Bridgehouse Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 I was musing over this recently - what is the lightest (weight) conventional (full body and headstock) bass available (past or present) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark76 Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 (edited) Rumour has it that the bodies of the Yamaha RBX series basses are made of balsa sandwiched between a maple top and bottom. Edited April 24, 2017 by mark76 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Danelectro are made with hollow Hardboad bodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Not Wal... 😐 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 I think there are a few out there, although on the mainstream side I'm not sure. My Yamaha RBX270 was well under 8lbs, and my lightest bass at the moment is an ACG at 7lbs 6oz or 3.4kgs in new money; happy accident rather than by design i should add. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 I've 3 x 5 string bass Collections that all weigh a shade over 7lb. I would imagine the 4 stringers would weigh less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 My old Bass Collection is very light as is the Danelectro at 7lb. Retrovibe Evo was a big shock,massive sound from 7lb. The Zygote model didn't weigh much more. Other light basses I had include Tune Bass Maniacs,Cort Curbow & Wilson Sapphire.The Ibanez Ergodyne I set up yesterday was a lightweight too. The Peavey Resolite is under 7lb but they never went into production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Would you consider a Hofner to be conventional? Some of those are crazily light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 The Cort GB74 models seem pretty light in general. The one I used to own was just over 7lbs. Or you can go over to Maruszczyk and tell them the kind of bass you want and the weight... and it'll happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Hofner violin basses are pretty light, as are the Verithin. Comes in handy playing long sets in the Star Club apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted April 24, 2017 Author Share Posted April 24, 2017 To be fair, I'm not specifically looking - more out of interest I guess. I have a very lightweight guitar - a 1965 Epiphone Olympic, which checks in at 4.5lbs. Was wondering if there was a Bass equivalent of stupidly light but still conventional and playable. Some great suggestions so far, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 For me it would either be a Danelectro or a Hofner violin bass - no weight to either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted April 24, 2017 Author Share Posted April 24, 2017 (edited) I kinda expect hollow or semi hollows to be a bit lighter. I'm probably thinking of the lightest solid body.. hmmmm. Edited April 24, 2017 by Bridgehouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 My Maruszczyk Jakes look just like posh Precisions, and weigh in at about 7.2lbs each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 (edited) My Yamaha RBX A2 was incredibly light. Not sure if it was chambered or that. Will double check EDIT: There was one second hand at Bass Direct claiming it to be 7lbs http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Yamaha_RBX4_A2_white.html Edited April 24, 2017 by Bass_Guardian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 The next revolution in evolution. The conventional wisdom in building electric guitars has long been that the more uniform and heavy the material, the better the sound. Yamaha has shattered this concept with an advanced technology called Alternative Internal Resonance, or A.I.R. for short. A.I.R. combines lightweight and resonant softwoods sandwiched between harder tonewoods creating an instrument loaded with sustain and tone while maintaining an ultra lightweight construction. Already proven in the RGX line,Yamaha now offers this sustain and tone in the RBX line with the RBX4 A2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted April 24, 2017 Author Share Posted April 24, 2017 [quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1493035740' post='3284989'] My Yamaha RBX A2 was incredibly light. Not sure if it was chambered or that. Will double check EDIT: There was one second hand at Bass Direct claiming it to be 7lbs [url="http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Yamaha_RBX4_A2_white.html"]http://bassdirect.co...4_A2_white.html[/url] [/quote] Oooo, those RBX4 A2's look really interesting. Not sure about the flashy lights, but I feel I may have to investigate more.. goddamit, I shouldn't have started this thread... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 [quote name='Bridgehouse' timestamp='1493042669' post='3285105'] Oooo, those RBX4 A2's look really interesting. Not sure about the flashy lights, but I feel I may have to investigate more.. goddamit, I shouldn't have started this thread... [/quote] You can take the battery out the bass at the back so the lights don't come on. The pickups are passive. I regret selling mine to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted April 24, 2017 Author Share Posted April 24, 2017 [quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1493043042' post='3285112'] You can take the battery out the bass at the back so the lights don't come on. The pickups are passive. I regret selling mine to be honest. [/quote] Are the pickups passive/active or is the battery purely in there for the flashy bling lights? I must say, as a lightweight gigging bass it could be pretty cool. I didn't start this thread to generate more GAS.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Bridgehouse' timestamp='1493043301' post='3285116'] Are the pickups passive/active or is the battery purely in there for the flashy bling lights? I must say, as a lightweight gigging bass it could be pretty cool. I didn't start this thread to generate more GAS.... [/quote] The battery is purely for the knob lights. Gotta love knob lights... Pickups are passive Edited April 24, 2017 by Bass_Guardian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted April 24, 2017 Author Share Posted April 24, 2017 [quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1493044260' post='3285128'] The battery is purely for the knob lights. Gotta love knob lights... Pickups are passive [/quote] Even more interesting... Ugh. Gonna have to go try one I reckon. Someone please tell me this is madness.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 [quote name='Bridgehouse' timestamp='1493044564' post='3285133'] Even more interesting... Ugh. Gonna have to go try one I reckon. Someone please tell me this is madness.....! [/quote] https://youtu.be/47tKorh9vgo a good review by Ed Friedland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 [quote name='Bridgehouse' timestamp='1493044564' post='3285133'] Even more interesting... Ugh. Gonna have to go try one I reckon. [/quote] They look great don't they... Anyone know the string spacing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 My Zon Legacy Elite fretless was astonishingly light, easily the lightest bass I've ever played. I never weighed it but it wasn't even close to 8lbs, & it wouldn't surprise me if it was under 7lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted April 24, 2017 Author Share Posted April 24, 2017 [quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1493044944' post='3285140'] [url="https://youtu.be/47tKorh9vgo"]https://youtu.be/47tKorh9vgo[/url] a good review by Ed Friedland [/quote] They look good for the money tbh. I notice you can still buy them new, but Yamaha's site says they are discontinued.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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