Looking for Holy Grail...Lefty, LIGHT, & Inexpensive.

[ronin614]

The title pretty much says it all.

I recently had somewhat extensive surgery on my right shoulder. The injury was unrelated to playing, and while I'm making good progress w my P/T, I definitely do NOT want to hang a heavy bass on it anymore.

I'm looking for suggestions for an inexpensive, lightweight, full scale lefty.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Gorn]

I've seen threads asking for advice on an inexpensive bass because they only have a thousand dollars to spend. What's inexpensive to you?

 

[ronin614]

Gorn,
Solid point...For now...$300ish would be a good start. .

 

[dedpool1052]

Being a lefty as well,
for light and inexpensive, I'd put my money on Ibanez.

 

[Bob_Ross]

This thread needs a Venn diagram.

 

[ronin614]

I tend to think it's a VERY small intersection.

 

[Graham Douglas]

You could take a tip from Mr. McCartney - Hofner Violin shaped bass, certainly light and available in left handed, provided you can cope with short scale. It seems to have worked well for him over the last 60 years. The non-German made ones are cheap enough and get reasonable reviews.

 

[GIBrat51]

My first response was "A Beatle Bass" (this is my MIK Rogue VB-100), but, you said "full scale". A Danelectro DC 59 is the lightest full scale bass I own (6.5 lbs. or so), but, leftys are getting scarce, and may be out of your price range now, if you can find one. You've set yourself some tough parameters... good luck!

 

[ronin614]

Yeah,
I've found lefty and inexpensive (but still decent quality) but heavy, lefty and light but questionable quality, or lefty and light but expensive. The trials and tribulations of the lefty.

 

[ronin614]

I've never played an Ibanez, but for some reason I've always associated their lower end instruments with being VERY poor quality. I know they have some really high quality basses, but I've always thought of their less expensive basses as if they're more of a toy. Would the GSR200 be comparable quality to the Squier line? How versatile are they?

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

I'm sure you can find a left-handed American Standard (P or J) that's fairly light (mine is 8.5lbs). Might be a little tougher to find, and not sure if they do a lefty version, but my Classic 50's P weighs 8.4lbs and brand new is well under a grand, and even less used. And MIM Standards are really affordable, but it may be a little tougher finding on super lightweight.

Too bad you're not looking for a short scale. The Fender PJ Mustang and Danelectro Longhorn basses look pretty cool.

EDIT: Looks like Danelectro makes a "59DC" in a long scale and I can only guess that that thing is super lightweight but not sure if it comes in a lefty: Baritone & Bass | Danelectro Guitars

 

[Iridescentone]

Have you looked at these from Ibanez? If Sweetwater stocks them you may be able to get an exact weight on one.

Electric Basses SR - SR300EL | Ibanez guitars

 

[ronin614]

I appreciate the input all.

I've decided that at the moment I'm going to focus on the one bass that I already have and love. (Weird for TalkBass, I know We'll see how long that attitude lasts.) It's a Hohner Jack that's headless and is relatively easy to play inverted, and weighs a little under 9 pounds.

So now my quest is to find the best affordable strap that "lightens" the bass.

Again, thanks for the input!