My next bass project.

Sporky

Under 7lb is an interesting target - I thought I'd made Sporkbasster 1 pretty light for a bass, but it's 8lb 1oz. Pretty thick body, though, hefty Hipshot bridge, two big humbuckers, preamp with battery, blah blah.

I wonder (more practical for a scratchbuild than modding) if losing the truss rod in favour of lots of carbon in the neck would help much. Thin neck, 2+2 headstock, poplar body might all help.

fretmeister

My Sandberg jazz type TT4 Superlight is under 6.5lb.

It has a cedar body and Norwegian maple neck. The newer ones use paulownia for the body.

No need for basses to be as heavy as they usually are.

DavidRees

there is always https://strandbergguitars.com/eu/product/boden-bass-original-4-natural/ @ 6lbs 

fretmeister

DavidRees said:

there is always https://strandbergguitars.com/eu/product/boden-bass-original-4-natural/ @ 6lbs 

I've seen one in the flesh and I was not at all convinced it was worth the money. Wasn't any better built than my sub 7lb 5 string Ibanez EHB

I've already got a Sandberg Superlight too.

This project is more about what can be done to an existing bass rather than just buying a new bass. It's an experiment for a bit of fun.

JezWynd

You could always follow Pete Shelley's example...

DavidRees

fretmeister said:

DavidRees said:

there is always https://strandbergguitars.com/eu/product/boden-bass-original-4-natural/ @ 6lbs 

I've seen one in the flesh and I was not at all convinced it was worth the money. Wasn't any better built than my sub 7lb 5 string Ibanez EHB

I've already got a Sandberg Superlight too.

This project is more about what can be done to an existing bass rather than just buying a new bass. It's an experiment for a bit of fun.

sorry for the misunderstanding - your point is well taken - good luck with the experimentation ...

fretmeister

No problem.

I've got some more parts that have now arrived so I can start removing the preamp & battery stuff.

Then I can weigh that lot against the passive loom that is going in. Slight fly in the ointment is that the passive loom has a solderless screw connector set up that is heavier than just soldering it all in.

Still, we'll see!

PAL

If you have problems with the weight of guitar or bass instead of trying to make the instrument lighter why not try one of
 the double guitar shoulder straps this will distribute the weight of the instrument over both of your shoulders.
 

fretmeister

PAL said:

If you have problems with the weight of guitar or bass instead of trying to make the instrument lighter why not try one of
 the double guitar shoulder straps this will distribute the weight of the instrument over both of your shoulders.
 

I’ve tried them.

They work if it’s a shoulder problem alone.

If it’s a core or back problem it does not and cannot change the pressure in the spine and core muscles. The weight is the same. The force going through the body is the same.