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Making my bass lighter

jbybj

jbybj

Supporting Member
Jun 11, 2008
6,808
16,378
Los Angeles
#1
i have a G&L parts bass. An SB-2 neck on an L2000 body. They are from 1986 and 1984, but I don’t remember which is which. I love everything about this bass but the weight, approximately 11.5lbs. The only time I’ve ever gigged it was a Battle of The Bands 4 song set. I would love to shed 3 lbs and use this more often.

Various crazy thoughts that swirl in my head:
Take a router to the back of it and remove lots of wood, leaving an open mess. Or, Strip it first, then cap the routes making it chambered. (I know, these are stupid ideas, but it’s only stupid if I do it).
Find someone to build a new body, selling the original one. (I’d love to be able to keep costs down, this is likely the most expensive option).
Build a body myself. I’m confident I could make something functional, but likely lacking in precision.

I would appreciate any thoughts or ideas besides what I’ve stated above. Is there something I haven’t thought of?
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#4
These look cool. I think modifying an 80’s G&L body is going to be my last resort.
I’m ordering a postal scale from Amazon, going to dismantle the bass and see what the body weighs. I’ll take the scale to House Of Hardwoods and explore my options for a fresh build.
 
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#5
jbybj said:
These look cool. I think modifying an 80’s G&L body is going to be my last resort.
I’m ordering a postal scale from Amazon, going to dismantle the bass and see what the body weighs. I’ll take the scale to House Of Hardwoods and explore my options for a fresh build.
Click to expand...

Good to weigh those options ;)
 
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#6
How much does hardware weigh? I can't imagine it's light on an 80's G&L.

I think a new body is in order, I would hate to cut up an original and it still not be light(due to heavy wood). Maybe something light like basswood, chambered with a nice figured top? Or painted a solid color for that 80's appropriate look? My 2 cents.

-Jake

Edit: I believe that @JIO did a jazz that was rear routed/drilled for weight relief and then made into a feature. I'll see if I can find it.
 
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#8
I'd get a new body and lighter hardware, and sell the heavy parts if I reeeeeaaally love the bass. If you're a handy person with tools and do like projects, that's a different story, but I think you'd spend a bunch of time modding it, not to mention you'll loose money if you sell the bass later no matter how amazing your mods are.
 
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#9
I want to use all the original hardware and keep the original body intact. I’m gonna build a body from lighter wood, and chamber the new body, if I can reasonably predict a 2.5 - 3 pound reduction. At least that’s how my thinking has turned in the last couple of hours.
The fine folks at House Of Hardwood really know their stuff, and should be a big help in choosing new wood.
It will have a hand rubbed oil finish, which will be lighter than the current finish. I may reconsider the tuners, if it comes to that.

One thing for certain, those MFD pups with old flats are magic. I really want to bring that tone to a three hour gig.
 
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#10
jbybj said:
I want to use all the original hardware and keep the original body intact. I’m gonna build a body from lighter wood, and chamber the new body, if I can reasonably predict a 2.5 - 3 pound reduction. At least that’s how my thinking has turned in the last couple of hours.
The fine folks at House Of Hardwood really know their stuff, and should be a big help in choosing new wood.
It will have a hand rubbed oil finish, which will be lighter than the current finish. I may reconsider the tuners, if it comes to that.

One thing for certain, those MFD pups with old flats are magic. I really want to bring that tone to a three hour gig.
Click to expand...

In my experience, fairly light wood with heavy chambering like funkinbottom posted will lose a lot of weight. I carved this body down thinner, and chambered where it would be hidden behind the pickguard. Really made a noticeable difference.

20190507_154813.jpg


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#12
Beej said:
I'm curious to see what everything weighs once you get it on a scale. At 11.5 lbs, even if you have a 6 lb body and 3lbs of hardware and electronics, you still have a 2.5 lb neck. I'd probably look at lighter tuners and shaving the neck a bit too.
Click to expand...
Postal scale arrives Thursday. This thread inspired me, dismantle complete.

I will not touch the neck, I LOVE THIS NECK. Lighter tuners would be the last thing, if necessary. I will likely lose the control plate that holds the pots and switches, and the neck plate. That might be 1/2 a lb.
1D7A0A24-2D1A-4D02-9D07-206BBD5E28DB.jpeg

On my digital bathroom scale, the stripped body is 4.5 lbs. if I can make a 2 lb body, I’ll be golden.
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This will not be without it’s challenges. The pickups and battery cover use threaded inserts, which could change to wood screws in the new body, but it would be cool to stay with machine screws.

The MFDs are freakishly heavy, but they are not negotiable. I don’t see myself installing a micro tilt in the new neck pocket, I won’t miss it.

I suspect when I’m done, it will have been fun and infuriating.

Edit: this is why I need a postal scale. Redo on the bathroom has the body at 5.5 lbs. I just need to be patient.
 
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#18
JW56789 said:
What if you contact G&L, explain your situation, and see (after you weigh your unloaded body for a reference) IF they would hand select and sell you a lighter body, the finish work on your nickel. Oiled finish possibly, and replace the factory keys with HipShots, might just get you there.
Click to expand...
Here you go. Something that never occurred to me. My first reaction though is that this will be far outside my budget. But since you mentioned it, I wonder if they would, and how much it’d cost.
 
#19
JW56789 said:
What if you contact G&L, explain your situation, and see (after you weigh your unloaded body for a reference) IF they would hand select and sell you a lighter body, the finish work on your nickel. Oiled finish possibly, and replace the factory keys with HipShots, might just get you there.
Click to expand...

I've been to the G&L factory a few times and have met many of the staff and seen the operations. My guess is that this would not be something they'd be willing to do, unless it's something through the custom shop, but even then doubtful and probably costly. I would say sending your body out to a refinishing shop and having them chamber it would be your best bet. That way you're keeping all your original components too.
 

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