Rumple Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 After another 5 hours in a rehearsal studio at the weekend with an 11lb SR5 around my neck I once again ask myself the question exactly how light a 5 string could I have made for me that still sounds and looks great? This is really just a seed of an idea but is it unrealistic to expect to get a build 9lbs or under? I do have a SR5 and Overwater 5 that are 10lbs so I guess it's not asking too much if I kept to a small body design or it had wood chambered out of it kinda like a semi acoustic but without any F holes. Any thoughts, suggestions, warnings appreciated. I did search the forum but apologies if this topic has been covered else where. R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinman Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) You could do worse than giving Jon Shuker a call Edited March 19, 2012 by Tinman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyonbass Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) My Status Electro weighs 7.5 lbs according to my bathroom scales. It has a chambered body and no magnetic pups, just a piezo. [attachment=102952:Electro 1.JPG] Edited March 19, 2012 by andyonbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 How about a Status Streamline? [url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]http://www.status-gr...index_home.html[/url] [attachment=102953:Status Streamline 5.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Swamp Ash mate, that's what you need. I'd give Alan at ACG a shout. My 5 string >> [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/72396-look-what-i-just-picked-up/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/72396-look-what-i-just-picked-up/[/url] is well under 8 lbs, probably closer to 7, I'm barely aware I've got it on when I play it and it's got a Wenge neck! You're welcome to have a shot of it, but it's not going anywhere Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='Tinman' timestamp='1332169062' post='1584183'] You could do worse than giving Jon Shuker a call [/quote] Thanks Tinman, I'm just at the research stage at the moment, I have some ideas on how I want it to look ( some nice Buckeye maybe ) if I do go ahead but really wanted to see what can be achived weight wise 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1332170898' post='1584212'] My Status Electro weighs 7.5 lbs according to my bathroom scales. It has a chambered body and no magnetic pups, just a piezo. [attachment=102952:Electro 1.JPG] [/quote] That is light, the idea of having a chamber in the body makes sense to me for bringing the weight down, I'd have it covered over though, as lovely as your Status is I don't think the sound hole would suit my band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='ikay' timestamp='1332171515' post='1584224'] How about a Status Streamline? [url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]http://www.status-gr...index_home.html[/url] [attachment=102953:Status Streamline 5.jpg] [/quote] I'm not keen on headless basses but it's a good call and you're right it would be an extremely lightweight and portable option. Is graphite lighter then wood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1332171655' post='1584230'] Swamp Ash mate, that's what you need. I'd give Alan at ACG a shout. My 5 string >> [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/72396-look-what-i-just-picked-up/"]http://basschat.co.u...just-picked-up/[/url] is well under 8 lbs, probably closer to 7, I'm barely aware I've got it on when I play it and it's got a Wenge neck! You're welcome to have a shot of it, but it's not going anywhere Eude [/quote] Thanks Eude, looks like you've got a stunner there and I'm amazed at that weight, I thought I was being optimistic hoping for sub 9lbs but it's obviously quite achievable. Swamp Ash could be the answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1332172895' post='1584263'] Thanks Eude, looks like you've got a stunner there and I'm amazed at that weight, I thought I was being optimistic hoping for sub 9lbs but it's obviously quite achievable. Swamp Ash could be the answer [/quote] Yeah man, some super light swamp ash will sort you right out! Mine would be a lot lighter if I had gone for a lighter neck material, and I guess without the single-cut shape you'd lose a little more weight too... Sub 8 lbs is definitely achievable. Lightweight Hipshot hardware will help you along the way too. One of Scoop's ACGs, his fretless 4 string Recurve >> [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Gallery/278/"]http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Gallery/278/[/url] is even lighter than my 5er, using some uber light limba, that's another possible wood I reckon? Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 Swamp Ash I've obviously heard of but Limba is a new one on me, You have all put a smile on my face today as sub 8lbs would exceed what I hoped for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1332175110' post='1584309'] Swamp Ash I've obviously heard of but Limba is a new one on me, You have all put a smile on my face today as sub 8lbs would exceed what I hoped for. [/quote] Limba is a bit like Mahogany tonewise from what I've heard, although I'm not sure what a very lightweight piece would be like. I think you could also look at Spanish Cedar and Cherry too, but if you're into more "trad" sounding basses, I think Swamp Ash will be right up your street, either that or a chambered body made of more regular wood. 8 lbs is definitely possible, in fact I reckon it can be guaranteed if you go custom, but you might find something off the shelf that would be light enough, [b]funkle[/b] on here had a love swamp ash Lakland 4 string that was easily sub 8 lbs in my opinion, think he moved it on a while ago though. Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 Strickly 5 strings theses days, I had a Lakland JO5 for a while, really liked it except for the wide string spacing hence the look of my 5 String Jazz build (see my signature) whick turned out brilliantly except being nealy 12lbs I'm quite into the custom build thing so will go down that route again as it means I get the spec I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1332177592' post='1584379'] I'm quite into the custom build thing so will go down that route again as it means I get the spec I want. [/quote] Well if it's a definitely a custom, I can't recommend ACGs enough mate, and they've just started doing a new J-Type bass which might be up your street if you like a more traditional looking bass >> [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/17/"]http://www.acguitars...k/Available/17/[/url] Eude Edited March 19, 2012 by eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 That is rather tastey I did see some of Andy's work at the London Bass Show a couple of weeks ago, quite stunning. I have a fretless being made for me (not an ACG) that's having one of his filter based eq's in it, looking forward to seeing how it sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1332179112' post='1584405'] That is rather tastey I did see some of Andy's work at the London Bass Show a couple of weeks ago, quite stunning. I have a fretless being made for me (not an ACG) that's having one of his filter based eq's in it, looking forward to seeing how it sounds. [/quote] It's [b]Alan[/b] at ACG by the way I've been watching your fretless build, it's looking great! Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 Oops I stand corrected I never was any good with names He kindly got me some Ultalites for a very good price to, top man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1332180551' post='1584431'] Oops I stand corrected I never was any good with names He kindly got me some Ultalites for a very good price to, top man. [/quote] Aye, he's a good man! I took the liberty of asking the weight of the new J Type, apparently this one >> [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/22/"]http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/22/[/url] comes in at 8.25 lbs with the Gotoh tuners, so with Hipshots it'd be a cool 8 lbs on the nose Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinman Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 [quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1332171749' post='1584232'] Thanks Tinman, I'm just at the research stage at the moment, I have some ideas on how I want it to look ( some nice Buckeye maybe ) if I do go ahead but really wanted to see what can be achived weight wise 1st. [/quote] mmmmmm Buckeye, now you're speaking my language Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 20, 2012 Author Share Posted March 20, 2012 Just had a litlle look on the internet for info on chambered bodies, obviously there could be issues with neck dive and the tone of the instrument, I found this old thread on the Nordstrand site. [url="http://x.nordstrandpickups.com/viewtopic.php?t=33"]http://x.nordstrandp...wtopic.php?t=33[/url] and this pic on the Warmoth site [attachment=103052:ChamberedJSwampChambers.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 If I remember correctly most of the high end Sadowskys are chambered too, you don't hear folks complaining about their tone very often I personally would just go for a lighter wood, as it would be a lot cheaper, leaving cash for black jack and other important things... Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 20, 2012 Author Share Posted March 20, 2012 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1332248941' post='1585478'] If I remember correctly most of the high end Sadowskys are chambered too, you don't hear folks complaining about their tone very often Eude [/quote] I was just reading that the NYC Sadowsky's have chambered bodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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