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Looking For Old School Tone In A Lightweight Package

Turn Em Loose

Turn Em Loose

It’s the bass player.
Nov 22, 2005
4,623
5,203
Central Ohio
#1
Long story short: I'm looking for a full 34" scale Fender(-ish) Precision or Jazz bass that's under 8 lbs.

Short story long: I've got your typical old man back and 8 lbs is as heavy as I'm willing to go. Balance is as important as weight leading me to lean towards an offset (jazz style) body. This bass will more than likely sport flats and be my old school bass. I'd like to stick with a traditional Fender-y kind of vibe though that's not set in stone. (I really dig the current Reverend offerings.) I'd like to get something I won't need to mod. Just string it up and go. Most likely I'll have to order online as the bass offerings around here are pretty slim.

Keeping it under a grand would be....well....Grand! But for the right bass $1,500. Maaaayyyybe $1,600? OK maybe $1,700. With $1,800 the max. DEFinitely no more than $2k.

Any suggestions/thoughts/general feedback are always welcome. Thanks in advance!
 
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#2
It's not exactly Fenderish, but not far off: how about a Sandberg? They're consistently lightweight, and they even have a 'superlight' series. With the stock pickups I wouldn't say they're very old-school, but if ordering new you can specify other pickups, their 'black label' are more traditional sounding but you can of course put something else in there.
 
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#4
mcnach said:
It's not exactly Fenderish, but not far off: how about a Sandberg? They're consistently lightweight, and they even have a 'superlight' series. With the stock pickups I wouldn't say they're very old-school, but if ordering new you can specify other pickups, their 'black label' are more traditional sounding but you can of course put something else in there.
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Thanks! I actually own a Sandberg Ken Taylor somewhat recently and promptly sold off my other basses. 8 lbs even. It's seriously bada@@. Like....wow. It's the one and only Sandberg I've ever played. It's actually got a damn fine P bass tone. But to my ears it's more of a rock P tone. And it's wearing rounds.

I was under the impression Sandbergs were more modern sounding? Even their takes on the Fender thing?
 
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#9
This fits your description...
20250425_203227.jpg

There are a few different models, mine is the Precision Lyte Deluxe, with a mahogany body (all Lytes are 10% smaller than a standard P bass), full scale, with a 3 band EQ and an oil finish.

Sub 7lbs. It sounds killer. The frets were removed when I bought it. Originally, I was going to refret it. Once I set it up and played it, I wisely decided to leave it be. It's become one of my favorite basses.
 
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#12
I can relate, my left shoulder is blown due to being an exemplary screen setter on the B-Ball court into my 50s. As a result, I have a Fender Aerodyne Special J that comes in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and a Fender Aerodyne Special P that I have never weighed, but feels lighter. I paid about $700 for each. The J was new from Sweetwater, the P was mint from Franklin Guitar Works. GC has a couple of Ps right now at $799. Reverb has a couple of Js at $1099.

And FWIW, I love these two basses. I would think a "standard aerodyne" would weigh in at about the same, although they have the PJ pick up, which would be fine with me.
 
#13
I am 67 with a spinal fusion, spinal nerve stimulator and am about to have a nerve ablation. My back is rickety and hurts all the time so I totally get it…… Three years ago I picked up a P-Bass Player series and it has probably been the most satisfying bass purchase I ever made at $600.00. Strung it up with flats and it is smooth as silk played straight through the board. No mods at all. I don’t weigh my basses but can say it is comfortably light…. BUT…. The big key here is your strap. I opted for a soft Moody and it wasn’t cheap. It is soft and supple and because it is soft and supple it conforms better to my body and more evenly displaces the weight of the bass. I am unable to stay on my feet any longer than twenty minutes without resting my back and I can stand that entire twenty minutes with that Player bass on.
 
#14
Aberdumbie said:
I am 67 with a spinal fusion, spinal nerve stimulator and am about to have a nerve ablation. My back is rickety and hurts all the time so I totally get it…… Three years ago I picked up a P-Bass Player series and it has probably been the most satisfying bass purchase I ever made at $600.00. Strung it up with flats and it is smooth as silk played straight through the board. No mods at all. I don’t weigh my basses but can say it is comfortably light…. BUT…. The big key here is your strap. I opted for a soft Moody and it wasn’t cheap. It is soft and supple and because it is soft and supple it conforms better to my body and more evenly displaces the weight of the bass. I am unable to stay on my feet any longer than twenty minutes without resting my back and I can stand that entire twenty minutes with that Player bass on.
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This is the way! Any cheap bass with high quality flats will get you that sound. I have a squier bronco i modified that weighs very little and does fantastic old school p bass vibes with la bella jazz flats. The strings cost about the same price as the bass.
 
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