Light 30" bass choices?

Jim Williams · 12th December 2011

My 87 year old father in law has a hard time picking up and playing his old 34" Fender bass. We want to get him a smaller, light weight bass at 30" as we want to keep him playing. (We all play in this family).

I don't want to spend a lot on a Gibson EB or something, more like a Squire like 30" Musicmaster bass would be ideal. Do they make this stuff like that?

Give the old man some help on this. He will love you for it.

shaggy8685 · 12th December 2011

This might not be exactly what you want but I bought one of these while I traveled for work. It plays just fine and is really light.

TB-4P Bass - Traveler Guitar

drbob1 · 14th December 2011

Yes, they make a short scale Squire bass. However, if I were going for light weight I'd look at the Danelectro basses. The semihollow construction makes them super light.

The other really cool one right now is the Lanikei Ukele Bass. It looks like a toy, it weighs nothing, but it sounds like an upright bass thru an amp. Super cool!

popote_jr · 14th December 2011

try to find an ampeg short-scale...

lightweight, nice pick-up.

Fisticuffs · 14th December 2011

Ibanez Mikro. It fits the description although I do have to say if he's spent decades with a beloved Fender or two he's gonna hate it.

litepipe · 14th December 2011

Those Mustang basses are pretty light. They sound nice and play well. Thats so great he's still playing!! So cool.

Jim Williams · 14th December 2011

Yes, he's the hit at the senior center, the ladies love him, he's a star!

It's just like High School, with wrinkles.

teleharmonium · 14th December 2011

I don't know about Squier versions but I've played Fender Musicmasters that weren't all that light.

Light to me means it should have some air in it - Danelectro (not all current models are short scale) or the cheap new (made in China) Hofners come to mind. Both are better than they have a right to be for the $.

I'm not sure how consistent those Hofners are, but I played a good one recently. Would have brought it home if I didn't already have several 30" basses.

biggator6 · 15th December 2011

How about a semi-hollow 30" for small AND light?

Douglas WVEB Short Scale Violin Bass VS at RondoMusic.com

Jim Williams · 15th December 2011

Keep 'um coming. I think a small body would help, not a thick hollow body acoustic style. He's a little guy, about 5' 4".

biggator6 · 16th December 2011

SX Ursa 2 JR RN 3TS Short Scale w/Bag at RondoMusic.com

http://www.rondomusic.com/albasswh.html

12th December 2011	#1
Jim Williams Voiding warranties Joined: Feb 2004 Location: beautiful Carlsbad, CA Posts: 10,070 Thread Starter	Light 30" bass choices? My 87 year old father in law has a hard time picking up and playing his old 34" Fender bass. We want to get him a smaller, light weight bass at 30" as we want to keep him playing. (We all play in this family). I don't want to spend a lot on a Gibson EB or something, more like a Squire like 30" Musicmaster bass would be ideal. Do they make this stuff like that? Give the old man some help on this. He will love you for it.

12th December 2011	#2
shaggy8685 Gear Head Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Earth Posts: 72	This might not be exactly what you want but I bought one of these while I traveled for work. It plays just fine and is really light. TB-4P Bass - Traveler Guitar __________________ lives to hook it all together.

14th December 2011	#6
litepipe Gear addict Joined: Jan 2009 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 362 1 Review written	Those Mustang basses are pretty light. They sound nice and play well. Thats so great he's still playing!! So cool. __________________ Mark Marshall Knob Twiddler www.knobtwiddler.net www.facebook.com/markmarshallmusic

14th December 2011	#8
teleharmonium Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,136	I don't know about Squier versions but I've played Fender Musicmasters that weren't all that light. Light to me means it should have some air in it - Danelectro (not all current models are short scale) or the cheap new (made in China) Hofners come to mind. Both are better than they have a right to be for the $. I'm not sure how consistent those Hofners are, but I played a good one recently. Would have brought it home if I didn't already have several 30" basses. __________________ "...just total fvckin' silence..." Sea of Storms: http://www.reverbnation.com/seaofstorms

15th December 2011	#9
biggator6 Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,979	How about a semi-hollow 30" for small AND light? Douglas WVEB Short Scale Violin Bass VS at RondoMusic.com __________________ "Seriously, there's a certain kind of creative inspiration that can come from exploring the outer limits of a musical instrument. Now days the limits are so vast that it can be difficult to set boundaries." --spargee

14th December 2011	#3
drbob1 Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,420 3 Reviews written	Yes, they make a short scale Squire bass. However, if I were going for light weight I'd look at the Danelectro basses. The semihollow construction makes them super light. The other really cool one right now is the Lanikei Ukele Bass. It looks like a toy, it weighs nothing, but it sounds like an upright bass thru an amp. Super cool!

14th December 2011	#4
popote_jr Gear maniac Joined: May 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 215	try to find an ampeg short-scale... lightweight, nice pick-up.

14th December 2011	#5
Fisticuffs Gear Head Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 43	Ibanez Mikro. It fits the description although I do have to say if he's spent decades with a beloved Fender or two he's gonna hate it.

16th December 2011	#11
biggator6 Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,979	SX Ursa 2 JR RN 3TS Short Scale w/Bag at RondoMusic.com http://www.rondomusic.com/albasswh.html

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