Lightest weight P Bass in existence.

[tjh]

With all the weights given, take them with a grain of salt ... unless the scale is calibrated for trade, a 1+ lb variance is not uncommon ... and by 'calibrated for trade', I am not referring to a $15 scale that says 'Postal' on the label from a big box store ...

 

[c-had]

View attachment 3003163 Just put one together.
Extra light swamp ash body 4.3lbs
Mighty Might maple neck
Hipshot ultralights
Aluminum tele knobs
Fender grooved bridge
EMG Geezer electronics
6.5 lbs!

How does it sound now that you've had it a while? Any clips you can share with us?

 

[teej]

My J. Reynolds P-Bass (Fender copy) might not be much when compared to other brands but at 6.5 pounds (according to the shipping scale here at work) it's really, really hard to upgrade to anything else. Over the years, I've installed Hipshot Ultralites, Fender Original pickup, American Standard bridge, converted it to string-through, and more. I've wanted to get a Fender for years but when I see they weigh around 9 pounds and factor in all the upgrades I've made to this modest J. Reynolds I think "nah."

 

[Richard Price]

Who Makes the Lightest weight P bass ever? I had a G&L LB 100 that was 7.2 but there must be lighter ones then that?

 

[Richard Price]

I did. I created a 5.7lb p bass

Who Makes the Lightest weight P bass ever? I had a G&L LB 100 that was 7.2 but there must be lighter ones then that?

 

[Richard Price]

I did. 5.7lb p bass.

 

[Tanner5382]

I did. 5.7lb p bass.

What did you use?

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

This old Cort with P pups and J body weights like feather and has the most pronounced P tone I ever played.

 

[JRA]

I created a 5.7lb p bass

i'm with @Tanner5382 --- how did you create your lightweight P-bass?

per the OP: this wouldn't be the "lightest weight P-bass in existence," but it's featherweight for sure (exactly 6.0 lbs):

paulownia body (glarry)
maple/maple neck
schaller 3D roller bridge
dimarzio DP127 split-coil
gotoh CF tuning machines
pickguardian pg
aluminum neckplate
resin (dome) knobs

the schaller bridge adds weight, but it's one of my go-to bridge choices, and i suspect a roasted maple neck would shave off a few grams/ounces, but it plays so well i don't want to fiddle with it too much...i like it just the way it is!

 

[Richard Price]

What did you use?

 

[Richard Price]

I'm not going to say right now but
It's all quality stuff and pickup is hand wrapped with extra wrappings and sounds Awesome.
As soon as you add another pickup, like a a jazz or other companies your adding weight. The rest I'll keep to myself unless I make it or have someone make it.
Thanks for the interest.

 

[Tanner5382]

I'm not going to say right now but
It's all quality stuff and pickup is hand wrapped with extra wrappings and sounds Awesome.
As soon as you add another pickup, like a a jazz or other companies your adding weight. The rest I'll keep to myself unless I make it or have someone make it.
Thanks for the interest.

That's fine, but it's a little strange to post that you made a lightweight bass, especially THAT lightweight, but don't want to say how. Why post otherwise? No offense but I find 5.7 pounds hard to believe if you don't want to say how.

 

[P. Aaron]

African or European P bass?

Bonus points for slipping in the MP&THG reference!

I already got one!

 

[Richard Price]

That's fine, but it's a little strange to post that you made a lightweight bass, especially THAT lightweight, but don't want to say how. Why post otherwise? No offense but I find 5.7 pounds hard to believe if you don't want to say how.

 

[Richard Price]

Because people might want to use it to make money or companies and I'd probably be out and they wouldn't cut me in. No offense taken.
Maybe I will someday.

 

[Grinderman]

I have two P basses that I built that are both 7.56 Lbs, including the bridge ashtray cover. One has an ash body and the other has a pine body; both have Res-O-Lite machines. Everything else about them is quite conventional.

Based on those, I can't imagine less than 7.5 Lbs would matter at all in any positive sense. Less than that by mere chance might be nice I suppose... maybe. I wouldn't do or spend anything extraordinary to acquire or achieve a 34" scale bass that weighs less than that, let alone less than 7 or 6 pounds.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Because people might want to use it to make money or companies and I'd probably be out and they wouldn't cut me in. No offense taken.
Maybe I will someday.

Sandberg are making an FSO (more P than J, with 2 J pickups + a preamp) that's under 6 lbs. Empress for the body, Norwegian Maple for the neck, ultralight tuners.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I've two basses, both P-shaped G&Ls. Both Empress, both between 7 and 7¼ lbs.

They replaced a Yamaha BB and a Squier P, both over 9 lbs, so when I first got them they seemed wonderfully light. The shoulder that I injured at work a couple of years ago has now stopped complaining, so the empress option was well worth the $$$

Now that the 9+ lb basses are forgotten, and I'm no longer able to make any kind of comparison, the two G&Ls have stopped feeling light, and now seem quite heavy enough. Just not unhealthily so.

 

[winston]

I've two basses, both P-shaped G&Ls. Both Empress, both between 7 and 7¼ lbs.

They replaced a Yamaha BB and a Squier P, both over 9 lbs, so when I first got them they seemed wonderfully light. The shoulder that I injured at work a couple of years ago has now stopped complaining, so the empress option was well worth the $$$

Now that the 9+ lb basses are forgotten, and I'm no longer able to make any kind of comparison, the two G&Ls have stopped feeling light, and now seem quite heavy enough. Just not unhealthily so.

How do you find the balance on the Empress G&Ls? Also never have played an empress bass, wondering about their tonal profiles, thanks.

 

[rmayer]

Not the lightest in existence, but my G&L LB100 comes in at 6.7 pounds and looks and plays great. And that's with their massive footer bridge, and don't forget the extra weight for the paint on the headstock.