Light-weight basses? General question

[Steelman]

Not really a Guild-related question but:

A bass player that I work with plays a Fender Aerodyne. It is really light. But she wonders if there are basses out there that are even lighter. Caveat: she finds violin-style basses like Hofner hard to play.

Any ideas from you bass mavens?

Or can you recommend a strap to ease the weight on her shoulders? Thanks for your ideas!

 

[krysh]

The guild pilots are very light, esp. with covering colors. Here most of the bodies are poplar and weigh around 3,1-3,5 kg.

 

[fronobulax]

All my instruments are close enough in weight that I have no idea which ones weigh more. My guess is a Starfire might be lighter than what's she's used to. I suppose I should try and take one to a scale and report back.

My preferred strap is wide leather. 2-3" wide (and I should measure that, too) and rough on the downside so it doesn't slip. Narrower straps do find a way to "pinch" so I avoid them.

 

[mellowgerman]

I would recommend she check out Danelectro basses! Very cool, great sounding, and well-made. Most models are semi-hollow made with masonite, which is super lightweight. I think I've had a few over the years that were in the 5-6 lbs range.

EDIT: I originally said 4-5 lbs range, but 5-6 lbs is probably more accurate. Still silly light!

 

[lungimsam]

“Comfort Strapp” (for Bass, extra lg) definitely helps with comfort and non-slippage.

Sweetwater posts the weights of the basses they sell. Even same model can be 1/2lb. Difference.

Also, Slinger straps has a line of straps all made with comfort in mind. Stretchy straps. Also double shoulder harnesses and waist harnesses all to relieve strain. Though I find their stretchy straps a little too stretchy and bouncy for me.

 

[GGJaguar]

The problem is that when bass guitars get very light, they may suffer from neck dive. I've had several Fender style basses with that issue.

 

[twocorgis]

My best lightweight bass that has no neck dive is an empress wood body G&L JB. There's a small upcharge for the empress wood body, but it's well worth it. Mine tips the scales at 7.2 pounds (3.27kg) and more importantly is a flat out terrific bass. Next up is my Jack Casady Signature with Hipshot mods (Ultralite Tuners, Supertone bridge) at 7.8 pounds (~3.6kg), and you must figure in the $250 or so in mods to get there (and get rid of the neck dive on the stock ones). I've heard much about how light the poplar bodied Pilots are, but my bone stock example is 8.2 pounds (3.72kg). Still light by most standards, but hardly any lighter than the maple body ones I have.

 

[Steelman]

Thanks guys! Her Aerodyne is really light, about 7 lbs, so I really wonder if she is going to find anything lighter.

Yes, Jaguar and two corgis, the Aerodyne suffers a bit from neck dive too.

Lungimsam, I asked my man at Sweetwater this question too.

Herr German, she uses a wide strap already but I will check out those straps you recommended--and the Dannies. Danke!

 

[Guildedagain]

Old Danos are featherlight with fairly thumpy bass.

90's Danos were pretty light too, somewhat faithful to the originals.

My '65 Silvertone 1444 weighs under 6 1/4" lbs, I don't think there's anything that can beat that light of weight for this much tone.

Also to note, in another thread, using picks or fingers, when using a pick on a Dano, I don't think any other bass comes close to that Tic Tac sound that was on a lot of recordings back then.

 

[Steelman]

Thanks Guildedagain. I will look again at a Danelectro. One on the right reminds me of my first real electric guitar, but it was in that bronze finish. Remember those?

And my friend ordered a strap that she reports helps a lot!

 

[Guildedagain]

A 3" strap is a must for any kind of electric bass, as well as heavier guitars.

The bronze finish might have been one of these, this is from the 1960 Sears "Wish Book", the guitars were only available through the catalog, this is a short scale Dano U1 with unique pickup placement in the middle, aka Silvertone 1304 and apparently "sold very well, if today's collectors market is any indication".

 

[Steelman]

She ordered one of these and likes it.

Yes, Mom and Dad ordered the bronze "Silvertone" from Sears--my first electric guitar. What a thrill. Of course that was 1959; later, everybody played the guitar!

 

[Guildedagain]

Wait, does that harness just look like two straps?

Genius, one over each shoulder.

 

[jp]

Caveat: she finds violin-style basses like Hofner hard to play.

Has she ever tried the Hofner Club basses, which are a single cutaway Les Paul shape ? They're also super light and a blast to play. I adore mine.

Danelectros are a good suggestion. Lakland makes the Skyline Hollowbody-30, which is also short scale and semi-hollow. For solids, some of the Japanese Fender Mustangs are pretty light. I'm on the hunt for one for my wife.

 

[Steelman]

OK, she got the Slinger Strap Harness. Goes over both shoulders, and around the waist. So far she loves it but can't wait to test it out on one of hour rare gigs Friday.

 

[Steelman]

Friday night gig went great. Decent small crowd for southern New England rain/sleet/ice/snow storm. Our bass player wore the Slinger strap and loved it. She said she played better and didn't feel beat up after the gig. No neck drop. Again, she is playing a Fender Aerodyne bass. Bottom line? Slinger strap gets an A. And thanks to all for your suggestions.

 

[gilded]

All good information. Thanks to all participants!
gilded

 

[lungimsam]

Glad to hear it worked out great for her. That slinger strap company is really good especially for anyone having issues with weight or balance on their basses. They are very friendly customer service wise I have found.The slinger straps are extremely nice but mines a little too stretchy and bouncy for me but I want to break it out again and give it another try.

 

[Guildedagain]

I don't know why I put up with heavy instruments for so long, but can't do it anymore.

An average maul weighs 6lbs, and a rather heavy shoulder destroyer starts at 8lbs, so you do the math, you're basically holding on to a good sized sledge hammer, not fun for long. Insane sledgehammers start at 10lbs and go to 12lbs. Again, a good weight for a sledge hammer, not so much for a musical instrument.

Having a wild vintage strap collection, I can attest that many creak and groan under the weight of heavy guitars, the straps can't handle it well.

The solution?

Light guitars.

Old Danos may have wimpy pickups but they barely weigh anything.

 

[Steelman]

Guildedagain, she has tried Dano basses but they didn't feel right.

Lungimsam, yes, she reports great, fast customer service from the company.