass and is one of my fave soapbar pup basses. And would work great in those forms of music imo

 

[chuck norriss]

i'm too lazy to read through if anyone replied w the squier vintage p bass in butterscotch--pine body

 

[SteveC]

I have thought about short scale. A Rob Allen Mouse for my jazz needs, but not sure about short scale for all my other gigs. Never really tried, p payed or researched them and there aren't many to try around here.

Would certainly help with the hand pain and weight on my shoulder and back I would guess..

 

[Jazzcat]

Look for a solid color Guild Pilot bass on ebay.

The solid colors are lightweight polar bodies. Most have active EMG pick-ups and can be had for under $500.

They hang great and play great.

Same goes with solid color Carvin LB70/75s, which are maple neck-throughs with alder wings. Look for 1998 and newer for the passive/active preamp. My fretless 1998 weighs 8.1-pounds. It feels lighter than that, but the scale doesn't lie.

 

[lowendfriend]

My lightest bass right now is a black Lakland 55-01. It is the lightest Lakland I have ever owned (and there have been plenty) Like others have said, you will find light basses and heavy basses that are the exact same make and model. I guess you could go custom made and get balsam wood

I love my 55-01 but light it's not! It's 10 pounds if it's an ounce.

 

[lowendfriend]

If you're looking for REALLY light and a unique tone, you might should check out the Danelectro Longhorn! Suspect it's around 6 or 7 lbs tops. Maybe less.

 

[Kwesi]

Tom Clement for sure. Very light without chambering and I assume ridiculously light with it or if you go hollowbody.

 

[arsie]

My Squier Standard PJ is 7lbs 8oz.

 

[Lesfunk]

See if you can track down a MIJ Fender Precision Lyte from the late 80s to the mid 90s. Light as a feather and they sound good. You should be able to get one around 400 bucks.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Crane]

I don't have one of these, or any yamaha, but they advertise the RBX4A2 as pretty light, at 3.2 kg (7 lbs)
RBX4A2 - RBX Series - Basses - Guitars & Basses - Musical Instruments - Products - Yamaha United States

 

[Fendbassfan]

The lightest Bass I ever had was an original Danelectro DC Bass. The body was so light the neck would point to the ground if you let it go and if you put any pressure on the neck while playing the strings would touch the fretboard.

 

[PDGood]

My 69 basswood Pbass is 7lbs and change although I'm weighing on a home scale so don't know how accurate that is.

Also, you might try custom builders like John K. who do chambered bodies. They sound like solid bodies but weigh less.
johnk vintage basses

 

[tjh]

I have an inexpensive 34" scale '89 MIK Squier P bass that comes in at 7.6 lbs on a calibrated butchers scale ... black with an aftermarket tort guard that is looking for a home where it gets some play time ...

 

[JimmyM]

If you're looking for REALLY light and a unique tone, you might should check out the Danelectro Longhorn! Suspect it's around 6 or 7 lbs tops. Maybe less.

i don't think mine weighs even that much. maybe 6, but man, it's light.

 

[EagleMoon]

The lightest basses I've had were an MTD KZ4, at just under 7 lbs. and a Fender P Lyte at 6.5. But sometimes light isn't the key, but how a bass balances.

 

[elgecko]

I used to own a late-80s Peavey Unity (neck-thru koa 4-string) that was stupid light; I never weighed it, but if a typical Fender Jazz Bass is ~9.5 lbs this thing had to be 7 lbs or less. Though, as someone else noted about another light bass above, it too suffered from some minor neck dive.

But if you can find one for sale it'll certainly be an order of magnitude cheaper than a Sadowsky!

I have that exact bass! It weighs in at 7.9 lbs.

 

[nocontrols]

A short scale Gretsch 2202 sounds wonderful, balances well and is well under 8 pounds.

If you want to go light, short scales such as the Gretsch and Mustang are worth considering.

This is semi off-topic but do you recommend the 2202? I've heard mixed things... some people say it's a really cool bass, well worth the money and some people say it's a bit chintzy so don't even bother. It's so inexpensive, I'm tempted just to try... it'd almost be like my introduction to short-scale. Any thoughts?

But sometimes light isn't the key, but how a bass balances.

This is a good point. For some people, fighting neck dive is such a struggle that it becomes wearying and is actually as much of a strain as playing a bass with a heavy body. It depends on the individual.