Looking For Old School Tone In A Lightweight Package

[MindinAction]

Big fan of light basses here due to my shoulder. I bought a Maruszczyk P on the classifieds here. 6.2 lbs. If you want a new bass, I'm sure you can request a light one from them. The Spector RST is generally a pretty light bass. I have one that's around 7.5 lbs. I picked up a Stingray short scale from EBMM that was 6.65 lbs. Probably hard to get at <2k, but keep an eye on the used market.

 

[David56]

Check out Danelectro 59DC Long Scale...under 7 pounds.

 

[BaltBass5]

It’s a little over $2K but so worth it: Dingwall SP1. Under 8lbs and tone for days!

 

[Stranger Danger]

You might check with Reverend and see if they can do a Mercalli or Meschell Ndegocello in a lightweight body. I play a Mercalli and the P-bass pickup on them is really killer. A great bass for the price.

I don’t think they’re a custom shop. It’s all mass produced overseas. But I could be wrong.

 

[Stranger Danger]

My Lull MV4 is 7.5 lbs and is designed to mimic a late 60's Jazz when run passive.
Also it is otherwise fantastic in all ways.

Way out of his price range

 

[Stranger Danger]

All super light

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...jazz-bass-roasted-pine-with-maple-fingerboard

 

[Stranger Danger]

Well not all but there is one at 7 lbs 14 ounces

 

[FretRiff]

@freshbass seems to do pretty well with lightweight short-scale basses and his Ampeg amps.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

I have 1 "parts" bass;

JVG (Joe's vintage guitar) aged Paulownia P-Bass body, Tony Franklin neck.
I added res-olites earlier this year, which put it under 7lbs, and it sounds fantastic..
I put the strap button off center - kind of below the E string. Balances great.

I gave it to a friend on Memorial day to try out at her gig, and told her to hang on to it for now. We'll be assembling one for her as well.

 

[CrimsonGhost]

Valiant Jupiter 6.8lbs amazing quality and tone.

 

[CoughSyrup]

I put Ultralites on my Player I P bass and it comes in at 7lbs, 15oz.

 

[rylie]

op: I'd like to stick with a traditional Fender-y kind of vibe

Bluesman Vintage makes high quality (maybe better than Fender) reproductions of Fender Precision and Jazz basses. I've owned and played a Blues Vintage P-bass. So easy to play at 7.5 lbs. If you're looking for a traditional Fender-y kind of vibe, look at Bluesman Vintage.

Bluesman Vintage

Bluesman Vintage Guitars • Basses • Pickups • Pedals & BMV Merch • Spring Hill, Tennessee

www.bluesmanvintage.com

 

[Ricky Rioli]

A used G&L LB-100 made from Empress will be miles under 8 lbs and one in excellent condition should be within your budget

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I see several suggestions for Sandbergs. They are fantastic instruments and generally lighter than Fenders. The build quality is FAR better than anything Fender does. But if you want an "old school" Fender tone, Sandbergs are a very bad choice. Sandbergs have a much more modern, bright tone. Even the passive models. They don't "sit" in a mix like a classic Fender. Not even close. If you buy a Sandberg and want an old school Fender tone, you will most likely be disappointed, no matter how good Sandbergs are.

I suspect some of the other suggestions in this thread may depart too far from an "old school" Fender tone as well.

If you want a lightweight Fender-style instrument that actually sounds like a classic Fender without knowing the specific weight of each individual bass (some dealers provide this info btw) I don't think you will find any lighter Fender basses than the basswood body MIJ Fender Traditional series. Of course there will always be some variations between individual instruments, but overall they're the lightest Fender series I've ever played. So light in fact that neck dive can become an issue. The ceramic pickup in these MIJ Traditionals isn't the best I've tested though. It has a very high output but is also slightly lacking in clarity compared to a good alnico pickup. It's not horrible, and will certainly give you a more "old school" Fender tone than any Sandberg, but there are definitely better Fender-style pickups out there.

MIJ Fenders also generally have far better QC than MIM/MIA Fenders.

 

[prndltech]

I just bought a G&L Fullerton jazz bass with fender pure 64 pups and an empress body that weighs 7.5 lbs from the classifieds here… for a grand!

Something like that would check all your boxes…

 

[MaxSpinrun]

My suggestion was going to be Mike Lull as well. Maybe find one used?

 

[logdrum]

My parts bass is 7lbs 7 ounces. The secret is a light ash MJT body and Hipshot. If I use a roasted neck, change the bridge from Badass to a aluminum, remove the preamp and go passive and replace the heavy knobs with light mango wood. - I think it will even be lighter. Old School would just be the correct pickups and I have Lollar, Fralin and SD Antiquity to choose from

 

[skycruiser]

I see Fender and Squier P's at or just below 8 pounds on Sweetwater all the time. Just keep an eye on stock because the light ones go fast.

Spend $150 on HipShot lightweight tuners and you're set to rock.

I don't recall ever seeing a J below 8 pounds.

 

[Ostie]

I could be wrong, but I’m not sure that the offset Jazz body does anything to reduce neck dive.

 

[skycruiser]

Actually here's a sub 8 pound Fender J