I was wondering about Bass Guitar weights as i was looking to replace my Peavy Milestone IV with a lighter one. Its shipping weight is listed as 5.7kg, and its kind of becoming a problem.
Id say i want a Squire PJ bass, but i would settle for any PJ bass formatted like a fender one. (no real brand loyalty, but im leaning towards wanting one of them)
So any suggestions or inputs like whats on the heavier side for woods etc. Research on this has not been great and i have only really seen Squires be cited as lighter and not be short scales etc.
Addendum: I forgot to mention i am in the “budget” category, i could probably allocate £300 to the purchase, including the selling of the Peavy.
Most modern basses will be noticeably lighter weight than that.
Ibanez tend to be lighter weight. The necks are very slim and not for everyone though. If you have larger hands, like me, you may find them uncomfortable.
At £300, I wouldn’t be looking for specific brands/models. I’d be looking for whatever is nice in your local used market.
Have a look at the Harley Benton MV-4P (ot the better PJ … below).
If you don’t like the colour: they have plenty others.
It’s about 4kg.
According to a review in Amazona: “When you’re looking into a Precision Bass, one question naturally arises: How does it compare to a Fender P-Bass? To explore this, I recorded a sound sample, first playing the Harley Benton and then a Fender. The Fender is a Mexican-made Player Series bass, costing just under €900.
I find it very interesting how similar the two basses are in terms of sound. The Harley Benton sounds a bit harder than the Fender, and the midrange is slightly different. However, these differences are very subtle and contribute to the character of each instrument.
I can’t pick a clear favorite between the two in terms of sound. This comparison reinforces my theory that the Harley Benton MV-4P is a fully-fledged P-Bass without compromise, one that will accompany me on stage long after this test. But where exactly are the differences between an instrument that costs €229 and one that costs almost €900? To be honest, I can’t really find an answer in this case.
As I said, if I had to find something, it would be the tuners and perhaps the pickguard material (which seems a bit higher quality on the Fender), but that doesn’t bother me at all. The Harley Benton has features, such as the wheel on the truss rod, that would be a reason for me to buy it. Admittedly, the construction of the Precision Bass is very simple, and to achieve a usable Precision sound, you don’t need many ingredients; other inexpensive basses can do that too.
But there, compromises always had to be made in terms of feel and appearance. Inexpensive instruments were often difficult to set up, and achieving low action was impossible. Add to that the poorly finished frets and unattractive finishes.
But what the Harley Benton MV-4P delivers here is truly impressive, especially considering its low price: The neck is incredibly playable and adjustable, the frets are cleanly finished, and the overall look is very appealing. The other available finishes are also stylish and certainly not boring. The MV-4P is also available in Shell Pink, Seafoam Green, Daphne Blue, and Black.”
In my opinion, even better is the Harley Benton MV-4PJ! Everything is the same, except that it’s aP/J.
If you can’t rebuild a bass, Id steer clear of Harley Benton. They have known quality issues. Stick with a good used bass from a more reputable brand.
This is the Gotoh version - the new version is without the Gotoh tuners, unfortunately. The rest is the same … except for the weight, which is about 4kg (possibly due to better wood selection).
Auch! Is this real? I wonder why the front of the bass instead of the back. Maybe the person who did this liked the way it looks. What would this do to the sound?
PS. Only now I realised the holes were covered by the pick guard, bridge and pickup
One possibility for someone looking for a lightweight bass guitar is to look for semi-hollow basses. I have a semi-hollow and I’m very satisfied with how light it feels! But I won’t recommend my model if you are looking for a 34” bass, since mine is a short scale.
You’re correct, the current Fender Mexican P Bass retails at £780. That’s why when I actually read his question and saw the budget of around 300 quid I didn’t recommend anything.
It does however look fantastic
There are numerous options in the P Bass world that are cheaper than Fender but equally as good. The Squier Classic Vibe 70’s (also really a Fender) is a fabulous bass and on sale for £379 if the OP could stetch the budget. Or look for a used one in good shape.
The real question is in 20 years time will a Harley Benton still be in anyone’s long term collection?
My reasonably priced Mexican Fender that’s earned me money all this year and will keep making me money in 2026 certainly will be Long live Leo
Squier Affinity series are pretty light if you are in the US then it’s definitely a Rec, Harley Benton if you are in EU. The entry line on Ibanez is also a consideration.
