Lightweight short scale bass

[gotly]

I have pretty bad arthritis and it’s limiting my playing a lot. My Kala U-Bass has been a godsend for my worst days. When I’m feeling okay I can play my G&L JB which is still my favorite bass of all time.

I’m looking for something between the full size G&L and the tiny U-Bass. Lightweight, comfortable, passive pickups, short scale. Jazz or PJ configuration.

I’m gonna keep rocking until I physically can’t!

 

[Gorn]

How much do you wanna spend?

 

[gln1955]

My SS Squier Jag is incredibly light.

 

[walking Bass]

My arthritis go-to is my Taylor GS Mini. My favorite shorts scales are my tried and true Gibson SG and new Fender American Performer Mustang. Lakland HB-30 played well when I tried one and the Reverend Dubking sounded great at a recent performance I attended. I wonder how long it will take for the boutique makers to offer more short scale options.

Scale length feels different to me on some basses - a Ken Smith 5-string and a Rob Allen MB-2 both have 34 inch scales, but the Rob Allen plays more like the shorter scales. Weight and bridge placement seem to make a difference too.

 

[gotly]

How much do you wanna spend?

Pretty flexible, under $1500

 

[GIBrat51]

Well, not exactly P/Jazz Bass shaped, but - Danelectro Longhorn. This one lives very comfortably in an Epiphone ES-335 guitar case - which will give you a good idea of it's size and shape. My Longhorn weighs 5.13 lbs.; which, believe it or not, is slightly less than either of the violin basses in the background...

 

[Diesel Kilgore]

Squier Jaguar SS has an extremely thin neck. I loved mine. They aren't quite as light as some others, but if you want as easy of a neck to play on that would be it. It also has a P/J setup.

Squier Bronco is very light and has a short neck, but not as thin. Although it is light.

I'd look into those two.

Also try a full scale Ibanez GSR or Mikro.

 

[user362432]

Epi Rumblekat. Killer bass. I call it "my air-guitar"

 

[dxb]

My lightest basses are my Fender Mustang PJ and an old Ibanez EXB404. The Ibanez is actually 35" scale but its got PJ pickups and they're both around 7.5 pounds.

 

[mongo2]

Hofner Ignition Club Bass.

Mine is 4.5 lbs and I find the narrow neck to be very easy to play.

 

[pcake]

i've had this issue for years. here are some light weight basses i've played.

one of the lightest basses made is the hofner violin bass, regardless of what series. they weigh in at around 5 pounds, often less. they have a 30" scale, lovely deep sound and gloss neck. i really like them, but for me, they proved too uncomfortable for me because of the sharp edges and waist. if you can try one, i definitely would. if you find it uncomfortable, the hofner club bass - again, any series - is lighter than an ibanez mikro, often around 5 to 5 1/2 pounds, also 30" scale. not P or J, but you can't beat the weight. be aware that other brands' violin basses are sometimes around a pound heavier.

i recently got an ibanez GSR100EX mahogany
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GSR100EXMOL--ibanez-gsr100ex-gio-mahogany-oil
it weighs in at just over 6 pounds - the one with black paint seems to weigh more. it's not short scale - this is the cheapest 34" scale bass, but somehow despite the pain most basses cause me to play, this one is so comfortable that i bought a second one to mod.

one of the board members here has one of the smallguitars.com basses, and he let me play it. so comfortable you wouldn't believe it! https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TB4PSBG--traveler-guitar-tb-4-p-bass-sunburst

btw, my fender mustang PJ was almost 8 pounds and my jaguar short scale was over 8. if you want to try one of these 30" scale basses, i suggest you buy them somewhere where they'll weigh several for you and send you the lightest. i've owned both, loved them both. and don't forget the cheap squier bass - like a budget mustang. mine was lighter by over a pound than my mustang.

and don't forget the traveler guitar TB-4P. i owned one of those, too. about the same weight as a mikro - from just over 6 to under 7 pounds. i wasn't crazy about the tuners, but they could be replaced. it's more comfortable to me than the mustang or jag ss. Invalid Link Removed

 

[REV]

+1 on the Danelectro Longhorn. I get complements on mine all the time.

 

[pcake]

+1 on the Danelectro Longhorn. I get complements on mine all the time.

it's a very nice bass, but my shoulder issues make it painful to reach over. i don't know if that would be the case with the OP, so best to try one in person if possible.

 

[funkinbottom]

Have you looked at Marusczcyk? Many options including 30", 32" scale, color, pickups/electronics. They're pretty much in you budget range, plus/minus, depending what features you desire. Check out their configurator. Here's the link

Link Removed

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Lots of cool suggestions but most of them aren't anywhere near a jazz or P/J.

The P/J mustang is probably the best suggestion so far IMO and I can't think of anything better that's P/J + shortscale.

If P/J isn't an absolute necessity I would look for a used 60s Hagstrom HB II in good condition. I often see them on ebay at reasonable prices. They are lighter than most hollowbodies, very thin body, extremely slim short scale neck, very comfortable and easy on both hands, responds really well to a light touch, no need to dig in hard for a powerful tone. I honestly can't think of a better bass for someone with artrithis. But it doesn't sound like a J. More in the direction of a P-sound, fat but sits nicely in the mix.

The only downside is that they are starting to get a bit old by now and the switches have a tendency to crap out. But the neck is impressively stable. Hagstrom used a very unique truss rod system at the time and it seems to be working great. I've owned one of these basses for around 20 years and I've never even once had to adjust the truss rod. I've got flats on mine and that insanely slim neck hasn't moved at all over all these years. I have the action set REALLY low with no buzz anywhere. Great craftmanship in these old Swedish Hagstroms.

They originally came with a non-adjustable wooden bridge so intonation may be an issue but the currently available Guild Starfire Bridge is more or less a drop in replacement that fixes this.

I read somewhere that this was the bass Jimi Hendrix used in the studio. Makes sense because it's so easy on the hands that someone used to guitar should be able to instantly adapt.

 

[leona1]

Bruce Johnson short scale bass!

 

[Williethump]

Kind of a one-trick pony as far as tones go but I love my Rogue VB100 Beatle Bass. Short comfortable scale, maybe 6 lbs (2.7 kg) in weight-though it is a neck-diver. Labella flats are called for and they give a sweet woody thump. Highly recommended at around $160 new.

 

[TrevorR]

Also not a P or PJ but if I was in the market for a short scale bass I’d be investigating a Chowny Bass. Either the semi hollow CHB, the Scott Whitely Signature or one of the (sufficiently far away to be legally safe) Retrovibe “Rickalike” basses.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I too was on this same quest, for the same reasons. This solved it, though its about 2x your stated budget:

Is there an ultra-lightweight short scale headless bass that is also beautiful? (NBD Muckelroy)

Another option is kiesel. they’ll make you a ss, and you can spec light woods. You can get one under $1.5k

One thing to posdibly consider is headless. I found that the tuners on the bridge are a godsend for shoulder arthritis, and headless models also usually mean less weight.

Good luck!

 

[Bodeeni]

I got a Squire bronco for free. Great little bass. Needed a new pickup, bridge and fret finishing. But I really like the feel of the neck. I tried a bunch of the obvious low end options. The necks are all very different. But I like this Bronco and the SS Jaguar was similar if you need a PJ. The Mustang is also a nice build, but the neck was not for me. I do not think you need to go high end. At least right off the bat. Any of these can do the gig.