The hunt for a light weight bass

[hyperdoc]

What's the budget? My Serek Lincoln 32" scale is 7lbs and change, I believe - feels feather light, has great balance and sounds amazing.

 

[rmayer]

Yes, your budget. Sandberg California TT4 Superlight around 6 pounds with 19mm spacing (adjustable). But they’re close to $3 K.
Try to find a used G&L with the Empress body. I’ve had LB100s (P bass) that were in the 6 pound range.

 

[pb9717]

Anything made from Paulonia (empress wood) is gonna likely be below 7lbs. Unfortunately tone wise, the instruments suffer vs a more dense (and heavier) wood.

But if you’re willing to look past the tone issue, then there are several to consider. Spector RST, Cort GB modern, the newer growler, the Sandberg, amongst others.

Sadowsky’s chambered bodies are many times below 8lbs as well and provide a far superior tone vs any Paulonia instrument.

 

[mikecd1]

I think Reverend basses are usually on the very light~6 lb range. Sweetwater has the weights posted on these and they are light tho I don't know much about their sound.

 

[Malak the Mad]

@BassBeginer64; I'm very sorry to hear about your injuries. I hope you can overcome this setback. It's not much from such a distance, but I am a veteran massage/neuromuscular therapist who specializes in pain relief. If you ever want to pick my brain as a second/third/fourth opinion, feel free to ask. The worst I can say is, "Sorry…I dunno!"

I believe the Aerodynes can get into the 7 pound range as well.

Sometimes, but not always. The seller would have to verify the weight. Mine is 8lb. 6oz. with the additional Hipshot Drop-D tuner. However, it…

1. …balances very well.
2. …would definitely be even lighter if I replaced the tuners with 3/8th-inch post Ultralites.

That being said, I would not recommend an Aerodyne until they got to try one out, first. The hard angle of the binding can cut into the forearm unless one lifts the elbow and forearm. If the OP has injuries to his right shoulder, then it could be a setback in the early stages of recovery. Depending on the nature of the injury and the pace of recovery, however, that extra lift could be a good tool for rehabilitation in the future.

 

[sheesh]

Yes, your budget

And what are your preferences?

Lightest bass that I have ever played is the Strandberg Boden Bass. 6 lb 2 oz (2.79k) (4 string)
Personally I hate the too short upper horn on this bass, (no where near the 12th fret), and the placement of the strap button on the back of the horn.
EHB Ibanez less expensive - you can find them close to 7 lbs, and the design of the upper horn is MUCH better on this bass.
I have a lightweight Fender Jazz made of pine.

Problem is, generally, (I am sure there are exceptions), that the cheaper basses are heavier.

 

[danharris]

EHB is going to be in the 7 pound range. The body is surprisingly chunky.

Maybe the Ibanez Mikro? I couldn't find weight info but I'd bet they're under 6 lb., and the bridge has 19mm string spacing just like a long-scale four-string.

i got my kid a mikro light like a cheap sr but sized down for a 10 year old no scale for weight but its short short. like they just cut you last 3 frets off, 28 inch maybe, probaly 6 lbs , 7 tops

 

[pjb15]

Anything made from Paulonia (empress wood) is gonna likely be below 7lbs. Unfortunately tone wise, the instruments suffer vs a more dense (and heavier) wood.

But if you’re willing to look past the tone issue, then there are several to consider. Spector RST, Cort GB modern, the newer growler, the Sandberg, amongst others.

Sadowsky’s chambered bodies are many times below 8lbs as well and provide a far superior tone vs any Paulonia instrument.

I own two Paulowia bass and they both sound great. No one I work with can tell the difference.

 

[Nedmundo]

I own two Paulowia bass and they both sound great. No one I work with can tell the difference.

Similar here. I have a Sandberg TT-5 Superlight (J5), and used to have a G&L JB-5, both in paulownia. Both have/had some issues, but tone was not among those issues. My Sandberg has exceptional acoustic resonance, and while string-to-string balance isn't ideal for some reason, the fundamental tone is excellent, and the B string is better than the B on my alder G&L M-2500. I also had a paulownia G&L Comanche guitar, which was excellent.

Also, I'll echo the Reverend recommendation. They use korina for bodies, which results in lighter instruments on average. If you want a short scale, the Sentinel is excellent IMO.

 

[ga_edwards]

I haven't weighed it, but my Ibanez EHB1005SMS (short multiscale - 30" to 32") is incredibly light and ergonomic. The shorter scale makes for easy reach to the first fret. Estimating around 7lbs.

My other lightest bass, that I wish I had kept, was a Yamaha RBX4/A2. Again, around 7lbs. Could be worth a hunt.

 

[brianrost]

I have no idea what the string spacing is, but Danelectros are very light. Mine is 5 pounds, it’s a short scale.

Steinbergers aren’t as light as you might think. My L2 is 8 pounds and my NS Radius CR5 is 9 pounds (the CR4 is probably lighter as it is 34” scale, not 35” like the CR5 and the bridge assembly weighs less).

 

[MochaFiend]

Same here. I fractured my spine in three places in 2016 and haven't been right since. Here is your game changer:

Strandberg Boden Bass Standard 4 - Natural | Sweetwater - 6 pounds 2 ounces

Strandberg Boden Bass Standard 4 - Charcoal Satin | Sweetwater - 5 pounds 15 ounces.

All of their basses are below 7 pounds. You won't find a lighter full-scale bass, imo. I now own both the four and five string versions, and both are under 7 pounds.

 

[GypsyBilly]

I think Reverend basses are usually on the very light~6 lb range. Sweetwater has the weights posted on these and they are light tho I don't know much about their sound.

I think the Reverend Dub King sounds awesome; mine is strung with chromes and punches well with the stock “brick” pickups.

 

[jd56hawk]

You're talking about a hollow-body bass...even most semi-hollow basses are 7 pounds or more.
Your search is over.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I was in auto accinent a few weeks back and incurred shoulder and elbow injuries , so playing my standard 9 to 10 lbs bass’s are a bit painfull to play.

I like to continue my practicing but with a lightweight bass with 19mm string spacing and in the 5 to 6 lbs range. with a fixed bridge and saddles . 30-32-34 - all will work.

Sweetwater shows instrument weights, and allows weight-based sorting, which is great for finding something light.

The headless Ibanez ehb series can get very lightweight.

My gretsch short scale is also very light.

If you have the $ to spend, you can have a Kiesel built chambered with lightweight woods.

Good luck!

 

[gln1955]

The Cort GB short scale I have came in just under 7 lbs. It has a compact poplar body. I switched out the tuners to Hipshot Ultralights and brought that down another quarter pound. It's an impressive, well made bass for the price.

 

[JRA]

Anything made from Paulonia (empress wood) is gonna likely be below 7lbs. Unfortunately tone wise, the instruments suffer vs a more dense (and heavier) wood.

i have six axes with paulownia bodies: none of them suffer "tone wise."

maybe you got a lemon!

 

[pb9717]

I own two Paulowia bass and they both sound great. No one I work with can tell the difference.

Unfortunately my experience has been the opposite. Had an RST for a few months in 24’….sound just wasnt there. Also had the Cort GBModern and it suffered the same lack of fundamental. I’ve A/B’d a new Empress wood Growler against an older 9lb Ash bodied one and the difference was striking. Although I haven’t played a sandberg, so I cannot directly speak to that particular bass. And of course, there’s going to be better and worse sounding instruments made of the exact same materials. My comment reflected my personal experience with that tonewood, but of course, your’s appears quite different. Bygones.

 

[Jhass]

I was in auto accinent a few weeks back and incurred shoulder and elbow injuries , so playing my standard 9 to 10 lbs bass’s are a bit painfull to play.

I like to continue my practicing but with a lightweight bass with 19mm string spacing and in the 5 to 6 lbs range. with a fixed bridge and saddles . 30-32-34 - all will work.

Sandberg “Superlight” models. My VM4 (P and MM pickups) weighs 5 lbs 13 oz. It has moveable saddles, but other than that might be perfect for you. It is an extremely well made instrument, sounds great, and balances nicely. They ain’t cheap, and there’s a long wait on orders, but they are sometimes on Reverb used. Like this jazz bass, which is only 5 pounds 6 oz

https://reverb.com/item/93726732-sa...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=93726732

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Under 4 lbs: Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Bass Guitar - Gloss Black