Hollow or Solid body

[Hofnerguy]

I have reached that point in life where I just can't have a solid body guitar hanging on my shoulder for 4 hours a night. I went back to using my old Hofner "Club Bass" and what a delight both in sound and weight. It's an all night player with a super skinny neck. My biggest problem is in a small area I gut a lot of sympathetic string vibration or feedback. Most of the time my thumb is sitting on the E string to keep it from just rumbling. I'd like to have a long scale bass that doesn't weigh a ton. I have been looking at the Alan Woody bass, looks like a ES 335 and is a hollowbody. Anyone have one of these? If you do can you give me your thoughts on it? Any suggestions on a feather weight solid body? Does such an animal exist?

[Rogue Axel]

Probably not. If there is one, it is probably not the best quality. I dont know for sure though, someone could easily prove me wrong.

[Peaceful]

Can you just sit on your amp and rest the bass on your thigh?

[rockapede]

Maybe look for something made out of basswood....all the basswood basses I've played seemed to be fairly lightweight. My Dean Edge 5 solidbody weighs the same or less than my Tele guitar so it might be good for you. It was inexpensive as well.

[Peaceful]

...I've got it!! Get a double bass. You gotta stand but at least the thing stands on its own two feet. Well, that's one foot, actually. With a quality pickup you will be rockin'. Especially in the jazz, or blues, or country, or bluegrass world(s).

[phingerboard]

Yeah Basswood is quite a bit lighter. A lot of folks claim it's no good just because it's "cheap", but personally I think the tone produced by basswood is the shiznit.

Also, have you considered Steinberger (http://search.ebay.com//search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=steinberger+bass) ?

[Hofnerguy]

Yes, I tried a Steinberger, nice bass but I wasn't impressed with it. I wish Hofner would make a LONG scale bass. As I was typing that it occurred to me that it would probably make it headstock heavy or off balance ( I hate that ) Guess I'm just going to have to "deal with it" as they say. Better yet, I wish Hofner would make a stem attachment so I could play it as an upright. "I got BLISTERS on my shoulder!!!!" Hey, I'm old (56) 9 pounds of a Jazz Bass on my shoulder for 4 hours makes it sore. 4 pounds of Hofner and a skinny neck is delightful. I just wish I had the few extra frets.

[bassplayer]

Have you looked into the Carvin AC40 or AC50's???

http://www.carvin.com/products/guitar.php?ItemNumber=AC40

http://www.carvin.com/products/guitar.php?ItemNumber=AC50

Carvin makes really nice basses. Yes, I'm biased, but I own one :D

[Hofnerguy]

Have you looked into the Carvin AC40 or AC50's???

http://www.carvin.com/products/guitar.php?ItemNumber=AC40

http://www.carvin.com/products/guitar.php?ItemNumber=AC50

Carvin makes really nice basses. Yes, I'm biased, but I own one :D

Wow, never have seen those before. Does Guitar Center carry Carvin? How do they sound with flatwounds? I prefer flatwound strings on a hollowbody. Thanks for the tip.

[bassplayer]

Wow, never have seen those before. Does Guitar Center carry Carvin? How do they sound with flatwounds? I prefer flatwound strings on a hollowbody. Thanks for the tip.


Guitar Center does not carry Carvin. They are a factory direct custom shop. If you look on their website, they have a "jam room" where you can hear all the different basses that they carry. You can put whatever strings you want on them. I do know that a lot of people use tapewounds on them for that piano type sound.

[Vash03]

the fender mustang bass is pretty light

[Reign in Blood]

Maybe its time to start workin out,then you'll show that overweight soccer mom style guitar who's boss :lmao: jk

[Peaceful]

Actually, working out is good. Why is it that bass amps do not have castors?

[ValveTronix]

Yeah bro, do some core strengthening... traps, rhomboids and lats... it'll help :)

[Peaceful]

Er, which one of those is the lower back?

[SKEETER]

I would suggest what I did, A Hohner Steinberger. They are small and light. The only problem is, the strings cost an arm and a leg and are proprietary "double ball". You cannot use regular bass strings with them.
Another solution is a small scale bass, like an old Bronco or some other fender small scale.

Also, when I was playing bass, part of the problem was not only the weight, I realized it was the REACH. Shorter scale bases are easier on your back because you are not reaching all the way out THERE to get notes.

[Peaceful]

I have got long arms. It is not a problem. (It is a problem buying jackets and shirts).


I usually play on or about the fifth fret anyway.

[SKEETER]

There is another factor along with the reach, and that is the balance.
I am a guitarist, and have a VERY bad back, as in I am messed up all of the time with it. drugs, tens unit, the whole nine yards. 3 surgeries. I have discovered that weight is not the only thing that effects me holding a guitar on stage.
I have a very light telecster style guitar that I use live a lot, I also have the heaviest guitar I have ever seen, a Yamaha SG1000. the thing weighs a ton.
The Yamaha seems to do me no more damage than the Telecster because even though it is heavy, it is also very well balanced. When I am on stage, if I let go fo the neck it stays where it hangs. Jazz and P style bases tend to be neck heavy. I think that has to do with the length more than the construction and materials.
I could not hold a LP on stage for 4 hours, because of the balance, and I also could not hold a Gibson SG because they are neck heavy, but that Yamaha seems to not normally bother me.

[ModestCargo]

Can you just sit on your amp and rest the bass on your thigh?
Dude, it's rude and unprofessional to sit down on stage. And it makes you look old and/or lazy.

[SKEETER]

Dude, it's rude and unprofessional to sit down on stage. And it makes you look old and/or lazy.

Hmmm well, then I guess old guys like me that are disabled and sometimes have trouble standing should just hang up our instruments and jump off of a bridge somewhere, eh?
I wonder if people who know me and know that I continue with life instead of cashing my chips in spite of my physical condition call me lazy...............

[Peaceful]

I once saw Segovia play in Chicago. Maybe in 1973 or so. He must have been 180 years old. He tottered out on stage clutching his guitar. I thought that he would not make it to the centre. Then he SAT DOWN on the chair.



...and the most beautiful music ensued.



P.S. Some of us ARE old and lazy.

P.P.S. I think it gives a casual air to the show. Makes one look cool.

P.P.P.S. Hey Modestcargo, I don't mean to flame you but 1) we are not all young and fit, and 2) ever watched an orchestra? A goodly percentage of the players arre sitting down.


But I know what you you mean. Unless one is a James Dean type, it is preferable to stand and play the electric guitars and basses unless one has a good reason not to. That is why they invented the strap.