Lightweight

[HighNote]

Hey, I’m lookin to build a 6 string alembic that’s between 7 and 8ish pounds; chambering, wood selection and scale length is what I’ve heard affects weight the most.  Am I missing anything else on that front?  Anyone have any experience with how much weight is shaved by short scaling or medium scaling?

-Drew

[jazzyvee]

You could also consider lightweight tuners, not having a tone block under the bridge would remove the weighty brass one.
Maybe reducing the amount of brass in the tailpiece by using ebony and brass tailpiece. That said i've never lifted a piece of Ebony so no idea how much weith you would save. Here is an example.
http://www3.alembic.com/img/inst/14514_hardwareNL.jpg

[rv_bass]

Plastic back covers rather than brass could reduce some weight too, as well as body size and neck length/shape.  So a smaller body short scale with certain woods and less brass/metal parts, and chambering would likely help lighten it up.

I have a pair of 5/6 string AXY pickups that I’m selling in the for sale section if interested.

Good luck with your build!

[JimmyJ]

Hey Drew,

Good advice here from others.  And I always say that Alembic can build whatever you can dream up so I hope it comes together for you. 

But I'll add that the criteria you've stated strikes me as bit funny.  "6-strings" I understand if that's your thing.  But your only other concern is the weight?  No mention of which model, electronics package, body shape.  You're even willing to go short-scale to save weight.  It's like saying you're interested in an all-wheel-drive car that's blue.   

The overall weight of an instrument likely has an effect on its sound.  (So does the scale-length in my opinion.)  I would guess sustain is directly affected by how "vibration absorbent" an instrument is.  But I'm really only guessing.  Mica at Alembic is the one you need to talk to.  She can describe what different wood combinations do to the tone, and the weight.

Hey, a 4-string would be lighter.   

I don't mean to bust you - tell us more about what other details you're interested in.

Cheers,
Jimmy J

[lbpesq]

Hi Drew,and welcome to the club.  A lot of good advice above.  One other consideration I'll throw into the pot:  if you are concerned about weight, you might want to forgo LEDs.  Depending on the color, LEDs require three or four 9v batteries.

Bill, tgo

[edwardofhuncote]

Maybe I'm misreading... are you thinking about a custom order or is this something you plan to build using Alembic electronics?


I think a 7-8 lb six-string bass guitar is a very ambitious build, just from a design and engineering standpoint but I think it's possible, if you make enough compromises. The resulting bass may or may not meet your expectations, sonically.


I think if this were my goal, I'd start with an existing 6-string on a lower budget, and lighten it... maybe do some kinda' radical mods to that end. See what works and what doesn't. 

[Spoilers!]

I agree with Ed that 7-8 pounds for a six string will be very ambitious.  I have a custom four string in the works that is specifically designed around being light weight.  There's a bit of discussion in my Dreaming for Now thread ("Easing up to the drawing board") about ideas for avoiding as much weight as possible.

The best thing to do is connect with an experienced dealer who can help you work through the various options.  Will Gunn told me about a Series 2 with an Essence body that weighed about 8.5 pounds.  I incorporated several ideas from that bass into my custom build, but recently Mica made some suggestions that will have it incorporating some concepts from the Crest model.

Ken

[HighNote]

Ok rad thanks : )