Lightweight basses 7 lbs or less

[tom1946]

Looking for something P shaped, bright red with a maple board.

I have made a few like this but were made of cheap parts and would like something professional and good.

Off the shelf preferred.

/discuss.

[Cuzzie]

Sandberg Superlight series

[Urban Bassman]

+1 Sandberg Suoerlight Series might fit the bill. Bass Direct might have something.

[Happy Jack]

One word: Neckdive.

Or should that be Neck Dive?

In which case, that's just two words ...

 

[Cuzzie]

49 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

One word: Neckdive.

Or should that be Neck Dive?

In which case, that's just two words ...

 

What the superlight basses?

[jrixn1]

As well as Sandberg's Superlight line, which are guaranteed to be light, sometimes you will find a non-Superlight which is still very light; e.g. https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_VS4_FR_SCA.html is 3.3kg.  Sandberg's P bass models are the 'VS, 'VM', and 'VT'.

Some Maruszczyks are also very light; e.g. https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/MARUSZCZYK_Jake_4p_PJ_Vintage_White.html also 3.3kg, but as with Sandberg there are some heavier ones as well, so get an accurate weight (if buying a bass which already exists) or order a custom build.  Their P bass model is called the 'Jake'.

Neither the Sandberg TT5 (3.3kg) nor the Maruszczyk Jake 4 (3.2kg) I own/owned have neck dive.
 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Red? Yes

Maple board? Yes

Professional? Yes

Good? Yes

Off the shelf? Well, sort of 😉

7lbs or less? Near as damn it (7lbs 7oz)

It's not a P, but don't get hung up on that. If I didn't have one already, it would be gone by now.

 

 

[TheGreek]

G&L M2000???

[Happy Jack]

1 hour ago, Cuzzie said:

What the superlight basses?

Lightest Precision I've ever owned is my Mike Lull 54P. With a strap, the bass weighs exactly 8lbs, whilst being and looking like a Precision.

If you want to take that down to 7lbs or less, then that means losing a pound from the body while the weight of the neck and headstock remain the same. 

It may be possible to do that without creating a bass that makes a Thunderbird look like the paragon of stability, but I'm really not sure how. 

[pineweasel]

1 hour ago, jrixn1 said:

As well as Sandberg's Superlight line, which are guaranteed to be light, sometimes you will find a non-Superlight which is still very light; e.g. https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_VS4_FR_SCA.html is 3.3kg.  Sandberg's P bass models are the 'VS, 'VM', and 'VT'.

I don't think you can get a V Superlight off the shelf, it would have to be a custom order. Maybe this standard VS is worth investigating? https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/sandberg-california-vs-4-high-gloss-metallic-red-maple-black-dots

[jrixn1]

13 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

If you want to take that down to 7lbs or less, then that means losing a pound from the body while the weight of the neck and headstock remain the same. 

Sandberg Superlight neck, not just the body, is also made from a lighter wood (Norwegian maple?).

 

8 minutes ago, pineweasel said:

I don't think you can get a V Superlight off the shelf, it would have to be a custom order. Maybe this standard VS is worth investigating? https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/sandberg-california-vs-4-high-gloss-metallic-red-maple-black-dots

This is the only one I ever saw: https://www.thomann.de/gb/sandberg_california_ii_vm_sl_4_pf_csb.htm

[Cuzzie]

48 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Lightest Precision I've ever owned is my Mike Lull 54P. With a strap, the bass weighs exactly 8lbs, whilst being and looking like a Precision.

If you want to take that down to 7lbs or less, then that means losing a pound from the body while the weight of the neck and headstock remain the same. 

It may be possible to do that without creating a bass that makes a Thunderbird look like the paragon of stability, but I'm really not sure how. 

When I played the prototype in the Sandberg factory there was absolutely no neck dive at all, unless they have vastly changed the instruments I can envisage how neck dive would suddenly appear.

The body wood on that batch was Cedar, they have moved to Paulownia (or empress which G&L call it and use extensively) and yes @jrixn1 they use Norwegian maple for the neck instead of Canadian which is lighter, possibly a bit snappier, but equally as stable.

With the lighter weight wood, you probably really need the pre-amp for a bit more punch/heft, but the Sandberg black label pick ups on their own are good enough, that of course adds a little weight, but is a necessary one.

All in all, no neck dive

[Grahambythesea]

I used to have a very lightweight P style Ibanez Roadster bass. Single P pickup and maple board, really light and good to play. I found out that it was a ply body when I stripped the black pint off to make it a natural finish, but if you can find one 80’s vintage don’t let ply put you off it was a great sounding bass and light.

[tom1946]

Thanks guys, some stuff there that I didn't know about, I'll go and investigate and report back when I have something.

[Cuzzie]

Oh and how can I forget - Status Stealth, one of the finest basses ever made known to man will be hovering at that mark, depending how many strings you want

[itu]

Modulus Graphite Revolite. Not exactly a Precision, though.

[Tubster]

Mike Lull basses are the lightest I have owned but high $$$ new. Used prices much friendlier .

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

10 minutes ago, Tubster said:

Mike Lull basses are the lightest I have owned but high $$$ new. Used prices much friendlier .

Yes, Lull’s are excellent. Not a maple board, but if I wanted a red P, then this would be the one for me.

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Mike_Lull_PJ4_Fiesta_Red.html

[tthiggins]

Not sure of the weight of this but my Cort gb74 is the lightest solid body bass I've ever had ..just over 7lb 

https://www.cortguitars.com/product/item.php?ca_id=103020&it_id=1547002327&page=2#tab_Specifications