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Lightest conventional bass

Bridgehouse

By Bridgehouse,
in Bass Guitars

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mark76 Apprentice

mark76

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Rumour has it that the bodies of the Yamaha RBX series basses are made of balsa sandwiched between a maple top and bottom.

Edited by mark76
ead Grand Master

ead

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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.

kodiakblair Veteran

kodiakblair

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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.

mcnach Grand Master

mcnach

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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.

Bridgehouse Grand Master

Bridgehouse

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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!

Bridgehouse Grand Master

Bridgehouse

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I kinda expect hollow or semi hollows to be a bit lighter.

I'm probably thinking of the lightest solid body.. hmmmm.

Edited by Bridgehouse
Bass_Guardian Collaborator

Bass_Guardian

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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 by Bass_Guardian
Bass_Guardian Collaborator

Bass_Guardian

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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.

Bridgehouse Grand Master

Bridgehouse

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[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...

Bass_Guardian Collaborator

Bass_Guardian

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[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.

Bridgehouse Grand Master

Bridgehouse

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[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.... :blink:

Bass_Guardian Collaborator

Bass_Guardian

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[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.... :blink:
[/quote]

The battery is purely for the knob lights. Gotta love knob lights...


Pickups are passive :)

Edited by Bass_Guardian
Bridgehouse Grand Master

Bridgehouse

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[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.....!

Bass_Guardian Collaborator

Bass_Guardian

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[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 :)

CamdenRob Mentor

CamdenRob

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[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?

RhysP Mentor

RhysP

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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.

Bridgehouse Grand Master

Bridgehouse

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[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..

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