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Looking for a lighter bass
- Thread starter dbase
- Start date
Ibanez has a new 30th Anniversary SDGR bass that is light, and has a unique semi-hollow body that is not only amazing to look at but great variety of tones with a thin neck as well...4-string or 5-string models (SR30th 4P or 5P)
The subject “Looking for a lighter bass” is a good topic here on Bass Talk. As bass players we carry a heavy load, not only in the rhythm sections we perform in, but the heavy loads we carry to and from jobs.
When needed, we can always pull out our big guns, but sometimes lessening our burden (i.e. a Danelectro, a Hofner, something else, and or something custom) is a good thing on jobs where our big guns are not needed, but our backs need salvation.
Just spoke with my old pal, and Luthier Michael Dolan, about the 51P/DanO Bass prototype he’s developed, and to get his permission to post some fabrication photos here on Bass Talk forum. I posted about this prototype bass on Bass Talk forum before, but here’s a brief.
Michael Dolan is restoring my first electric guitar an original 56 Danelectro U2. Michael was so excited about the restoration, and construction of the Danelectro, he decided to develop a bass guitar (plus a Stratocaster and a Telecaster too) on par with the Danelectro concept.
As of this writing, the 51P/DanO Bass prototype is in Michael’s spray booth (Michael Dolan loves this bass so much, he’s not going to part with it, but can build others later) which I’ll check out this afternoon, but in the mean time here are some fabrication photos for you to check out.
Enjoy!
When needed, we can always pull out our big guns, but sometimes lessening our burden (i.e. a Danelectro, a Hofner, something else, and or something custom) is a good thing on jobs where our big guns are not needed, but our backs need salvation.
Just spoke with my old pal, and Luthier Michael Dolan, about the 51P/DanO Bass prototype he’s developed, and to get his permission to post some fabrication photos here on Bass Talk forum. I posted about this prototype bass on Bass Talk forum before, but here’s a brief.
Michael Dolan is restoring my first electric guitar an original 56 Danelectro U2. Michael was so excited about the restoration, and construction of the Danelectro, he decided to develop a bass guitar (plus a Stratocaster and a Telecaster too) on par with the Danelectro concept.
As of this writing, the 51P/DanO Bass prototype is in Michael’s spray booth (Michael Dolan loves this bass so much, he’s not going to part with it, but can build others later) which I’ll check out this afternoon, but in the mean time here are some fabrication photos for you to check out.
Enjoy!
~
I have always liked to watch work in progress.
Thanks for taking us there !
Insofar as this is a prototype, I would guess that buyers could choose an alternate top and bottom wood to what is in this one (looks like Masonite), though I'll admit that the top has a pleasing character to it in the last pic, even unfinished.
I wonder what we can expect these to weigh ?
~
Been through all this very recently and ended up with a delightful but flawed Aria Sinsonido (see post here somewhere) then more recently an Ibanez SR755 which is more comfortable and about 3 pounds lighter than my Fender Jbass. Then I discovered the GruvGear Duostraps. I bought a Neo version for the Ibanez and it was so good I've just bought another for my Fender which I will now keep. If you love your bass please try one of these first!
Yesterday, I took a look at the Michael Dolan, 51P/DanO Bass prototype body (Masonite like Danelectro guitars) in the spray booth, and it looked fantastic! 
Your Question: The weight of the Michael Dolan, 51P/DanO Bass prototype? Not sure?!#$!@&? I'd say the weight would be close to a 59 Danelectro bass, so in the realm of +/- 6.5 lb., and balanced (i.e. not neck heavy).
This is a custom built bass guitar, so you can do whatever you like, but the neck on this instrument (which I handled) is a hard D (so plenty of wood), and where the neck meets the body, the neck is 1/8" less than a P-Bass. Like the Danelectro, and or Höfner bass guitars, I’ll make a prediction, the action will be fast!
When the 51P/DanO Bass is completely built (which will be soon) I'll update Bass Talk (including photos) on the true weight of the instrument.
Your Question: The weight of the Michael Dolan, 51P/DanO Bass prototype? Not sure?!#$!@&? I'd say the weight would be close to a 59 Danelectro bass, so in the realm of +/- 6.5 lb., and balanced (i.e. not neck heavy).
This is a custom built bass guitar, so you can do whatever you like, but the neck on this instrument (which I handled) is a hard D (so plenty of wood), and where the neck meets the body, the neck is 1/8" less than a P-Bass. Like the Danelectro, and or Höfner bass guitars, I’ll make a prediction, the action will be fast!
When the 51P/DanO Bass is completely built (which will be soon) I'll update Bass Talk (including photos) on the true weight of the instrument.
Yesterday, I took a look at the Michael Dolan, 51P/DanO Bass prototype body (Masonite like Danelectro guitars) in the spray booth, and it looked fantastic!
Your Question: The weight of the Michael Dolan, 51P/DanO Bass prototype? Not sure?!#$!@&? I'd say the weight would be close to a 59 Danelectro bass, so in the realm of +/- 6.5 lb., and balanced (i.e. not neck heavy).
This is a custom built bass guitar, so you can do whatever you like, but the neck on this instrument (which I handled) is a hard D (so plenty of wood), and where the neck meets the body, the neck is 1/8" less than a P-Bass. Like the Danelectro, and or Höfner bass guitars, I’ll make a prediction, the action will be fast!
When the 51P/DanO Bass is completely built (which will be soon) I'll update Bass Talk (including photos) on the true weight of the instrument.
Neat. And thanks for posting the earlier pics in-progress.
The Dano method is an excellent way to reduce weight. My lightest guitar is one I built to that design, using a plastic cutting board as a top. Back is Masonite, sides are poplar; it's a far cry from Dolan's craftsmanship, but it sounds great.
Some have made note of wider straps to help distribute the weight, and padding for comfort. As a whole I agree. Straps… I've got decades of types (wide leather, webbed, and padded) to pick from, to use, and hand out as needed.
However, I’m a hopeless romantic my fellow bass playing pugilists, as I've gone so retro of late (“à la” Buddy Holly, and Don Everly) that I just can’t resist purchasing, and using the old Fender black spaghetti guitar straps, with the single short pad, which always seems to shift around while performing, that there’s no hope for a romantic like myself.
However, I’m a hopeless romantic my fellow bass playing pugilists, as I've gone so retro of late (“à la” Buddy Holly, and Don Everly) that I just can’t resist purchasing, and using the old Fender black spaghetti guitar straps, with the single short pad, which always seems to shift around while performing, that there’s no hope for a romantic like myself.
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Greetings from merry old England dbase. You probably know this already but have you considered an aerodyne jazz? I think they weigh in around 6.5 lbs due to the slimmer,contoured body. They are good looking things too,if that matters to you? Staying with solid body basses, what about the steinberger spirit series?
Hope you find this helpful.
Never thought I would get 7 pages of help for my light bass quest.. thanks to all who posted, I now have to research all your suggestions, Not ruling out a nice comfortable strap but rather have a new bass. 
+1 on the Aerodyne, a very nice bass. They are very slightly neck heavy, but nothing that can't be compensated for with a good strap. Gorgeous looking bass too, though the basswood body makes them prone to dings.
Same with the JP90, in poplar. I think a ding-prone body is par for the course with a lightweight bass; it's just one of the compromises you need to accept.
I've played aerodynes before; great basses.
My nephew was given an Aerodyne for his 16th birthday, in typical teen fashion, it's heavily "relic'd" now, makes me cringe a little. I like em' shiny.
May have been mentioned before, but Ibanez SR 500's and up have great pickups that make a light bass sound great. The SR505 is lighter than most 4 strings and the SR500 weighs nothing at all. IMO they are the best sounding, most versatile light weight solid body bass bang for the buck. AFWIW I actually prefer the Bartolinis in the SR500's to the more expensive premium SR's. These light weight basses kept me from having to retire prematurely due to back injuries.
I agree. I'm not a fan of thin necks so Soundgear's arent' for me, but I don't hesitate to recommend them highly to others who don't have my wierd neck prefferences.
The Bartolini MK1(import) pups in the Ibanez basses sound particularly good compared to many other companies who use them because Ibanez uses their own preamp instead of the MK1 preamp. The MK1's are actually good pups but the Bart MK1 preamp is not as good as their pups.
I can't believe that nobody's mentioned the Reverend Rumblefish!
Mine sounded HUGE and weighed practically nothing. The only reason I sold it was the Jazz-width neck.
Mine sounded HUGE and weighed practically nothing. The only reason I sold it was the Jazz-width neck.
Semi hollow basses are usually no lighter than a solid. Ibanez make some nice basses and whilst none are lightweight they weigh way less than my Warwicks. Fender Jazz (Flea model) felt pretty light to me too.
