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Need recommendations for light basses

U

unbridled

May 26, 2005
1,076
480
Montana
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist-Compton Compensated Custom Bridges (for Gretsch 6ers)
#1
I have spine issues and would like to know what you all think are good light weight basses. I prefer a 5 string but would go with a 4 string as long as the scale length is long enough for me to tune BEAD without it sounding flabby.

I love my Spector but it's just too heavy!
 
#3
Budget? I know many of the new school of luthiers like Cliff Bordwell, Elrick, and Chris Stambaugh are pretty good about turning out some pretty light gear. If you dig a thumpy fretless tone, Rob Allen is great! Cliff and Chris also specialize in a good low B at shorter scale lengths. Chris likes 33" scale and Cliff has sold a few 32" scale 6ers. If you like traditional stuff, Sadowsky has been making some sub 7lb 5 strings lately.
 
#8
Cool, that might be what I should go with. I thought they had to make a five string version of it but I couldn't find one. I hadn't checked AMS.

Thanks!!
 
#10
Try some Washburn basses. I have back/wrist/shoulder/elbow issues (mostly the night and day after gigs) and I wanted a lightweight bass.

I have a Washburn XB125 (5 string) that weighs in at 6.5 lbs (including wide leather strap).

It has an alder body. I think Alder weighs less than Ash, so maybe look into some basses with Alder bodies.
 
#11
I don't know what model Spector you have, but I recently switched from a Euro neck-thru Spector to a Rebop. The tone is very similar, almost identical, but the Rebop is MUCH lighter. I have enjoyed that bass immensely so far.

That point aside, the 2 lightest basses I've owned are a Dingwall Afterburner I and a Fender Am. Dlx. Jazz 4-string. For your needs, I think a Dingwall could be a great solution. The fanned frets would give you a 36.25" scale length on your low E string, so lowered tunings would be a snap if you went with the 4-string. My Dingwall was under 7.5 lbs, a real feather-weight for a 5-string. My Fender was right at 7.5 lbs, also very comfortable. Hope this helps.
 
#12
I had a Dean Edge Select 5 that was pretty light. Don't know the woods, but it was neck thru and had a flamed top. It sounded great and weighed much less than the Spector Legend 4 Bubinga it replaced. It was on the wall at a local resale shop for $150.
 
#13
Double Agent said:
I don't know what model Spector you have, but I recently switched from a Euro neck-thru Spector to a Rebop. The tone is very similar, almost identical, but the Rebop is MUCH lighter. I have enjoyed that bass immensely so far.

That point aside, the 2 lightest basses I've owned are a Dingwall Afterburner I and a Fender Am. Dlx. Jazz 4-string. For your needs, I think a Dingwall could be a great solution. The fanned frets would give you a 36.25" scale length on your low E string, so lowered tunings would be a snap if you went with the 4-string. My Dingwall was under 7.5 lbs, a real feather-weight for a 5-string. My Fender was right at 7.5 lbs, also very comfortable. Hope this helps.
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Ya I also own a Spector Rebop(mines a Zebop) and its the lightest bass I have played, btw what Spector did you have? Most of the 4 strings that I know of aren't "that" heavy.(except for the Rex)
 
#14
My Spector is a Q5. It's not super heavy but for some reason is heavier than other Q5s I've played. Maybe it's just the differences in specific pieces of wood.
 
#16
Sub-seven pounds and 34" scale?

Jay Turser JTB-401, a 1954 Precision copy. With La Bella flats it sounds wonderful! About 6.5 pounds, 34" scale, classic looks, and can be bought for $150-$200.

It's a bit of a neck diver, but any 34" scale bass under 7 pounds is likely to have that problem. I added a bridge cover to mine and about 11 oz. of adhesive tire weights under the cover, which balanced it nicely but raised the weight to about 7.5 pounds.

PB220356.jpg
 
#19
loonybob123 said:
Ya I also own a Spector Rebop(mines a Zebop) and its the lightest bass I have played, btw what Spector did you have? Most of the 4 strings that I know of aren't "that" heavy.(except for the Rex)
Click to expand...

I had a NS5CRFM. Which is not a 4-string, it was a 5er. Sounded great, but it weighed 11.5 lbs. which is just too much for me. I do 4 hours a night, 2-3 nights a week and after the 2nd night my neck and shoulder were in a lot of pain. Of course, my neck is in pretty bad shape after a couple car crashes, but I don't think my experience is isolated by any means. I also had a NS4CRFM, same bass in a 4 string. It was much lighter, but I preferred the sound of the 5er. My Rebop 5 is the perfect solution for me. Weight of the 4 string, tone of the 5er. There are still lighter basses out there, but the weight on this is more than manageable.
 
#20
OK I know I'm beating this thread to death but now, I'm thinking I can use my Spector when I need it and I can use a standard or even a short scale tuned standard for average/easy tunes. If I go short scale, what do you suggest?

Being able to switch up when I need to should be enough to keep the pain at bay.
 

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