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Well, I did it… Now what?

Bonecat

Bonecat

Supporting Member
Oct 22, 2005
1,189
2,170
Michigan
#1
Following up on my previous post, I finally decided to sell my 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Had a long discussion with my wife about it as she bought for me back in 1999 and it was my first "nice" instrument. Turns out I was the only one sentimental about it. Listed it and it sold in 3 days to the first person that looked at it. So. Now what?

I'm a broken old guy with serious neck and shoulder injuries so weight is a very real thing, particularly as my band is gigging again and I have to be able to wear the bass for 4 hours without being crippled. That means something in the 7 to low 8lb range. I only play 4 strings and want 34-35" scale. I love the sound of a good J and especially like the J neck size/shape. I also need an instrument that can deliver modern 'hifi" sounds, so that means preamp, etc. My budget will stretch to $1.5k - $2k, but not beyond. So I can afford a nice instrument, but probably not anything truly vintage or high-end boutique. I'll gig with it on small stages in small to medium sized venues. It's probably gonna get beat up a bit, so relic'd finishes are fine with me.

With all that noted, what would you be looking at ?
 
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#3
Bonecat said:
Following up on my previous post, I finally decided to sell my 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Had a long discussion with my wife about it as she bought for me back in 1999 and it was my first "nice" instrument. Turns out I was the only one sentimental about it. Listed it and it sold in 3 days to the first person that looked at it. So. Now what?

I'm a broken old guy with serious neck and shoulder injuries so weight is a very real thing, particularly as my band is gigging again and I have to be able to wear the bass for 4 hours without being crippled. That means something in the 7 to low 8lb range. I only play 4 strings and want 34-35" scale. I love the sound of a good J and especially like the J neck size/shape. I also need an instrument that can deliver modern 'hifi" sounds, so that means preamp, etc. My budget will stretch to $1.5k - $2k, but not beyond. So I can afford a nice instrument, but probably not anything truly vintage or high-end boutique. I'll gig with it on small stages in small to medium sized venues. It's probably gonna get beat up a bit, so relic'd finishes are fine with me.

With all that noted, what would you be looking at ?
Click to expand...
Almost every Thundergun is 8 lbs or less.
Not a Jazz, not a P bass, but very versatile, passive and powerful, never needed a preamp with this one...and you won't have to look at 20 basses hoping to find an acceptable-looking Pau Ferro fretboard, we're talking Blackwood Tek.
Pics-Art-09-15-01-20-41.jpg


 
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#7
Bonecat said:
what would you be looking at ?
Click to expand...
i say this here (on TB) a lot, but i'll repeat: a parts ax! you can actually 'build' one to your liking and factor in the lightweight bit! FWIW: premium parts aren't cheap (e.g., hardware, electronics), but none of these cost over $750 USD.*

7 lbs.
J copy.png

7 lbs.
red P copy.png

6.2 lbs.
front and back copy.png

* edit: average cost of parts (three pictured) = $575 USD 2019-2021
 
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#10
Valenti's can be pretty darn light.
I know you said 34-35" scale but the "Cat" nordstrand bass could be the perfect thing for your physical woes. I have herniated discs in my back and neck and going to short scale has really helped.
Might be worth looking at other options to take care of yourself
 
#12
Bonecat said:
Following up on my previous post, I finally decided to sell my 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Had a long discussion with my wife about it as she bought for me back in 1999 and it was my first "nice" instrument. Turns out I was the only one sentimental about it. Listed it and it sold in 3 days to the first person that looked at it. So. Now what?

I'm a broken old guy with serious neck and shoulder injuries so weight is a very real thing, particularly as my band is gigging again and I have to be able to wear the bass for 4 hours without being crippled. That means something in the 7 to low 8lb range. I only play 4 strings and want 34-35" scale. I love the sound of a good J and especially like the J neck size/shape. I also need an instrument that can deliver modern 'hifi" sounds, so that means preamp, etc. My budget will stretch to $1.5k - $2k, but not beyond. So I can afford a nice instrument, but probably not anything truly vintage or high-end boutique. I'll gig with it on small stages in small to medium sized venues. It's probably gonna get beat up a bit, so relic'd finishes are fine with me.

With all that noted, what would you be looking at ?
Click to expand...
You should absolutely look at getting a strap that goes over both shoulders. I had some really bad upper back/neck problems from years of playing many nights per week. I looked for light weight basess And bought a couple. it helped but wasn't the best solution. I bought a double shoulder strap from the D'Addario just to try. That was 15 years ago and I've never looked. never had to worry about bass weight again. 100% comfortable in balanced.
 
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#13
I think I'd be talking to Nino Valenti about a chambered body bass. He's a nice guy, very open to working around a customer's needs and his prices are very, very reasonable for what you get. No affiliation here and I don't own one of his instruments, I'm just impressed by him and his basses.

The other option is a Warmoth parts bass with a chambered alder body. That's bound to be very light.
 
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#15
Bonecat said:
Following up on my previous post, I finally decided to sell my 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Had a long discussion with my wife about it as she bought for me back in 1999 and it was my first "nice" instrument. Turns out I was the only one sentimental about it. Listed it and it sold in 3 days to the first person that looked at it. So. Now what?

I'm a broken old guy with serious neck and shoulder injuries so weight is a very real thing, particularly as my band is gigging again and I have to be able to wear the bass for 4 hours without being crippled. That means something in the 7 to low 8lb range. I only play 4 strings and want 34-35" scale. I love the sound of a good J and especially like the J neck size/shape. I also need an instrument that can deliver modern 'hifi" sounds, so that means preamp, etc. My budget will stretch to $1.5k - $2k, but not beyond. So I can afford a nice instrument, but probably not anything truly vintage or high-end boutique. I'll gig with it on small stages in small to medium sized venues. It's probably gonna get beat up a bit, so relic'd finishes are fine with me.

With all that noted, what would you be looking at ?
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear you're having health problems that interfere with your playing. A couple thoughts:

1. Try a Steinberger. An original might be over your budget, maybe, but clones are also available, cheap.
2. Please don't hate me for this -- modify a Fender Bronco. I put a gold Lace Sensor guitar pickup in a Fender Bronco and it sounds really good! You can address the "modern sounds" part on the pedalboard, and you would have quite as much of a backache at the end of the night.

Hope you find a bass to suit your needs.
 
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#16
Bonecat said:
I'm a broken old guy with serious neck and shoulder injuries so weight is a very real thing, particularly as my band is gigging again and I have to be able to wear the bass for 4 hours without being crippled. That means something in the 7 to low 8lb range. I only play 4 strings and want 34-35" scale. I love the sound of a good J and especially like the J neck size/shape. I also need an instrument that can deliver modern 'hifi" sounds, so that means preamp, etc. My budget will stretch to $1.5k - $2k, but not beyond.
Click to expand...

IBANEZ. SR series. Low 7 pound range most of them, all the bells n' whistles, easy playing necks.
 
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#18
Actually, I don't have to look any farther than my bass herd - the TKL cases marked "99 Dano DC59 Pro". Out of all my 23 basses, the DC59s have the nicest necks - by far. Slim, thin flattened D contour, and slick as goose grease. You want light? Try 6.1 lbs. And, like every Dano I've ever played, it's a "string chameleon". Changing strings will completely change the tone of the thing. Since I'm left handed, the late '90s, Gen 1 re-issue Danos are where I have to shop (although they currently make a lefty Longhorn). A righty should have a lot less trouble getting one, though. I have 2 of these things. One is strung with 39-96 La Bella 760FX's - and sounds like a Dano. The other is wearing Fender 9050L's - and sounds like... well, like a bass wearing Fender flats. If you weren't playing it, you'd never know it was a Dano....:cool:
 
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