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With my tail planted firmly between my legs, I apologize for my posts from years gone by. Join a gym, and stop complaining over 2 lbs.. I now lament those posts, as a nagging back issue (which I am determined to resolve) and steady 3 hour gigs 2-4x a week has me thinking maybe a stupidly light bass could make things a tad easier...
So, without further ado, please post your recommendations - along with links and prices. I already own a Danelectro, and I've been considering a Hofner, but I need to put a D-tuner on whatever I use and those would need to be altered. Anyhow... enough out of me.
I'd really like to see this turn into the ultimate thread for this purpose as the other's seem very scattered and you have to go searching for links and prices.
INCLUDE LINKS AND PRICES!!!!
EDIT----- 6 lbs. or less!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks.[/QUOTE
As others have posted, Hofner is my favorite.
Those travel basses sound really nice to me and i was considering one myself a while back. They didn't feel noticeably light for the size, as i recall, but because it's headless and of diminutive size there must be a weight reduction from a p-bass. Good idea.
It's under 6 pounds. I was asking in another thread if it really delivers PBass tones. Medium scale feels really good to me but I've only played medium JBasses.
The tone struck me as being surprisingly robust and p-bass-like. More so purhaps than a Mustang which shares p'up design. Might be worth a look/listen.
. I also have a 20% off coupon that's burning a hole through my email pocket....
If you don't find the time to do what you need to do, your back will MAKE you do what you need to do. When our body complains we better listen and react quickly.
@Honch , thanks for the thoughtfulness in your posts. Thanks everyone, actually - lots of great suggestions here. I agree that the bass isn't the issue. Truth be told, I think I'm just looking to justify yet another bass purchase. I already own several basses that are lighter than some of the basses suggested in this thread. Was hoping someone was going to post a bass I never saw before, loved, had to have, that weighed 4 lbs
Believe it or not @Honch , I have those sneakers! Bought them a while back when another company (Sketchers?) was putting out an identical product. Ultimately, they looked too ridiculous for me to continue wearing. I was literally getting laughed at, no joke, and while I didn't care terribly I thought maybe it wasn't the greatest idea. The band also is image conscious, so sitting, strange straps, and strange looking basses really isn't going to cut it.
All the other stuff is completely on the money. My back isn't hurting because of my bass playing, but 6 - 12 hours a week jumping around with a bass on certainly isn't helping. I'm sure it's the things I've been doing in the gym. I've pin-pointed a few of them (calf machines definitely being one), and adjusted my workouts accordingly. I went for physical therapy a few times, but need to find a place that will be more helpful. I learned a bunch of core training exercises that zero in where my back hurts. They know what's wrong, and that makes me happy as there is definitely room for recovery. Just need to find the time to do what I need to do, and stay committed to it.
Thanks again to everyone. This thread got much better response than I thought it would.
That was my thoughts too. That if your band is - or have to - be image conscious, then both straps, funny looking basses (Basslab, Gittler) is out of scope. However, this with the shoes thing bothers me a bit. If you say - by prescription - got told by your physiotherapist that you HAVE to wear them, then your band colleagues wont laugh at you. I have never ever gotten any flak or being a laughing stock at. Because: since they're sort of platform shoes, they make me look a tiny tad taller, since the soles are actually a tad taller too, and if they forces me to keep posture up, I "look" proud on stage. I do play weird ergonomic basses on stage too, headless, among other things, but not all of the time. Since you DO jump around and dance on stage, they're out of the picture. But I am not so sure, they MAY help if you use them off stage, and use them everyday, BUT whenever on stage. In the long run they keep your posture up, and whenever going back to the regular shoes, you still - by reflex and conditionally - keep your posture up, because the time you wear those regular shoes on stage, isn't long enough to bring your posture or body back into any slouched position or detrimental position for your back. But I get it, you're in more for an incentive to have GAS and buy a new bass, and if headless (regular with bodies) is out of scope for you, there's nothing much to do. However, I think in the long run, a lighter bass with like 2-3 lbs won't mitigate or cure your lower back problems at all.
I love this...solid finish available?Moonshine Custom DC bass. Medium scale, 6lbs.
Moonshine
And since the headline of the thread was "Ultimate lightweight bass thread" you're in for quite a lot of oddball stuff presented here anyway. Whether they are for you or not. Gittler bass, Status Bass, Basslabs and all those other outrageous designs, where the manufacturer has only aimed for that lightweight and minimalist designs.
