Purpose Built Lightweight Basses?

[Smallmouth_Bass]

As overall bass weight has been an increasing topic of discussion and of concern for many players, I wonder how many manufacturers have models that were designed with reduced weight as the main feature or one of the main features in mind.

Which manufacturers or builders are building lightweight basses? For the purpose of establishing a standard, let's say 8 lbs (3.63 kg) or less. Plus, let's try to stick to instruments that have decent balance.

Photos, links and personal experiences are welcome!

The ones I know of:

Bass Lab
BassLab – Basses & Guitars – BassLab is a manufacturer of lightweight, monocoque guitars and basses made from "tuneable composite".

Sandberg "Superlight" Series
California 'T' Series - Sandberg Guitars

Danalectro
Baritone & Bass | Danelectro Guitars

Sadowsky NYC
(Although not all sub-8lb basses, usually chambered to reduce weight.)
http://www.sadowsky.com

And a look at the recently redesigned StingRay Special shows great efforts to trim weight where they can without losing the StingRay character.
MusicMan StingRay Special
StingRay Special Collection | Ernie Ball Music Man

I think that by design of the small bodies, the Ibanez Soundgear mostly quality by default.
SR | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

Similarily, Steinbergers - the stick models - should be mostly lightweight by design.
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What else do you have?

 

[mikewalker]

I am offering this one for sale right now: 5.00 pounds

The maker says this bass features "Unprecedented Lightness..."

 

[abarson]

Yamaha RBX4 A2
Seems to have been discontinued, but a worthy and very light instrument.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am offering this one for sale right now: 5.00 pounds

The maker says this bass features "Unprecedented Lightness..."

I have never seen one of those. What is it?

 

[mikewalker]

Let's not forget HOFNER:

my last Beatle Bass was 4.4 pounds, soaking wet

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Yamaha RBX4 A2
Seems to have been discontinued, but a worthy and very light instrument.

I forgot to mention those! I am always keeping an eye out for a 5-string one.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Let's not forget HOFNER:
View attachment 3729992

Of course!

 

[SwitchGear]

Keisel offers a chambered body option plus for $50 they will handpick the lightest piece of body wood , for custom orders

 

[4sight]

Those Glarry/Exquisite/Burning Fire cheapies are sub 7lbs at the other end of the market

 

[mikewalker]

Keisel offers a chambered body option plus for $50 they will handpick the lightest piece of body wood , for custom orders

I wrote to them about that but they would not deign to give me even a ballpark estimate on the weight of a chambered 'lightest possible" Vader. In fact they would not even confirm for me what would be the lightest choice of wood species in the stock they had on hand... $50 crapshoot?

 

[Eilif]

Weight is one of the main features of Wendlers. Mine is a 35" and weighs 5.8 pounds!
NBD: Wendler Electrocoustic (Custom Cedar-Bodied 35" Fretless)

It's a cedar body made extremely light with an arched top and bowled-out back. The pickup sits on top of the body.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Weight is one of the main features of Wendlers. Mine is a 35" and weighs 5.8 pounds!
NBD: Wendler Electrocoustic (Custom Cedar-Bodied 35" Fretless)

It's a cedar body made extremely light with an arched top and bowled-out back. The pickup sits on top of the body.

Very interesting. I have never heard of Wendler before. I can't imagine you can get too much lighter than that.

 

[mongo2]

For me the Hofner 500/1 and Club bass are the original built to be lightweight basses. I use a Hofner Ignition Club as my primary lightweight bass at 4lbs 8oz.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Dingwall's ABZ line was made out of swamp ash for weight (as well as tone.)

ABZ

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Fender had a model that they called something along the lines..

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Rick Turner's Renaissance line weighs in at ~5 lbs.

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[Smallmouth_Bass]

Rick Turner's Renaissance line weighs in at ~5 lbs.

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I wonder what the Electroline models weigh in at.

 

[nostatic]

Rob Allen basses are usually in the 5-7.5 lb range. My Deep 4 is 7.1 lbs

www.roballenguitars.com

 

[micguy]

I build my own. Ever single bass I have is at or under 8 pounds (all of them use Warmoth wood). The heaviest, at 8 pounds, is a 5 stringer. But a 5 string doesn't have to be that heavy - I have one that weighs in at 7.1. The lightest overall is a 6.6 pounder:

 

[Iridescentone]

I wonder what the Electroline models weigh in at.

I can tell you that mine (MMP4) weighs exactly nine pounds, right at the outer edge of my limit. I once had the fiver version, ash body, that weighed fully ten pounds.