It's another bass, I'm afraid, but this sort of thing can be done with many overweight electrics just as well.
I've lightened a few guitars in my time, usually by routing a 'false' control chamber on the back. The trouble is, it saves a surprisingly small amount of weight. So what if you want some more out?
I got a call from a chap with a sore shoulder from the Basschat forum who asked if there was anything that could be done with this quite pretty Harley Benton bass:
Looks nice, plays nice, weighs nearly 11lb
There's plenty of wood could come out from under the pickguard but experience told me it would not be enough to get down to the 9lbs - 9 1/2lb target. I could also have gone from the back and had multiple faux control chambers
He was also interested in some of the veneer jobs I do, so we came up with a plan - rout from the top and veneer it.
Briefly up to present time:
Trying to keep the balance OK, I avoided taking too much wood out below the bridge. Everything else was fair game
By the way - like many of us, I'm a fan of Harley Bentons and this is a nice bass and made from...not ply (despite the weight) but solid Ash!
Anyway - cue forstners chisels and router:
This, including the addition of some thin basswood to cover the chambers, took out 1 lb 12oz.
On went the covers and off came the finish:
Then on went the veneer (which I'm sure you've all seen before ad nauseam):
..and today, bringing this up to present, the - yes, you guessed it - red ink:
Comments
Great skills.
and headstock veneer and first stain coat on:
Instagram
I think this is going to look great with that contrast - I'll be doing a mock-up soon and will take a photo if there's enough light on this dull dreary day!
It still looks ace
The little sunflower emblem was a personal request by the owner - it will press into an exact fit hole that it's presently just resting on:
I'm going to recommend dispensing with the pickguard, but the neck pickup rout is oversize and will need some form of ring or cover. I have been able to get hold of Jazz pickup rings in the past but they don't seem to exist any more - anyone seen any? I can always make one, I suppose.
Surprised someone is prepared to pay you to do that to a Harley Benton though. They're decent enough instruments but still...