Lightweight bass guitars offer many benefits, particularly to beginners and people with back problems. In this article, I’ll list 10 of the best lightweight bass guitar models on the market that have great sound despite their light weight and size.
The 10 best lightweight bass guitars are as follows:
- Davison Guitars Full Size Electric Bass Guitar – 1.4 to 2.27 kilograms (3 to 5 pounds) – Click here to see it on Amazon – Our #1 Top Pick!
- Hofner Ignition Club Bass – 2 to 3 kilograms (4.4 to 6.6 pounds) – Click here to see it on Amazon
- Traveler Guitar TB-4 P-Bass Guitar – 3.8 kilograms (8 pounds and 6 ounces)
- Glarry Electric Bass Guitar Full Size 4 String – 3.1 kilograms (6.8 pounds)
- Ibanez Mikro GSRM20BS 4 String Bass Guitar – 2.7-3.2 kilograms (6 to 7 pounds)
- Squier Affinity Series Bronco Bass Guitar – 3.9 kilograms (8.8 pounds)
- Sterling “Ray4” by Music Man StingRay Bass Guitar – 4 kilograms (8.9 pounds)
- Fender Deluxe Precision Bass® Special Bass Special Guitar – 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds)
- Goplus Electric Bass Guitar – 4.5 kilograms (approximately 10 pounds)
- Dean Custom Zone Bass – 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds)
Read on to learn more about each of these lightweight bass guitars, including their features.
Also, for an excellent lightweight bass guitar, take a look at our top pick, the Davison Guitars Full Size Electric Bass Guitar:
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Best Lightweight Bass Guitar – 10 Picks
1. Davison Guitars Full Size Electric Bass Guitar
Planning to learn how to play the guitar? The plug-and-play Davison Guitars Full Size Electric Bass Guitar is great for someone new to playing the instrument. It weighs approximately 1.4 to 2.27 kilograms (3 to 5 pounds). Its full size is 45 inches, so it’s best for adults and teenagers.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
The Davison Guitars’ full-size electric bass guitar features a body with a high-gloss finish. It’s available in three colors: black, blue, and vintage sunburst.
The neck is made of maple, which feels solid and smooth under the fingers. Also, it has die-cast tuners and bridge. The package includes an amp case strap, guitar chord, and three picks.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 1.4 to 2.27 kilograms (3 to 5 pounds).
- It’s great for people who are just learning to play.
- The neck has a tension bar adjustment.
- It sounds great and holds a tune.
2. Hofner Ignition Club Bass
There are many reasons why you should consider the Hofner Ignition Club Bass. For one, it weighs only 2 to 3 kilograms (4.4 to 6.6 pounds).
Click here to see it on Amazon.
It’s a one-piece bass guitar that has a short-scale, hollow body—think of German violins—that offers a bright and punchy tone. In addition, it has the classic Hofner 70s pickups so that you can enjoy the authentic Hofner sound. You can use it to jam to different music genres, including classic rock and roll, jazz, folk, and so on.
The Hofner Ignition Club Bass (sunburst) is best suited for beginners, young bass players, and professional bass players.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 2 to 3 kilograms (4.4 to 6.6 pounds).
- The vintage design and flawless finish are nostalgic.
- It has a clean and smooth sound, without going out of tune.
- It has switches that allow you to turn the pickups on and off and go from solo to rhythm.
3. Traveler Guitar TB-4 P-Bass Guitar
Do you need a bass guitar that you could bring anywhere? Weighing only 3.8 kilograms (8 pounds and 6 ounces) and measuring 37 inches long, the Traveler Guitar TB-4 P-Bass Guitar is an excellent option for you.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
The TB-4 has a 4-channel headphone output jack and an aux-in socket that allows you to practice privately at home or anywhere you want.
It’s also a headless (no headstock) bass guitar with a proprietary in-body tuning system. As a result, you don’t need to deal with neck dive problems. Plus, you’ll enjoy a 32-inch scale bass guitar that’s 25 percent lighter and 22 percent shorter than a full-size bass guitar.
The Seymour Duncan Designed MM-101 pickup defines the whole sound of the Traveler Guitar TB-4 P-Bass Guitar. It provides deep lows, as well as sweet, articulate highs.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 3.8 kilograms (8 pounds and 6 ounces).
- It’s light and compact, so you can easily bring it anywhere.
- It sounds well and needs only minor tuning.
- The built-in headphone amplifier lets you find your groove and practice privately.
4. Glarry Electric Bass Guitar Full Size 4 String
The Glarry Electric Bass Guitar Full Size 4 String is an entry-level bass guitar that offers good quality for a low price.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
The body is made of light basswood, which helps level out and softens sharp highs. Meanwhile, the smooth frets are made of rosewood that’s praised for its warm, rich tones and ability to even out high-frequency harshness.
This 4-string Glarry bass guitar is for right-handed, beginner players. It has a scale length of 34 inches, standard string spacing, and thick and large strings.
The package includes the instrument, power wire, tools, case, belt, and pick.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 3.1 kilograms (6.8 pounds).
- For a bass under $100, it plays really well, and the tone is great.
- There are no aesthetic issues, such as chipped paint, dents, or scratches.
- The electrical system works just fine.
5. Ibanez Mikro GSRM20BS 4 String Bass Guitar Brown Sunburst
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Compact and lightweight, the Ibanez Mikro GSRM20BS 4 String Bass Guitar Brown Sunburst weighs around 2.7 to 3.2 kilograms (6 to 7 pounds).
It’s a short-scale bass guitar (28.6 inches) that’s perfect for children, traveling musicians who need a backup bass, and people who want to learn bass, among others.
The fretboard is rosewood, while the body is poplar, which offers a meaty tone and resonant sound. If ever you need to adjust its intonation, the bridge has intonation adjustment screws for every string.
It’s also a passive bass guitar. Meaning, it doesn’t need batteries or outside power sources.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 2.7 to 3.2 kilograms (6 to 7 pounds).
- The Mikro GSRM20BS looks good and doesn’t have flaws with its finish.
- It has a good overall fit, allowing you to get your hands around its slender neck easily.
- It works smoothly and produces a great sound.
6. Squier Affinity Series Bronco Bass Guitar Black
The Squier Affinity Series Bronco Bass Guitar Black is a good fit for beginner bassists, people who want to learn a melodic musical instrument, or those who want a straightforward, backup bass guitar.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
This short-scale, 30-inch bass guitar is relatively lightweight (3.9 kilograms or 8.8 pounds), making it easy on the shoulders, especially during long gigs.
The body is constructed using agathis wood. When combined with the single-coil pickup and maple fingerboard and neck, the body produces a warm tone as well as full and rich sounds. It has a “C” shape (or flat oval) neck that fits most playing styles.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 3.9 kilograms (8.8 pounds).
- It feels good in the hands and has a comfortable fretboard.
- The tone of this bass guitar is surprisingly great.
- The simple design (one pickup, one tone control, one volume control, etc.) is beginner-friendly.
7. Sterling “Ray4” by Music Man StingRay Bass Guitar
The Sterling “Ray4” by Music Man StingRay Bass Guitar is a 34-inch, long-scale bass guitar with 21 frets. It’s suitable for left-handed people, including novice and intermediate bass players.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Making sure that the Ray4 stays in tune is easy, thanks to its “3+1” tuning key and “straight string pull” arrangements. It also comes with an adjustable bridge and a 9-volt active preamp, low-noise humbucker.
The neck of the Ray4 is made of hard maple, while the fretboard is made of either maple or jatoba. Its body is made entirely of basswood.
It’s available in many attractive finishes to match your personal preference: black, mint green, fiesta red, vintage cream, vintage sunburst, walnut satin, trans blue satin, and ruby red burst satin.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 4 kilograms (8.9 pounds).
- It’s responsive to the way you play.
- It sounds and feels like the $1,000 StingRay.
- It’s available in different colors to suit your unique taste.
8. Fender Deluxe Precision Bass® Special Bass Special Guitar
The Fender Deluxe Precision Bass® Special Bass Special Guitar is equipped with reliable “active” electronics, including a 3-band equalizer that controls your bass, mids, and treble to get the best tone. It has an active/passive switch to give you tone options, whether you’re into vintage music or modern music.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
To balance its classic look, it has a sleek, contemporary HiMass bridge that makes sure this bass guitar is on pitch and holds a tune. The Pearloid fret inlays make it easier for you to know which fret you’re playing. Also, it’s a P-Bass with a single-coil middle pickup and a powerful jazz bass pickup.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds).
- The four controls give you countless sound combinations.
- The bridges are secure, sturdy, and firm.
- It’s a solid professional bass guitar.
9. Goplus Electric Bass Guitar
The 4-string Goplus Electric Bass Guitar weighs only 4.5 kilograms (approximately 10 pounds). But, aside from being light, it’s also perfectly balanced to avoid neck dives. The body is a combination of strong laminated and solid wood, while the fretboard is made of Rosewood.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
It’s a great backup or beginner’s bass guitar that doesn’t feel and sound cheap. It delivers smooth tones as long as you set it up properly. You’ll have a blast using it for playing the blues or rock and roll or everything else in between. The package includes a travel bag, shoulder strap, pick, tools, and amp cord.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 4.5 kilograms (approximately 10 pounds).
- It plays and sounds so well, with a nice growl.
- Most of the components are working great.
- When it comes to its physical appearance, it looks professionally done.
10. Dean Custom Zone Bass
If you like neon green and rock and roll, then you’ll love the Dean Custom Zone Bass. It’s constructed using basswood for the body and maple for the fretboard and neck. The fretboard has black rectangular inlays that serve as guides and 20 frets for changing the pitch of the strings.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
It only weighs around 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds). Its light weight allows you to combat neck heaviness and contributes to the overall balance of the instrument.
This bass guitar, however, doesn’t come with a shoulder strap, travel bag, and amp cord.
Key Features and Benefits:
- It weighs 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds).
- The overall sound is great.
- It’s geared more towards rock bassists.
- It’s an affordable starter bass guitar.
How Do I Make My Bass Guitar Lighter?
Jumping around and going crazy on stage with a bass guitar for hours can take serious effort. Not to mention, it can be dangerous, especially when you land awkwardly and tumble down.
It’s hard to put an exact number on a bass guitar’s weight because there are many factors that affect its weight, like the type of wood used for its construction. If you have a very heavy bass guitar or even a lighter bass guitar like the ones listed in this article, there are many things you can do to overcome this weight issue.
1. Get a Wider Strap
This doesn’t directly impact the weight of the bass guitar. However, it’ll help evenly spread the weight of the instrument, so you can avoid hurting your shoulders and back. Go for a strap (with adequate padding) that’s at least 3.5 to 4 inches wide.
2. Exchange Some of Its Heaviest Components
Components that are heavy are usually made of brass and steel, such as the bridge, knobs, pickups, and tuning keys. That’s why they’re often replaced with components that are made of aluminum.
Let’s take the humble tuners as examples. It makes a lot of sense to replace them because they can affect the balance of the bass guitar and the heaviness of the neck of the instrument. The standard bass tuner weighs around 51 grams (1.8 ounces), while its aluminum counterparts are around 36 grams (1.3 ounces).
3. Swap Out its Original Body
A bass guitar’s body adds more to its overall weight than its parts. For instance, the bodies of Jazz bass (or J Bass) guitars could weigh anywhere from 4 to 6 pounds. You can just imagine the amount of weight you’ll save by swapping out a heavy body.
Bass guitar bodies are made of medium-weight to heavy tone woods, such as Ash (softest hardwood), Alder, and Mahogany. Meanwhile, the fretboard (the face of the neck), or fingerboard, are made of hardwoods, such as Ebony, Rosewood, Walnut, Hard Maple, Koa, Padauk (termite-resistant), and Wenge (known for its deep brown color).
Bottom line: Replacing your bass guitar’s components makes sense if you plan to replace some of them anyway. However, it’s not a good idea to do a full revamp because it would be more expensive than buying a new one with a lighter weight.
Conclusion – Best Lightweight Bass Guitar
So what is the best lightweight bass guitar? Our top 10 lightweight bass guitars are as follows:
- Davison Guitars Full Size Electric Bass Guitar – 1.4 to 2.27 kilograms (3 to 5 pounds) – Click here to see it on Amazon – Our #1 Top Pick!
- Hofner Ignition Club Bass – 2 to 3 kilograms (4.4 to 6.6 pounds) – Click here to see it on Amazon
- Traveler Guitar TB-4 P-Bass Guitar – 3.8 kilograms (8 pounds and 6 ounces)
- Glarry Electric Bass Guitar Full Size 4 String – 3.1 kilograms (6.8 pounds)
- Ibanez Mikro GSRM20BS 4 String Bass Guitar – 2.7-3.2 kilograms (6 to 7 pounds)
- Squier Affinity Series Bronco Bass Guitar – 3.9 kilograms (8.8 pounds)
- Sterling “Ray4” by Music Man StingRay Bass Guitar – 4 kilograms (8.9 pounds)
- Fender Deluxe Precision Bass® Special Bass Special Guitar – 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds)
- Goplus Electric Bass Guitar – 4.5 kilograms (approximately 10 pounds)
- Dean Custom Zone Bass – 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds)
Any of these lightweight bass guitars will save your back and make it much easier to hold and carry the guitar. These lighter bass guitars deliver the same high-quality sound like many of the heavier bass guitars.
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