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Routing a bass to make it lighter

Mental Octopus

Mental Octopus

May 24, 2003
1,559
4
#1
I was just curious to hear the thoughts of people who have routed out part of a bass body to make it more lightweight.

Does it affect the sound, or anything else in a negative way?

I've heard of people routing out huge portions under the pickguards of Fender basses...and the reason I am asking is because I have a Stingray that I find to be a little too heavy at 10 lbs. This is an old bass with sentimental value, so I don't want to sell it...I can't afford to buy a lighter bass either. I don't feel bad about modifying because it has a different neck, and I love the bass so I have no plans on selling it.
 
#2
Mental Octopus said:
I was just curious to hear the thoughts of people who have routed out part of a bass body to make it more lightweight.

Does it affect the sound, or anything else in a negative way?

I've heard of people routing out huge portions under the pickguards of Fender basses...and the reason I am asking is because I have a Stingray that I find to be a little too heavy at 10 lbs. This is an old bass with sentimental value, so I don't want to sell it...I can't afford to buy a lighter bass either. I don't feel bad about modifying because it has a different neck, and I love the bass so I have no plans on selling it.
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umm, i would not do this. jeff
 
#3
Ive never heard of this : /

It sounds like an interesting idea, but are you sure thats what you want for your Stingray? I mean, hollow bodies do make a difference in sound (big, IMO). I think a hollow body might take away from the attraction to Stingrays.. but depends on the sound youre looking for. I suggest looking for soundclips of hollow body v. solid body basses just to make sure (unless you already know pretty well).
 
#4
I can think of 4 reasons not to do this, and there may well be more:

1) Neck dive
2) Change in tone, very possibly
3) Effect on value (you never know!)
4) Might not work from a comfort point of view (even if you take a whole pound of wood out, you may not notice the difference as far as overall weight goes, only the balance - see reason 1)

If you're buying a chambered bass, you can check out balance, tone etc beforehand and decide whether you like it, but here you're going to be stuck with the result, good or bad.

My recommendation would be looking for a wider, more comfortable strap if you can get one. Moody's are pricey, but unbeatable in this respect IMO.
 
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#6
Well, it's your bass you can do whatever you want with it. You mentioned it has a changed neck, but the neck thing is un-boltable, the value is only diminished until an original neck is bolted back in place.
But routing holes in a body, and the bass is worthless. You say you never want to sell it, but if you cut holes, you will never be able to sell it.
 
#10
I have a chambered-bodied bass, and it has great balance and tone, but it was designed that way. I would worry just because you would be taking away from the "known ideal" design of your bass and entering into the unknown. Since the bass has sentimental value, just save up until you can afford a custom that has a similar look and feel at a lighter weight.
 
#16
RyreInc said:
If you DO do it, make sure to save the leftover wood, so you can put it back if you want! :hiding:
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someone's not clear on how routers work...

I have a chambered bass that I love (TBC), but as mentioned above this is not something to do lightly. Also you want to be sure not to route in the space between the neck and the pickup(s) as this is very structural wood. On a stingray, I think that's the only place you could concievably route and have it stay under the PG.
NOT A GOOD PLAN!
 
#17
I also do not advise this procedure.:ninja:

Lets turn to physics for a sec. Bass produces low resonance long, high amplitude long waves. unlike guitar: trrrrrr its: buwow excuse my sound immitations. low frequency travels trough material with mass as apposed to high frequency that travels trough air (oversimplified and generalized I am sure) so the bigger the mass the better the sustain. You can almost definitely say that equal pickups/strings/amplification lighter body will resonate (shake) sooner and by vibrating will cancel out larger portion of low end. Heavy body will sustain a note and low freq better and loger.

Try just for fun, pluck a note with your bass on a light stand and then pluck it again putting the bass down on the floor and put some pressure on the headstock to make a firm contact with the floor, you will hear the difference, what happens is you ve just added mass.

But it is your bass of course and it totally is up to you. All things considered you have to enjoy playing it and be comfortable. in extreme case of having to do it I would sand the "belly notch", I would not rout anything but take a belt sander and go from the middle of the top horn towards the end.
If you still need more weight off do the same from the bottom.

I could never raise my sander upon a bass , not for this reason.;)
 
#18
Yellow said:
Try just for fun, pluck a note with your bass on a light stand and then pluck it again putting the bass down on the floor and put some pressure on the headstock to make a firm contact with the floor, you will hear the difference, what happens is you ve just added mass.
Click to expand...

I agree with you for the most part, but what you've described above is NOT adding mass. You're making firmer contact with the floor, thus transfering vibration better.

To test adding mass, stick a few clamps on your bass.
 
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#19
JansenW said:
Sadowsky reduces the weight of their NYC basses by routing. Roger states that it affects the tone in a positive direction.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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I think you're taking the Q&A out of context. The question is, about chambered bodies... so, its not like he's supporting drilling random holes into a body to lighten it up.

T.W. Essex asks: By routing chambers in your alder bodies to reduce weight, does this affect tone in any way? Also, what is your wood of choice for the best tone in bass bodies?

Roger Sadowsky answers: If the weight reduction does affect the tone, it does so in a positive direction. I have found all of the ones we have built to be warm and resonant.
Generally, we combine ash bodies with maple necks in the spirit of a '70s Fender (tight, bright, good for funk) and alder bodies with rosewood boards in the spirit of a '60s Fender (sweeter and warmer).
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#20
wow i'm pretty surprised to see the overwhelming amount of responses. well i slept on it last night, and sometime between breakfast and work i decided that i was being stupid and should not do it...and then i saw this! thanks for all of the responses guys!
 

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