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Tricks to lower the weight on a bass?

#22
I am not familiar with EB basses, but I have 'chambered' a few and done several other things to lighten Fender/Squier basses ... with that said, two pounds is virtually unachievable ... the amount of weight reduced with chambering is dependent on how deep you go ... under a Fender Jazz pickguard, 1/2 lb is about the max ... next to that, it is hardware .. but I would be surprised if you could ever get over 1 lb max off of a bass ... generally, I can drop a 9.25 bass down to about 8.5 doing everything, but that is about it ...
 
#23
The replacements I installed were Hipshot HB1's. There essentially the same as what are on there, only the stem is longer.

They do have Ultralites with clover shaped keys, however the holes would not align. So you'd probably have a new hole to drill per tuner and the other screw holes for the tuners removed would be showing. I have seen it done, but it doesn't necessarily look that good if that type of stuff bothers you.
 
#24
Smallmouth_Bass said:
The replacements I installed were Hipshot HB1's. There essentially the same as what are on there, only the stem is longer.

They do have Ultralites with clover shaped keys, however the holes would not align. So you'd probably have a new hole to drill per tuner and the other screw holes for the tuners removed would be showing. I have seen it done, but it doesn't necessarily look that good if that type of stuff bothers you.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I suppose I would have to go the HB1 route then, when you said 25% how many ounces or pounds would you guess that was?
 
#25
tjh said:
I am not familiar with EB basses, but I have 'chambered' a few and done several other things to lighten Fender/Squier basses ... with that said, two pounds is virtually unachievable ... the amount of weight reduced with chambering is dependent on how deep you go ... under a Fender Jazz pickguard, 1/2 lb is about the max ... next to that, it is hardware .. but I would be surprised if you could ever get over 1 lb max off of a bass ... generally, I can drop a 9.25 bass down to about 8.5 doing everything, but that is about it ...
Click to expand...

When you chambered these basses did it have any negative side effects? Tone, neck dive, etc etc?
 
#26
I dropped almost a pound of my ATK300, it was 10.27 and now it's 9.29. I did this by changing out the heavy chrome knobs for plastic jazz hats, the honkin big bridge for a lighter Fender one and also routing out some of the preamp cavity a bit more. I did it in different stages, didn't notice a change in tone with the preamp cavity routed out, but didn't lose a whole lot of weight either.
 
#28
IMHO, trying to shave that much weight off a bass is foolish. Polishing a turd. Except that some folks wouldn't consider it a turd. There are guys who prefer heavy basses and love Rays.

Sell or trade it.
 
#29
Probably not easy to lower the weight enough. Maybe chambering as discussed, and lightweight tuners.

Tricks to lower the perceived weight of a bass?

I use a waist belt (something like a weight lifter belt, and an extra strap pin on the back of the upper horn) to support most of the weight on my hips instead of the shoulder.

Or you could tie helium balloons to the bass. Probably only works for weddings or birthday party gigs for kids though. :)
 
#33
aparker82 said:
Howdy y'all,

I love my Ray35 but at 10.4 pounds it doesn't take long till it starts to bother me, because of this I've been playing my P5 that comes in at 8.2 pounds instead.

Are there some tricks for me to shave a couple of pounds off this bass?

Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

You're lucky, my 94 SR5 with alder body weighs in close to 12 pounds. And yes, I don't play it much:( Jim
 
#34
My Line 6 five string weighed over 12 lbs. After it was damaged in a truck accident, I chambered the body, dropping about 3 lbs from it. I have arthritis and my shoulder had been killing me after a couple sets, despite using a wide, Neotech padded strap.

I switched to a Slinger Waist Strap, and got the weight off my shoulder. I'll never go back to a shoulder strap.

http://slingerstraps.com/
 
#36
This is an inherent vice of the instrument. You can't "fix" it without destroying the bass as well as the value of the bass.

Sell it and get something that works for you, or get a better strap and live with it.

There are no viable third options that forty-plus years of working on and selling basses suggest to me.
 
#37
Steve Dallman said:
My Line 6 five string weighed over 12 lbs. After it was damaged in a truck accident, I chambered the body, dropping about 3 lbs from it. I have arthritis and my shoulder had been killing me after a couple sets, despite using a wide, Neotech padded strap.

I switched to a Slinger Waist Strap, and got the weight off my shoulder. I'll never go back to a shoulder strap.

http://slingerstraps.com/
Click to expand...

Can you describe the chambering process you used? It might be an option for me, Thanks.
 

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