• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Looking for a lightweight bass

G

girlplayingbass

Jan 17, 2009
3
0
#1
I have just started playing bass about 3 months ago, and just bought a Fender Highway 1 jazz bass. It has a great sound but it's heavier than what I would like. The body also seems larger and bulkier than other basses I have seen.

Any suggestions on a decent lightweight guitar for $500 or less? (Yes, I'm a *girl*)
 
#3
girlplayingbass said:
I have just started playing bass about 3 months ago, and just bought a Fender Highway 1 jazz bass. It has a great sound but it's heavier than what I would like. The body also seems larger and bulkier than other basses I have seen.

Any suggestions on a decent lightweight guitar for $500 or less? (Yes, I'm a *girl*)
Click to expand...

Pics or you don't exist ;):D

SX makes some short scale basses that are lighter and smaller than standard scale basses, they're quite affordable, and TB'ers in general seem not to be able to get enough of SX. They're pretty high quality, especially considering what you pay.

Yamaha makes a bass out of some alternative material, a composite or a plastic or something, they're real light. Played one locally and it was a nice bass, VERY light.

Some MTD's from the Kingston series are pretty light and have smaller bodies, and can be found used around 500 if you look hard enough.

There are a few more that escape me right now, but I'll come back and post them as I think of them.
 
#4
You could look into the Soundgear series from Ibanez - they're pretty lightweight and the necks are thin, so you won't have any trouble moving around the fretboard considering you're just learning to play bass..

Plus they are very versatile IMO..

\\nero
 
#5
I agree with the Ibanez SR suggestion. I believe some yamahas are pretty light too. I haven't played one in a long time though. Come to think of it there is a black ibanez sr405 in the classifieds right now.....by the way its not mine :)
 
#6
Nerotic said:
You could look into the Soundgear series from Ibanez - they're pretty lightweight and the necks are thin, so you won't have any trouble moving around the fretboard considering you're just learning to play bass..

Plus they are very versatile IMO..

\\nero
Click to expand...

mkrtu9 said:
I agree with the Ibanez SR suggestion. I believe some yamahas are pretty light too. I haven't played one in a long time though. Come to think of it there is a black ibanez sr405 in the classifieds right now.....by the way its not mine :)
Click to expand...


+1 to the SR suggestion - real sleek basses, thinnest neck I've ever played, and you couldn't ask for much lighter.
 
#10
Ibanez SR500 or higher is my suggestion

The SR400's and lower have the pickups WAY too close to the string and any time you dig in, it slaps the crap outta the pickups. SR500's have barts in them so they sound far better anyhow. The other option would be a Squier VM P-bass, which is surprisingly light to be honest.


And yes...pics or you don't exist. Sorry, we just don't like being taken advantage of :D
 
#11
There's this brand, "Luna", or "Luna guitars". They make guitars and basses that are geared towards women. I mostly think this kind of specialization is a pity, mostly. A lot of these designs normally have like flowers and rainbows and pink unicorns and ugh. Like women are all gay or something. Now, Luna does the purple-sparkly-thing here and there, but they have some badass stuff out there too. Check out their "Andromeda" line of basses specifically. Man, I want one of those in spite of my having-a-penis-ness and eating-beefjerky-ness and chesthairyness.

Anyhoo, they are supposed to be "featherweight". All Basswood 'n' such. Also, the andromeda basses have a J/MM configuration. And active at that. Might be interesting to hear how they sound. Besides, they cost like what, 350 to 400 dollars on musiciansfriend. I'm sure you can get an even sweeter deal on them somewhere.

Man. If I didn't have a responsibility towards my homies, my streetcred and my, uhm, Long John Silver, I'd have one of these basses so fast. Sigh. Such are the trials and challenges of manhood.
 
#14
I second the suggestion to try the Ibanez. The SRX 690 is a very nice bass with usually a very light body and they're not too bulky. There was also a very nice modded SRX 400 for sale by a TBr recently that looks pretty good at a good price.
 
#15
Ibanez SR300, I'd look into it a little more though, I picked one up at guitar center and was amazed at how thin and light the bass was. The only problem is some "funny guy" shoved something into the input jack so as far as it sounds I have no idea.:crying:
 
#16
IF you want a short scale, then you could do much worse than an SX with mods. Check out my review here on the SJB 57 3/4. The only original things left are the body, neck and frets, but the whole thing cost less than $400 with a nice-ish gig bag. I also have an SX SPB 3/4 and that actually cost less than the SJB. Together they're less than the MSRP on a single Fender Mustang and I think they're better!

Similarly, 34" Ibanez Soungears are light, inexpensive, and come in a variety of flavours.
 
#17
My first bass I bought was a Soundgear type Ibanez. The Mexican Fender P I'd been playing had felt so heavy, and this one felt really light. I've had no fatigue from weight of the instrument at all.

Granted, now that I'm a more experienced player, I do want a heavier, more substantial instrument. Just don't know what to get!
 
#19
Danelectro Rumor
P-bass copy w/ standard 34" scale; no longer made but on ebay for pretty cheap
crazy light and good sound and playability; so nice I bought 2 of them NOS a while back
 
#20
The weight is one issue, the bulk/shape another. TB's EagleMoon and other female bassists have remarked that the Jazz body didn't work for them.

Weigh your bass, and get an accurate weight to withing a couple of ounces. That will help you evaluate others. Maybe borrow your Uncle Elmer's fishing scale--JK, but having an accurate weight will at least let folks here have an idea of what weight you are finding onerous.

Mustang? Yes. Long long ago, I met the then very young Tina Weymouth when her unknown band, Talking Heads was playing at a close friend's wedding in Providence, Rhode Island. Tina was playing a white Fender mustang. It killed.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back