After touring the world on several occasions and spending countless hours with my 4-stringer hanging from my shoulder, I can tell you for sure that basses can be very heavy instruments.
I used to think, when I was in my twenties, that the heavier it was, the better it sounded. That turned out to be a myth my back suffered for. Yes, I believed the hype and was playing 10lbs. Instruments for decades.
Well, I got good news for you, basses have been getting lighter and better by the day. We’re lucky enough to be alive in this time of lightweight, huge-sounding, avant garde basses that make grooving easier than ever.
Top 3 - Lightweight Bass Guitars
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Well, a big part of musical instrument evolution has to do with being lighter, smaller, and more portable than they ever were. So, I went into the market and separated wheat from the chaff and came back with the perfect lightweight basses for you to pour your infectious groove over the world with.
Here are a few lightweight basses that won’t break either your back or your bank account.
7 of the Lightest Bass Guitars Around
1. Danelectro ‘59DC
The Danelectro ‘59DC, in my opinion, one of the coolest-looking basses you can buy today. Not only that, but it is also one of the coolest-sounding (still my humble opinion).
The ‘59DC has what I would call a ‘50s retro look. Like a ‘50s Chevy convertible that you would see parked next to Venice Beach.
Yes, this is a seriously good-looking bass with its shallow double-cutaway body and matching pickguard that wraps around to the back of the body. It also has two lipstick single coil pickups that add to its retro look.
These lipstick pickups also give it its unique tone.
I tried the '59DC (Long Scale) in our jamming space, brought by a friend for me to explore. I had so much fun with it that it was difficult to give it back! He ended up taking it home and leaving me aching to have one of my own.
The '59DC (Long Scale) in our jamming space, brought by a friend for me to explore.
Coming to the most important aspect, the weight of the bass. This ‘59DC Long Scale model (there’s also a short scale variant) weighs just around 6.6 lbs, making it one of the lightest basses in existence.
Due to its low weight and larger body than a guitar (which is typical for basses), the weight is distributed very well. In reality, it felt even lighter than a few of my electric guitars!
That light weight also means that you will be able to jump and run around on stage with ease. And if you like doing tricks like spinning your bass around your neck, the ’59 DC is perfect for that (just make sure the strap is well attached).
I do think that it might be a little too light for some. From talking to some other bassists, they have said that a bass this light actually throws them off balance a bit since they are used to playing quite weighty instruments.
Just from looking at the bass I already knew I was going to be playing some surf rock. When I plugged it in, that is exactly what happens. It is perfect for that poppy surf tone. But it still has enough low end to give the tone a nice amount of body.
By pushing the preamp on my amp, I got that nasty, raunchy, broken, proto-rock tone with a razor-sharp midrange and some mean lows. The high-end, though, is mostly a sharp edge and not as musical as you would expect. This makes it a terrific rock and roll instrument.
I didn’t find it to be a very versatile bass, however. You won’t really get a great modern tone, and it might be a bit thin for some. This is a very vintage, midrange focused bass. Think of something like ‘70s rock, or bands like The Hives or Wolfmother, or any other retro-rock act cultivating that broken sound.
The bass is also super comfortable to play. The body isn’t very large and sits comfortably, even without a contour at the back. The neck is also smooth and the nut width makes it great for smaller hands as well.
The look and sound of the ‘59DC certainly isn’t going to be for everyone. But if a retro look and tone is your style, then this is the bass for you.
2. Ibanez EHB 1500
Ladies and gents, please get on your feet to receive the lightest bass of this rundown. Yes, this Ibanez EHB 1500 headless bass is slightly over 6 lbs which makes it one of the lightest in the market.
Ibanez EHB 1500 Bass
Let me begin by talking about the otherworldly comfort of this bass’s neck. It’s a 9-piece panga panga-walnut creation that was designed specifically by Ibanez for this model.
But my love for this neck isn’t just because of its satin finish and beautiful, bound panga panga fretboard but also because the radius is an outstanding almost 20”. This means you can play as fast and wild as you want and the instrument will be a highway for your hands (and dreams).
Also, the 24 stainless-steel frets and luminescent dots make this a perfect stage-ready instrument for those about to rock, jazz, neo-soul, funk, or all of the previous together.
Yes, this is an utterly versatile bass that’s surprisingly passive but with a very capable 3-band EQ at your disposal. Speaking of which, the heart and soul of this instrument’s sound are the versatile and great-sounding Nordstrand Custom Big Split Humbuckers.
These pickups can surprisingly make this bass sound like a Jazz Bass, a P-Bass, or a take-no-prisoner low-end machine. I’m telling you, playing this thing with a pick gives you the kind of raunchy low-mids to be rocking and cut the mix at the same time. Furthermore, I tried going from pickup to pickup (you have a balancer like a Jazz Bass) and you can also do the P-Bass sound effortlessly with the front pickup.
I loved the sound while slapping with the selector in the middle and using the mini toggle switch to turn the EQ off. Stuff like Stevie Wonder, Daft Punk, or Red Hot Chilli Peppers sounded perfectly. I know, it takes a while to get used to the fact that the bass has no headstock, but it sounds modern or classic depending on what you need.
One thing is noticeable, though, the body of this bass is made of sorted lightweight African mahogany and a lovely burl poplar top. This combination gives it a perfect mix of low-end and snap that’s perfect to add thickness and cut the mix at the same time.
To end this test, I tried pushing the preamp of the amplifier and turned on the fuzz to make this beast growl like the fire-breathing instrument it is.
I’m telling you, this is a very versatile bass that can do anything you ask of it. Perhaps, the only thing these humbuckers can’t do is the round, extra-phat tone only an active humbucker can create (think cranked Music Man StingRay, for example). Other than that specific tone, you can move from genre to genre sounding fantastic.
Finally, the bridge is made of individual saddles for every string rather than a big chunk of metal and it feels as sci-fi as it is dependable. If you have the budget for it and want a do-it-all super-light bass, this is an outstanding option to consider.
3. Strandberg Boden Bass Standard 4
Based in Uppsala, Sweden, Strandberg, the company founded by Ola Strandberg has been making modern classics for decades. Since 1982 to be precise. What did they learn in these four decades of non-stop innovation? Well, they’re making some of the most ergonomic, comfortable, and powerful basses in the market right now.
This Boden Bass is no different from the rest of the catalog, it offers outstanding specs, a lightweight body, bold, futuristic looks, and a sweet, beautiful neck to play for hours. I know, headless instruments aren’t my thing either, but believe me that this bass is ready to rock the world down to its foundations.
To begin with, the body is made of basswood, a tonewood that became popular in the nineties and that’s very stable and great-sounding. It’s got a bump in the midrange and is not as bright as alder but not as big in the low-mids as mahogany. Beyond that, it’s known for being feather-light (weighing just a tad bit over 6 lbs).
The top isn’t this mesmerizing piece of real flame maple but a veneer. Given the price of this instrument, that was a major bummer. Tone-wise, though, there might have been too much emphasis on the midrange. That said, with its price tag, it could have been the real deal.
Speaking of the real deal, the neck on this bass is heaven-like! You wouldn’t believe how fast and comfortable the roasted maple is. I mean, I knew, the moment I hung it on, that it could be a bass to play for hours without any complaints from the back, the shoulder, or the hands. On the contrary, I know the shape of the body is quite polemic, but the ergonomics are top-notch. You feel so at home while playing, there’s nothing I would change about it.
Furthermore, the super-modern multi-scale design, the 24 stainless-steel frets and the carbon fiber reinforcements are exactly what you’d expect from an instrument of its category.
Speaking of which, the Fishman Fluence system gives you passive, active, and single-coil magic to work with. Mix that with the two-band EQ and there’s probably nothing you can’t play with this bass. I tried it all to make it slip and fall, but it stayed in “gorgeous” mode throughout the trial.
If you have the budget for it and can get past their shape (or even like it), you’ll realize this is an outstanding lightweight choice for any serious bass player out there.
4. Gibson SG Standard Bass
What is cooler than a Gibson SG? A Gibson SG bass, of course. This bass takes the cool look and sound of the SG guitar and puts it in the hands of bassists.
If you have played an SG guitar, I think you will already know that this thing is meant for rocking out.
Top notch finish - as you'd expect from a Gibson!
The bass version is very similar to its guitar counterpart. You have the feeling you’re playing a straight, contour-less plank of mahogany that’s virtually weightless but super powerful at the same time. Obviously, it has the same body shape and headstock as the guitar, but the neck sports a short, 30” scale that suits the slim mahogany shape perfectly.
Speaking of the neck, the 12” radius is perfect to play any musical style. That said, locking with the kick drum and playing some rocking lines is where this beast of a bass really shines. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I did go to some faster, more complex sonic territories to play some fast licks and scales up the neck but the midrange is more generous on the lower-end making it kind of too much for playing fast.
Diving straight into the sound, the humbuckers are wild with humongous low-end and lots of gain. Although they do sport an individual volume control, which is very handy, the controls only include a master tone. That is kind of a bummer considering the huge lows (almost too much) on the neck humbucker.
Slapping sounds weird on this bass because it lacks the midrange and attack you need to make it cut through. That said, if you use a pick, this bass can transform into a punk monster because the edge of the pick is enough to make it appear in the mix.
I had it on for a while while testing and I have to say that the weight is just unbelievable, my back wasn’t fatigued at all after an hour and a half of playing. It is quite light, coming in at around 7.5 lbs. That makes it just as comfortable to play. And if you already play an SG guitar, you won’t need to get used to playing the bass.
What I mean is that the contourless body, if you’re not used to it, can feel like you’re supporting a straight plank of wood with your belly. Also, the neck joint is very high up the neck, so it’s weird but very comfortable to play on the higher frets.
Speaking of which, melodic moves on the upper frets were delightful to play. That said, this is a bass that is much better suited to rock than any other genre. It isn’t a super versatile bass. But if you are only playing rock, I doubt you will need much more.
The big downside here is that this is quite an expensive bass. So, being a not-so-versatile instrument it’s almost too pricey to add another flavor to your arsenal or just having another bass for a specific sound. That said, it’s hard to beat in its specific territory since it is really meant for professional and higher intermediate players.
Although the size of the body and the scale length of the neck make this an ideal bass for beginners, the price tag doesn’t. The good news is that there is an affordable version, the Epiphone SG Bass, which is decent for the money. Obviously, it doesn’t sound or play as great as its Gibson sibling but is a good way to add the unique tone of this bass to your arsenal without breaking the bank.
5. Ibanez SR500E
Ibanez basses, like the SR500E, are just as good as their guitars.
Yes, I know, we bass players always get to look through the window and see how the Steve Vais and Joe Satrianis get their state-of-the-art axes from the Japanese giant and get all the attention.
Well, I have good news for you, Ibanez basses are just as great as their guitars.
Speaking of which, this bass is quite similar to the brand’s S-series guitars. These have a super-slim body on the sides and slightly thicker in the center (where the pickups are mounted) and lightning-fast neck for super-fast playing.
My prized possession - Ibanez SR500E
I am a big fan of this body shape and neck. The slimmer body lets the bass sit nice and tight against your body and the neck is a bit easier to grip. The body’s contours are perfectly done so you can make room for that well-fed beer belly behind the instrument.
The hand-rubbed satin finish on the thin oukome body also helps keep it very light. Although it isn't the lightest bass guitar around, it only weighs a very comfortable 8 lbs (it can vary slightly from unit to unit). This isn’t something I say lightly because I've been playing this bass for the last 3-4 years and I don't have any back ache when playing it standing for an hour or two at a stretch.
Also, the neck is a 5-piece jatoba-walnut, super-fast thin piece that’s also satin-finished (that gets glossy with time and use and looks and feels even better) and that you can play for hours at a time and dust off your wildest tricks. Yes, with the 24 fast frets, you have enough room to pour your heart into every note and let your imagination go wild.
This bass sounds as smooth as it plays. While the Bartolini BH2 humbuckers do make it a bit more orientated to a rock or metal sound, I found that they are more than capable of pulling off pretty much any genre you want them to.
And if it doesn’t sound quite the way you want it to, you have my favorite feature of the whole bass: the controls. Few basses come with quite the selection of controls that this bass has. Apart from the standard volume and balance knobs, you also get three EQ knobs. This lets you really dial in your tone.
Then you also have an EQ bypass switch, so you can play it in either active or passive modes. But the coolest feature is the three-way EQ switch. This switch changes which part of the mid frequencies you want to emphasize to really help the bass standout more or less.
There’s enough dexterity in the control layout for you to dial in exactly the sound that you want. You can use it as active, passive, cut, boost, and even choose the frequency of the midrange you’re boosting or cutting. This is especially useful when you want to cut some of the low-end while playing in small venues or places with a not-so-great PA.
The low-end can either get muddy or be just too much for some places.
I’ve played this bass in many scenarios, on and off the stage, at home, and in the studio, and the result has always been the same: flawless. I can get the sound off my head and out of the speaker with little fiddling (or a lot of it, depending on the scenario) and my tone is always praised.
The best of it all? It never broke my back or my bank account and it’s an instrument I can always rely on.
6. Spector Performer 4
The Spector Performer 4 is one of the best budget lightweight basses available. From its playability to its sound, you can never go wrong with this bass.
The design of the Performer is fairly minimal. This isn’t a bass that stands out. But underneath that minimal exterior is a very well-made, great sounding bass.
The Performer 4 comes in a sleek, minimal design with a smooth, glossy finish.
The body is made of lightweight, highly-resonant nato and is sleek with a generous contour at the back to make it sit comfortably against your body. Meanwhile, the neck is thick enough to provide tons of grip, and thin enough for smooth, fast playing.
Spector Performer 4 has a contoured back for comfortable playing.
The Performer isn’t the lightest bass at around 8.3 lbs, and a few specific units tend to be closer to 8.5 lbs (that much variance is pretty normal).
Despite this, I still found it to be more than light enough for long playing sessions. And it also helps thatthe weight is spread quite nicely, so it doesn’t really feel that heavy when you wield it.
The Performer is quite a versatile bass. This is thanks to the P and J passive pickups. Each pickup has a dedicated volume and tone knob. You are getting the best of both sounds while also being able to adjust them to your liking.
Spector Performer 4 - Pickup Configuration
While it is definitely most comfortable in rock and metal, I had no issues getting it to sound great playing jazz, blues, or anything really.
I started the test playing the P-Bass alone with a pick and my fingers and those sweet, melodic rants up the fretboard sounded wonderful. The combination of the two pickups was quite interesting, but I did have to dial back some of the low end on the P-Bass pickup to prevent it from overtaking the sound.
Finally, playing with the bridge pickup and close to the bridge gave me the chance to sound like Jaco and to slap my way up to heaven. Yes, this bass is as comfortable as it gets ergonomically and you just feel you can pull off anything you try.
While the tone of the Performer is great, I do feel like it is lacking a bit in terms of clarity and output. Bearing in mind this is a passive bass, you are maybe going to want to use a boost and even an EQ pedal with this bass to get the most out of it.
But as far as budget basses go, the Performer is well worth every penny; It won’t break your back or your bank account.
7. Schecter Omen Extreme-4
For the heavy metal bassists, the Schecter Omen Extreme-4 is the way to go. It says so right there in the name, this is an extreme bass for extreme bassists.
Furthermore, Schecter’s Omen series of guitars are some of the best metal guitars around. Their Omen basses are no different.
But don’t be fooled by the one-trick-pony looks, because this thing can rock, funk, and soul like a champ. Moreover, for a bass guitar designed for metal, it is seriously light. The Extreme-4 clocks in at only around 8.4 lbs. Making it possibly the lightest metal-oriented bass I have ever played.
This is even more so if you consider the 34” scale, the full-blown maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, and the mahogany body with beautiful flame maple top.
The Schecter Omen Extreme-4 in its red avatar seriously looks the part, too!
I tried it first by dialing in some easy, classic tones using the active 2-way EQ and preamp to shape the sound. The muffled tone to play over funky beats, the midrange while slapping, the neo-soul sweetness, and the punk attack were all there.
But this bass shines when pushed. Yes, the Extreme-4 is meant for loud and aggressive playing. The Schecter Diamond Bass humbuckers pack a mean punch. The bigger-than-life low-end allows you to riff your way to stardom or lock with your drummer's double-kick drum and propel any band forward to the infinite.
There is a lot of low-end depth and mid-range punch in the tone. But the bass still manages to have a lot of clarity, so highly-technical playing, like tapping, sounds just as great as slapping, popping, picking or normal fingerstyle.
The pickups also sound great distorted if you want it to sound more aggressive. They handled a cranked SansAmp just as swiftly as they handled my Big Muff.
But that doesn’t mean this bass is only meant for metal. I find it to sound just as great playing jazz standards as it does playing Meshuggah.
If you dig the shape and want to buy a bass that can give you everything you need and then some, this is a great bang for the buck that you should try before buying.
How Much Does a Bass Guitar Weigh?
Basses are generally quite a bit heavier than guitars. This is due to their larger bodies, longer scale necks, and larger headstocks. An example of this is thinking that a long-scale guitar like a Fender Stratocaster is 25.5” while a regular-scale bass is 34”.
The average bass weighs around 10 to 12 lbs, but they can easily go up to 14 lbs. Lightweight basses, meanwhile, weigh between 7 to 9 lbs, but a few (especially headless ones) can be as light as 6 lbs.
What Determines the Weight of a Bass?
Pretty much everything that goes into making any instrument will add to its weight. In the case of basses, the main contributors to its weight are the materials used, size and style of the body, the hardware, the electronics, and the scale length of the neck.
Also, some basses have active electronics with enormous circuits and even 9-volt batteries embedded on the bass body contributing to the instrument’s overall weight.
Wood
The wood used to make the bass is going to be the biggest source of its weight. Some woods are naturally denser than others, meaning that they will be heavier.
But beyond the specific weight of the tonewood used, the amount of it also plays a major role in the overall weight. For example, if a bass is hollow or semi-hollow, then it will weigh less than a solid-body one regardless of the material.
Speaking of which, semi-hollow basses like the Ibanez AGB200 or the Schecter Corsair have bodies that are hollow on the sides with a solid piece of wood in the middle (where all controls are mounted).
Semi-hollow body basses have a more natural, resonant tone than solid-body basses. They are often used to get a warmer, more mellow tone and are fairly common in jazz bands.
In the same vein, the width of the body and the contours also play a major role. For example, while mahogany is a heavy tonewood (in weight AND tone), the body of the SG bass is so thin and straight it’s not a heavy bass despite being entirely made of mahogany.
Other tonewoods like alder and ash are lighter by definition. For example, an alder-body Jazz Bass is always lighter than a mahogany-body one. That said, those are all premium tone woods that not every company can employ. The substitutes, poplar, basswood (pun not intended) and nato tend to be a tad heavier and not so great-sounding but give you a more accessible price tag.
So, body size, build technique, and tonewood are the three qualities that make most of a bass’s weight.
Hardware & Electronics
As you might know, the hardware of most basses is made of metal. In this sense, the bridge of a bass, for example, is quite a heavy chunk of metal. Moreover, the more mass that connects to the body of a bass (especially in a design that’s not string-through), the bigger the sustain of the instrument will be.
But that’s not all, the pickups, controls, and even the tuners add to the overall weight of the instrument. For example, the beautiful, huge, flower-like tuners on most basses are quite heavy. So much so that, in some basses, might cause them to nose-dive.
I guess that, if you were to remove the mighty humbuckers and the mammoth bridge of an SG bass, you’d get half the weight. None of the mojo, of course, but half the weight nonetheless.
Also, for those who love the sound of active basses, the active preamp and the 9-volt battery add to the overall weight of the instrument. Active sounds awesome, I know, but it also adds to the bass’s final weight.
Neck
Just like with bodies, different bass necks also use different amounts of wood. A short-scale neck, 30 inches, is going to need less wood than a long-scale neck, 34 inches. Likewise, headless basses that don’t sport a big headstock with tuners tend to be lighter than regular basses.
The type of wood used is also going to have an effect. A maple neck, for example, is going to be heavier than a walnut neck. Also, and while it might be marginal, the neck’s shape can also be a weight ingredient (C-shaped, D-shaped, or U-shaped).
And while the wood used in the fingerboard isn’t going to add too much in terms of weight, it could still make a difference. For example, a maple fretboard is slightly heavier than a rosewood fretboard.
What are the Benefits of Playing a Lightweight Bass?
Generally speaking, there are a few groups who will benefit the most from a light bass guitar. Kids and people with back problems. Also, but not at the same level, we could think about commuting to rehearsal or gigs. Lightweight and smaller basses can be crucial for those who don’t have a car. Finally, if you play long shows (I play 2-hour jams on Thursdays, for example), every extra ounce counts and is felt with the shoulder.
So, to begin with, kids playing a lightweight bass are going to have it easier to learn and play. A lightweight bass won’t be too heavy for them to hold in their laps. They also won’t struggle to hold the bass while standing and playing. In this vein, short-scale basses can be very helpful as well.
If you have back problems, a lightweight bass won’t worsen those problems. This will allow you to play comfortably for longer, and you won’t deal with more issues down the line. Believe me, when you’re young and playing music with your friends, playing a gig up the stairs and taking your amp with you is a piece of cake. Things get more complicated as you grow old.
Normal bass players can also benefit from a lightweight bass, especially if you play live or play while standing for a long time at a stretch. For example, I play 2 hours straight on Thursday jams while guitar players come and go. I play my Mustang bass and, between the short scale and the light weight, I finish the night in one piece.
Otherwise, I’d be an old man with a sore back once a week every week.
The (Lightweight) Bottom End
When I was a young musician, there was this myth that heavy instruments sounded better or had more sustain. Well, the heavier-is-better thing turned out to be a hollow myth made of smoke and fake proof.
Let me be clear with this, weight isn’t a condition for tone but for comfort. You can find terrific-sounding instruments weighing 7, 9, 10, 12, or 14 lbs.
Plus, a heavy instrument can have a very concise impact on your health.
Yes, since basses can be heavy, it isn’t uncommon for bassists to develop back problems after years of playing. A lightweight bass can reduce or even prevent developing any issues. Furthermore, there’s no need to sacrifice any tone or comfort for a lightweight instrument. On the contrary, every bass on this list is a terrific feather-like option you should try out.
If you are looking for the best lightweight bass guitar, either because you are a beginner or you simply can’t play a regular bass anymore, then the basses on this list are just for you.
Whether you are into rock, jazz, or a bit of everything, I am sure you will find a bass on this list that is to your liking.
Strap on one of these lightweight beauties and you’re ready to break the mold without breaking the bank (or your back-9.
Happy (lightweight) playing!