Bass bodies (paging Skuttlefunk!)

[dudesweet157]

Mostly a question for Skuttlefunk, but if any of you have the answer, feel welcome to answer.  I want to assemble a Warmoth Jazz Bass, and REALLY want to pull the trigger on a lightweight Swamp Ash body in the showcase (3lb. 11oz.), however, I'm not sure it will balance well, and I REALLY don't want it to be neck heavy like the Ibanez GIO I'm playing now.  I'd of course be using Ultralite tuners to reduce weight, just a regular Maple/Rosewood neck.  I'm a noob to bass, but I'm finding it's really nice to just sit and the pocket and ride the groove instead of having to be out front playing guitar.

Thanks in advance,
Rose

 

[jackthehack]

The bass I just built was just a little heavier than the you refer to and balanced out nicely with a a maple/bocote neck even with the hearvier Schaller BMLs

 

[ognolman]

Mostly a question for Skuttlefunk, but if any of you have the answer, feel welcome to answer.  I want to assemble a Warmoth Jazz Bass, and REALLY want to pull the trigger on a lightweight Swamp Ash body in the showcase (3lb. 11oz.), however, I'm not sure it will balance well, and I REALLY don't want it to be neck heavy like the Ibanez GIO I'm playing now.  I'd of course be using Ultralite tuners to reduce weight, just a regular Maple/Rosewood neck.  I'm a noob to bass, but I'm finding it's really nice to just sit and the pocket and ride the groove instead of having to be out front playing guitar.

You might want to have a high-mass bridge, like the Leo Quan BA or Hipshot.  With the lightweight tuners it should distribute some weight toward the bridge.

JBD

 

[dudesweet157]

Cool, thanks guys!  :rock-on:

 

[SkuttleFunk]

I like to keep bodies to 4 pounds at the lightest - but as noted above, there are things you can do to bring a bass back into balance

I'd consider these options for the build

* Hipshot Ultralight tuners (more expensive, but half a pound less than the typical Schallers)
* either a Leo Quan BAII or Hipshot Type A (brass, not aluminum) bridge
* the location of your tail strap button will be more critical than on a heavier body
* be sure to use a nice wide strap
* if you don't mind using a string retainer that is not the standard Fender style round button, consider using one of the Hipshot string retainers instead (I really, really dig these and use them on all of my builds now unless a customer asks for the round button)

and if this is a rear routed body ... you can always add a small roll of pennies to the cavity (firmly secured, of course) if any additional weight is needed to get everything balanced nicely


all the best on your new build!

R

 

[ognolman]

...Another idea would be to use an 18v preamp and put the battery box closer to the rear of the instrument, if possible.

And, to build on SkuttleFunk's idea of a roll of pennies, you could also pick up a box of BBs or buckshot and put them into a ziplock bag in the control cavity if you need some ballast.  It might fit better in a crowded cavity.  I've used bags of BBs as weights for gluing sheets of wood and they are quite heavy.

JBD

 

[Shmoopie]

hey SK could you explain more about the position of the rear strap button.

does moving it up reduce neck dive.  i just want to clarify, cuz im planing on a wenge neck and swamp ash body.

 

[SkuttleFunk]

yes, moving it up (towards you when viewed in playing position) will have the tendency to raise the headstock and help to somewhat offset neck dive. while not the absolute cure-all, it can be the ticket when your bordering on that line between balanced and neck heavy

all the best,

R