Lightweight solid body basses, the latest fad?

My Marcus Miller 5ver weighs about 8lbs and my Jazz 5ver weighs 9lbs
My stingrays closer to ten and I feel it.

You will find good manufacturers like Fender ...Sadowsky...Lakland , Music Man etc. offer 5vers and 4 bangers at similar weights

 

Problem with some of the "lightweight" offerings is the manufacturer focuses on the body design (woods, size, chambering, etc) then mates it with a conventional full-size neck replete w/ Fender-sque headstock, standard tuners, and upper horn which enhances the appearance but detracts from the ergonomics. It's Physics 101: the first class lever...or a complete disregard.

In 46 years of playing, the best design I've encountered is the Kubicki Ex-Factor.

Riis

 

I made both my basses. one is 6.5 the other 7.6. both are easy on the back and I like playing them much more then the old boat anchors of the 10 to 13 pounders. if its 8 pounds or more i pass.

 

This is a nice bass for less money than you think, and it's solid AND lightweight (Talman TMB 100).

 

When I started over 50 years ago I was wondering why basses are so heavy and I started looking but not always finding lighter instruments. If I had known about the Hofner Club bass back then I would have gotten one of those.

 

For some of us who are older this is not a "fad" but a necessity that will hold true the rest of our playing days.

 

I'd suggest lightweight isn't a fad, but an option, like humbuckers, preamps, flats etc. Some prefer it and some don't.

 

I'll know better end of next month. There's a blank of torrefied Ayous (sometimes called Obeche) for the next build.
Balance is my main concern and I've not even started it yet

 

Heard many good things about Birdsong though I believe the models I've heard most about are lightweight short scales though they may have other lightweight long scale designs.

 

Hardly a fad. Bought my lightweight over 20 years ago.

 

Will you be posting in the Luthiers Corner with your build? I’d be interested in following.

 

I record sitting down. Most of the time, as a support musician I can also play sitting down, So I don't care. Got one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTSA6FU?tag=loadrecords-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

 

I don't know if I'd call it a fad - when I first started learning more about vintage basses, I'd always hear the weight criticism of 70s Fenders, and that wasn't a recent opinion by any means.

I know what you mean about basses with more strings, but once you add another tuner, wider bridge with extra saddle, wider neck etc I think everyone understands that it'll weigh more. Just because people bear that in exchange for the extended range doesn't mean they'd prefer a lighter instrument.

I don't know how heavy you're talking about, but my 34" scale P and J basses, & short scale Stingray, all around around 8lb dead (maybe a pound or two each way). To me, they're much more comfortable than basses I've had in the 9.5/10lb bracket, and I leave a 3 or 4 hour practice feeling much better - especially my left shoulder! I'm mid 30s and it's a good preference, in 20 years time I'm sure it'll be a necessity.

 

I don't normally post there.
I do slab body P-basses and they generally aren't that interesting. Now that you've mentioned it,I'll make a point of keeping notes and photos. It is quite light,the over-sized rough cut weighs a touch over 4lbs.

 

That bass has a real cult following. Saw Steve Earle not too long ago and his bassist played one.

 

Ergonomics>weight


Ime

 

I have a very light-weight Lakland 55-02. Sitting down, if you centre it over your leg in the cut-out, it will neck-dive. However, if you shift it so the forward-edge of the leg cutout is now somewhat pressing against the inside of your leg, it instantly stops neck-diving.

 

Total respect, but the first post has several unfounded assumptions about what things are done when building and why, plus generalizes one personal experience to "many". Weight is a factor because it impacts playability, and as @Turnaround pointed out, it's hardly a fad. I've been discussing weight in players' circles going back to the 80s.

 

Welcome, Mats!!

Many (most?) bassists who gravitate to lighter weight tend to do so for the actual reduced weight, not the tonality.

You will notice the difference in weight after a 4 hour gig! The importance of that difference is totally dependent on you and your individual preferences/needs.