Fractures

[Crusader]

Hi, After some advice please. 4 weeks ago I was assaulted ending up with dislocated shoulder and compound # of humorus. I had already had a wrist op 8 years ago, but could play to the standard req of band. I play 3/4 GIO ibanez soundgear. It is light , but at this time could do with lighter 3/4 interim bass? If anyone has any advice, I would be eternally grateful 

[Crusoe]

Crap! I can't offer any advice as to a light bass, but I do wish you a speedy recovery.

[Franticsmurf]

Ouch, hope you're better soon. For lightness, how about one of those cricket bat headless Hohners or Steinberger Spirits? I have a Spirit headless with a full body and it's quite light. Style-wise not everyone's cup of tea, but it'll get you through the sore times and could then be a handy back-up for gigs.  

[casapete]

14 minutes ago, Franticsmurf said:

Ouch, hope you're better soon. For lightness, how about one of those cricket bat headless Hohners or Steinberger Spirits? I have a Spirit headless with a full body and it's quite light. Style-wise not everyone's cup of tea, but it'll get you through the sore times and could then be a handy back-up for gigs.  

These should be a solution, but in my experience they don’t work.

I broke my shoulder and struggled playing bass for nearly a year afterwards.

My Hohner B2A was nice and light but being full (34”) scale and also required a long reach

to the lower frets when played on a strap, I wouldn’t recommend them to the OP.

Nice basses though.

 

I think the OP needs a short scale bass lighter than his current Ibanez. In my case I used

a Danelectro Longhorn - very light and a 30.5 inch scale. Bit of a Marmite choice I know,

but possibly the answer. Failing that, maybe an Ibanez GSRM20, which has 28.5” scale

and looks lightweight, and a bargain at around £169.

[Crusoe]

https://www.thomann.de/gb/steinberger_guitars_spirit_xt2_standard_bass_bk.htm

Edited July 6, 2022 by Crusoe

[PaulThePlug]

Sh!t... Assaulted? - Is ya playing that bad?
Dunno if they get much lighter than a Ibby Gio Mikro... not even a mini P by the likes of Squier, Harley B or J&D etc...
Only thing i can think of is to get another if you can see one cheap and 'Leerdammer' the body with various sizes of Hole Saw... and make a feature of it!
https://reverb.com/uk/item/31715792-custom-built-electric-guitar-swiss-cheese-multi-colored-unique-body-s-style-turser-neck

https://twitter.com/playjourney/status/1021397053321211904/photo/1

 

or get a double shoulder / waist strap harness thingy...

Edited July 6, 2022 by PaulThePlug

[yorks5stringer]

Wow, that bridge looks well screwed in, think of all the tone transference!

 

Seriously, commiserations! I have a Nordstrand Acinonyx which is nice and light and easy to play too. Not cheap but  still a proper bass shape....

 

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

[ezbass]

Not everyone’s cup of tea (including mine) but a Hofner violin or Club would be super light and shorter scale.

[nilorius]

No advice, but good health!

[Grahambythesea]

Sorry to hear of your assault and injury. I can only suggest the Hofner Violin bass which was the lightest I’ve ever had. I can’t remember the exact weight, no doubt someone on here who still has one can tell us.

[Burns-bass]

Gretsch Electromatics are great. They’re light and cheap!

[Old Horse Murphy]

If it’s any consolation I’ve had three shoulder ops caused by too much rugby and had a similar setup in my right shoulder to you. It took a while to heal but it did get better and while I’ll no longer be able to compete in the javelin on the world stage (not that I could before) as long as you do your exercises, it will improve. 
 

I don’t  know where you’re based but you’d be more than welcome to try out one of my Hohner Jacks possibly for a long-term loan. 
 

Hang tough and wishing you a speedy recovery. 

[fretmeister]

Sandberg Superlights are probably the lightest solid body bassists around. The TT4 (jazz type) come in under 3kg

 

They have the Lionel Shortscale that they will build as a Superlight - and the V and T style basses (P and J really) are available to order with 32 inch scales as well - and again can be ordered with the Superlight woods.

 

It's about a year from order to delivery but you won't find anything lighter with those sorts of specs.

[Old Horse Murphy]

Just now, fretmeister said:

Sandberg Superlights are probably the lightest solid body bassists around. The TT4 (jazz type) come in under 3kg

 

They have the Lionel Shortscale that they will build as a Superlight - and the V and T style basses (P and J really) are available to order with 32 inch scales as well - and again can be ordered with the Superlight woods.

 

It's about a year from order to delivery but you won't find anything lighter with those sorts of specs.

Under 3kg? Wow! There must be some prisoners inside trying to tunnel out or something. 

[Bolo]

Hofner shorty violin bass would be my pick, affordable and very easy to play https://www.thomann.de/nl/hoefner_shorty_violin_bass.htm

 

edit: and cheap!

Edited July 6, 2022 by Bolo

[tauzero]

Have you considered playing sitting down and thus transferring the weight to your leg?

[Aidan63]

Ubass ? very short scale and light, don't seem to hold value so often cheap s/h

[bnt]

My first thought was something like the Ibanez EHB1005SMS, the short (30-32”) multiscale headless. This range has a reputation for being light and ergonomic, though I haven’t got hands on one yet. 

[Daz39]

@Jabba_the_gut makes some titchy and light basses.

 

Hope it heals as good as new, sounds awful, did anyone get done for it at least?

[Franticsmurf]

6 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

Gretsch Electromatics are great. They’re light and cheap!

My Electromatic weighs in at a gnat's under 4kg. It's a great shorty, looks good and has powerful (passive) pick-ups.

[pete.young]

Sorry to hear that, hope it heals up quickly.

 

In the meantime, how about putting your bass on a performance stand that would allow you to play it without needing to hold it and take the weight?

 

Commercial version: https://www.thomann.de/gb/km_14760.htm

 

I built somethigng for a bouzouki (much lighter admittedly) out of perspex, some straps and some U-bolts to attach it to a microphone stand.

[Crusader]

6 hours ago, Old Horse Murphy said:

If it’s any consolation I’ve had three shoulder ops caused by too much rugby and had a similar setup in my right shoulder to you. It took a while to heal but it did get better and while I’ll no longer be able to compete in the javelin on the world stage (not that I could before) as long as you do your exercises, it will improve. 
 

I don’t  know where you’re based but you’d be more than welcome to try out one of my Hohner Jacks possibly for a long-term loan. 
 

Hang tough and wishing you a speedy recovery. 

Thank you so much that is very reassuring as having some black moments. I am in the Midlands. Sincere thanks

[Crusader]

4 hours ago, tauzero said:

Have you considered playing sitting down and thus transferring the weight to your leg?

Hmmmm good point but I also play trombone and easier to stand but sincerely thank you 

[bertbass]

Anything Danelectro is lighter than a light thing that's very light and they sound and play great!

Edited July 7, 2022 by bertbass

[Paul S]

Another vote for Danelectro.  Longhorn is brilliant but the styling is not to everyone's taste.  They do the short scale single cut '56 - I had one at the same time as a Hofner Ignition Club by way of a comparison and the Dano was a country mile better.  Then again it was more expensive.  Looks like they do a short scale double cutaway now, too. - bet that's a cracker.