Making my bass lighter

[thetragichero]

i was joking anyway
first guitar ever wired was an Indochina squier. cavity was to shallow for push/pull pot so i used a half inch chisel.........

 

[howlin]

DuoStrap Signature™

I had one of those. Not to be offensive but it sucked in a very big way. Ugly. Expensive. Really didn't work. I ended up using a NeoTech strap. Less than half the price.

To the OP: Why don't you look into one of those upright stands that are used on NS basses, Kydd basses, etc. If it's good enough for Joe Dart . . .

 

[xnewyorka]

You could just buy this killer awesome 9 lb. 10 oz. 2012 L2K in brand new condition and be done with it.

 

[jbybj]

Lots of speculation and suggestions, which I appreciate. Potential downfalls will be addressed on an as need basis, the ultimate solution being, returning the bass to it’s original condition.

A new body may diminish the tone, or it may enhance it.

Reducing body weight may result in neck dive, or perfect balance. Currently it is quite butt heavy.
All shall be revealed. I’ll post updates as I go.

The easiest way to reduce weight of a bass is to sell the bass and buy a new lighter bass.

You could just buy this killer awesome 9 lb. 10 oz. 2012 L2K in brand new condition and be done with it.
View attachment 3423077

Yeah but my goal is 8 lbs.

Have you people learned nothing on Talkbass? Sometimes you find “the one”, in my case a mismatched parts bass. So no, I don’t want to buy and sell untold numbers of SB-2 necks and L2000 bodies trying to replicate the magic in a lighter version.
Yes I know, I may lose the magic anyway, but it will be cost effective, therapeutic, and reversible. And I may get lucky.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I had one of those. Not to be offensive but it sucked in a very big way. Ugly. Expensive. Really didn't work. I ended up using a NeoTech strap. Less than half the price.

To the OP: Why don't you look into one of those upright stands that are used on NS basses, Kydd basses, etc. If it's good enough for Joe Dart . . .

Everybody is different. For me it is a back saver that works very well and yes they are expensive. I was lucky enough to win mine in a raffle at a local music store.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Have you people learned nothing on Talkbass? Sometimes you find “the one”, in my case a mismatched parts bass. So no, I don’t want to buy and sell untold numbers of SB-2 necks and L2000 bodies trying to replicate the magic in a lighter version.
Yes I know, I may lose the magic anyway, but it will be cost effective, therapeutic, and reversible. And I may get lucky.

I understand that. When I built my 6 string, it ended up being the "one" for me. Even though it ended up heavier than I planned. It just feels right and sounds right. The one thing you need to consider when altering a body is that it may change the way it sounds. So if that is one of the things you like about it, you may not be happy with the finished product. Just something to consider.

 

[obimark]

i have a G&L parts bass. An SB-2 neck on an L2000 body. They are from 1986 and 1989, 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?
View attachment 3422516

I am sure it has been said- by the time you put all that effort in, you might as well just buy a lighter bass.

 

[jbybj]

I am sure it has been said- by the time you put all that effort in, you might as well just buy a lighter bass.

If you had read past the first post, you’d find that your assumption was confirmed, repudiated, and dismissed. I mention it here so you don’t have to slog through 3 pages of posts. You’re welcome.

 

[obimark]

If you had read past the first post, you’d find that your assumption was confirmed, repudiated, and dismissed. I mention it here so you don’t have to slog through 3 pages of posts. You’re welcome.

Fantastic, you have all the answers you need. Have a nice day. Please save us the time in the future and answer your own questions-

 

[jbybj]

Fantastic, you have all the answers you need. Have a nice day.

All the same information is there for you too. Avail yourself.

 

[waynobass]

Sell it and buy a lighter bass.

Don't tear it up. A buyer who doesn't mind the weight will appreciate it. There are a billion other basses out there for you to play.

It's not "the one" if it's too heavy for you.

 

[singlemalt]

I’d flip it for something lighter.

You get to go shopping for a new bass. Nothing beats that for spawning advice seeking threads and the whole thing will climax in a glorious NBD!

Even then is not over, there’s always the post NBD pillow talk about tort and flats.

So many svelte, sexy, sirens out there. You can’t fix heavy.

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

Just get one of these and play the bass. I use it for my 10lb+ 6 string and it makes it feel like half that. I'm over 60 with a bad back and it works great. Better than butchering up a nice bass.
DuoStrap Signature™

Exactly, no need to mess up a bass or buy a new body, buy a $150 strap that distributes the weight across both shoulders.

I might need to consider this for my 11 and 1/4 lbs Alembic. I use a wide strap and it is pretty decent but I would like it to feel a little lighter.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

i have a G&L parts bass. An SB-2 neck on an L2000 body. They are from 1986 and 1989, 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?
View attachment 3422516

Aarrghh!! Don’t touch it! Get another bass!

 

[Outbush]

On my way to work so I’ve only read the original post.

Stop!

Buy a cheap, light, comfy bass & neck that is light-any brand will do-put your electronics in it and see how it plays and sounds.

If it works, play it. If not extend the pu routes and move the pickups around a bit. If it works...

If not, take your electronics to a Luthier and get a quote.

Only then...

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, take some of the weight off your shoulder and put it on your hips.
I use a Slinger Strap system for all my basses. It might be the most low risk & cost effective option.
Hip Strap Videos
Good luck in your search.

 

[overit]

What’s your bass going to balance like on a strap if you drastically lighten the body? Sure you’ll lose the weight, but do you want a bass you constantly have to hold up with the fretting hand to keep it from diving?

 

[Acoop]

My guess is, that you'll go to all that trouble and it won't be worth the bother. ... Buying a new body from Walmoth might be easier and cheaper in the end. ... That said, you could route out everything under the pickguard down the the depth of the pickup caviety and that would take off maybe a pound, maybe more. ... Is it the neck or the electronics you like so much about the instrument? ...

 

[yodedude2]

skipped from p.1 to p.3...making a bass lighter is something i have experience with. if you chamber the body, you will alter the tone. not much, but YOU will notice. it will not be the same.

a 4.5 body is not that heavy. i target 4 lbs. or less for a body...and then i can get a single pickup bass into the 7-7.5 pound range. aluminum hardware is a must to achieve this: bridge, lightweight tuners, even string retainers! use plastic knobs, etc. the weight savings comes from using the lightest hardware available; ounces add up to pounds in aggregate. again, the tone will change, slightly, but YOU will notice.

if you are in love with the tone, don't do any irreversible mods...you may find yourself switching back to the heavy hardware in a year. if you chamber the body in any significant way, kiss the original tone bye-bye.

(then again, you might like the new tone better!)

 

[dbsfgyd1]

i have a G&L parts bass. An SB-2 neck on an L2000 body. They are from 1986 and 1989, 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?
View attachment 3422516

Just a thought, instead of shedding weight, how about lifting weights until this is not a problem? My other thought is instead of going through the histrionics of eliminating as much wood as possible, why sell this thing and buy different bass?