solo4652 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) Folks, Apologies for this post which may well overlap with lots of others. Here goes; Because of Arthritis in my neck, I need to find a lightweight full scale bass that's giggable through a standard head/cab rig in a pub covers band. I've searched the web and come up with some ideas, but I may well have missed something obvious. Don't mind any "left field" suggestions - don't hold back! Here's the shopping list; Full-scale The lighter, the better Fretted Plays through a GKMB500/Tecamp rig Sounds good enough to be an honest bass for, errrm, Dr Feelgood, Fleetwood Mac... Active or passive - I don't mind Budget; £400 - £500 I'm aware of the Sinsonido, and that's a possibility How about an electro-acoustic? All suggestions greatfully received. Steve Edited August 2, 2016 by solo4652 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 I am sure there are lighter ones but the lightest full scale basses I have owned are a Danelectro DC59 and a Godin LR Baggs electro-acoustic. Although the latter may be pushing the budget. Both are under 7lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 What about a headless bass like a Hohner. I have a friend who has one and in a band situation it sounds fine and weighs next to nothing. http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-editions/guitar-interactive-issue-22/reviews/hohner-b2-headless-bass/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 I had a Bass Collection that would certainly fit the bill in terms of sound and weight. Don't know if the look would suit but don't see why not. Recently I've needed to go lighter for gigging. Due to the nature of the venues that I'm currently playing, not keen on taking along my lighter vintage Fenders or my very lovely Dingwall. So, I've put together a P bass, with G&L pups and a Fender Japanese neck. The lightest P bass body I could find was a Squier, so that's what I went with. Sounds great and is only slightly over 8lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 There used be a company called Wesley, who made cheap entry level guitars. I had one of the Monarch models a few years ago as a back up. It was so light I forgot I was wearing it. I dont know if they are still around, but they didnt sound too bad either. https://www.amazon.co.uk/WESLEY-MONARCH-SOLID-ELECTRIC-GUITAR/dp/B000PSNNBU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Yamaha Rbx 4A - had one in a trade, took it with the sole intention of moving it on, but great bass nonetheless, you would hardly know it was on your shoulder! These basses are designed to be light, unlike the lottery of standard bass weights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troubadour Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Timely topic for me Steve. I'm just going through a similar "light-sizing" exercise. I've managed to get down to 7 1/2lbs with Yamaha. And I'm impressed with the quality you get for the money. A couple of basses I had suggested to me when I first started my quest were a Fender Precision Lyte and a Fender Cabronita. I imagine they would certainly look the part. Unfortunately I never tracked any down to assess though. I'll be following your thread with interest, thanks for raising it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 If a P bass is OK, then get hold of a Squier VM fretless P and swap the neck with a fretted one. When I did that, I ended up with a bass just below 7lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Epiphone Jack Casady signature. It's fully hollow and sounds/plays great. There's a schmexy looking white one in the sale forum at the moment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 I had a fondle of one of Sibobs Maryuzathingumibobs at the recent Herts Bash. Think it has a chambered body. Full size, feather light. Lovely bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Ibanez SoundGears are very light - I've had 3, and my current one (SR500) is under 7lbs. The very skinny necks can be a bit marmite though. Logically though, headless is the way to go if you're OK with the look. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 What about a Hofner 500/1? Super light. Classic look. I like the model in black. The comtemporary series sound pretty modern too as they have a solide piece of wood inside the body for sustain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Gear4music L.A. Bass. (P bass) The body is made from super lightweight (very resonant) Paulownia wood. They are gigable but so cheap you could mod it nicely and easily still come in under budget: http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/LA-Bass-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural/5TQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Aren't the Chowny hollow body basses now made in long scale? Cool colours and look too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1465663380' post='3070082'] Logically though, headless is the way to go if you're OK with the look. [/quote] You would have thought so. *I* would have thought so. Given that so much of what is usually there isn't there. But I have had a number of Hohner B2 derivatives and they have all been well over 7lbs. One was nearly 9lbs. Lord knows what they make them out of. I have owned several 'full bodied' basses that have been lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburstjazz1967 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 +1 on the ibanez sr500 series, great sounding versatile well built basses ime. Light as a light thing too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 My Maruszczyk's are around 7.2lbs each. Both play & sound like great P's should, and have no neck-dive at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 Folks, I think I'm looking for a somewhat more radical solution. I'm looking for something seriously lightweight, but giggable. Something like the Sinsonido, or similar. So - get radical - step outside of the "normal" bass shape....Go on, be creative... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) [quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1465669627' post='3070138'] Folks, I think I'm looking for a somewhat more radical solution. I'm looking for something seriously lightweight, but giggable. Something like the Sinsonido, or similar. So - get radical - step outside of the "normal" bass shape....Go on, be creative... [/quote] http://news.baileyguitars.co.uk/index.php/2011/04/bailey-custom-one-string-bass-77-assembly-and-set-up/ Edited June 11, 2016 by Billy Apple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 The Hofner's are fine, but not long-scale. My Verithin weighs... well, it just doesn't, but it's medium-scale. Is that too far 'out of the box'..? Eminently giggable; I've done loads. No good for 'slap', though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1465670594' post='3070145'] [/quote] Love it 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Warwick Corvette - ash body. Not out of the ordinary but mine seems to weigh nothing in comparison to G&L and Kramer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Cort curbow. Dead light. Dead cheap, dead good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) Kala solid body ubass, or a better built equivalent. Edit: oops! Missed the full scale requirement... Something ibanez soundgear-ish then. Edited June 11, 2016 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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