How lightweight can you go with P bass bodies before neck dive?

[boristhespider7]

Anyone know how lightweight a P bass body can go before neck dive becomes a problem or its no longer well balanced? (Assuming it already has lightweight tuners)

Consider a Warmoth P build and seeing how lightweight i can get it

 

[FunkHead]

John at Guitar Villa in Bethlem, PA. got one down in the 5.5 Lb(IIRC) range using Spanish Cedar for the body. I don't know the exact details but I am sure he would tell you all about it if you called him.
vibrawood-customs
Here's a pic:

 

[Willicious]

I've got a few lightweight P's. Their weights range from 7lb. 6oz. down to 6lb. 10oz. All are set up very similarly, and all have Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners. With a regular strap, none have any neck dive that I can discern.
My lightest bass is a Squier parts-mongrel Jazz, which is 5lb. 11oz. It has a little dive, but it's nothing I can't fix with my strap, and I'd much rather go super lightweight and deal with a little neck dive, than add weight to a bass. All IMO.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Anyone know how lightweight a P bass body can go before neck dive becomes a problem or its no longer well balanced? (Assuming it already has lightweight tuners)

Consider a Warmoth P build and seeing how lightweight i can get it

Good question. I've seen a few P's & J's touted as lightweight but the builders insisted on using full-size headstocks and tuners. Any way you can snag a neck with an abbreviated (smaller footprint) headstock and Ultralites? Every ounce counts.

Riis

 

[boristhespider7]

Good question. I've seen a few P's & J's touted as lightweight but the builders insisted on using full-size headstocks and tuners. Any way you can snag a neck with an abbreviated (smaller footprint) headstock and Ultralites? Every ounce counts.

Riis

Just considering bodies at the moment as i have a nice US P neck i'll be using

 

[boristhespider7]

Anyone else?
Really after a ball park figure for a body weight that would be the lightest before you start to get into problems

 

[Willicious]

Good question. I've seen a few P's & J's touted as lightweight but the builders insisted on using full-size headstocks and tuners. Any way you can snag a neck with an abbreviated (smaller footprint) headstock and Ultralites? Every ounce counts.

AllParts offers a J-style neck with a much smaller Fender headstock. It uses smaller 9/16" dia. bores for modern, smaller tuners. Might be a good choice if a featherweight body dives with a normal Fender neck.

 

[4SG]

I've got a few lightweight P's. Their weights range from 7lb. 6oz. down to 6lb. 10oz. All are set up very similarly, and all have Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners. With a regular strap, none have any neck dive that I can discern.

Willicious is on point -- once you find the lightest body you can, the biggest weight savings--and neck dive prevention--will come from your tuners. I also like the Gotohs and recommend them.