Even at 56 it's a factor. I have a couple of guitars in my collection one of which I built that I had to put seatbelt pads around the straps where they go over the shoulder. Two to three hours with eight or nine pounds pulling on the shoulder and collar bone can be brutal.
For me the amp is a bigger concern weight wise, but the weight of a guitar is more a factor for moving it instead of playing it, but I get that is a factor for many. So there are amps I love the sound of, that I would never buy
I've worked out, heavy, for all of my adult life. Being in that 60 range, my back isn't very good, quite likely exacerbated by my very heavy lifting. I can still easily hoist my 4x12, Lonestar, Super Reverb, etc. I have too much strength for my own good. But, I stubbornly refuse to compromise on my rig. What kills me most is standing with little movement as we do, with a Les Paul as opposed to an SG. I'll bring a Les Paul pretty much every time, but I just can't use it for the entire gig. So I find that mixing it up between a Les Paul, SG, Strat, Tele. My G&L ASAT (with tummy cut) is sooo light, it makes me smile the moment the strap lands on my shoulder, so I definitely think of a guitar's weight. I like my Strats and Teles light, and my Les Pauls on the lighter side of the Les Paul scale, but I'm forgiving of their weight. NOW FOR YOU YOUNG CATS - Lift weights if the weight of your gear bothers you! My weight lifting simply made life easier. I was predisposed to have back problems (degenerative disc disease). Load-in/out? It took me far too long to work smart, but hand trucks are your friend! If it's a money thing, get one from Harbor Freight. They're a lifesaver. Dollies can help too. Casters? I won't roll my amps over bumpy surfaces - rattling the tubes all over the place. The larger, softer wheels of a hand truck minimize that. You can also pull them up stairs.
Me too. The older I get the more I appreciate light weight and balance. Which is why I always tell folks, when buying a new guitar, always play it sitting down AND standing up (with a strap). It does not mean there is anything wrong if you love a heavy guitar, but I would like to see these guys do the same topic 30 years from now. Somehow I suspect "weight has never been a criteria I considered when buying a guitar" mantra may have changed. And while we are on it .... amps .... class D rules!
My favorite thing about your videos is you guys being unafraid to love on each other. When I worked in music retail finding just the right instrument for the player was truly my favorite thing - because almost invariably they'd come back months later and talk about how much they love the guitar or bass or whatever - like it was exactly right for them. You don't always have the luxury of that sort of time on the floor with customers, but when you do, man, it can be super satisfying. :)
I have a 1990 Les Paul that weighs 10 lbs. It's so body heavy that when I play it sitting down it wants to tip in the direction of the body. Instead of just playing the thing I also have to hold it in place. I've discovered that if I rest it on my left leg instead of my right that fixes the tipping problem (but doesn't feel as natural). I also have a 1977 Ibanez Les Paul copy that's much lighter (I think it's probably chambered). It plays about as good as the Gibson, so I find myself playing it more beacause it's more comfortable to play. Conclusion: Weight is an issue as far as comfort, and a 10 lbs. guitar feels like a boat anchor.
The wheelchair comment caught my attention. I’ve been in a wheelchair all my life and I’ve played guitar pretty much all my life. I’ve always been a Les Paul guy.. I’m not sure if weight makes a guitar better. Being a lightweight dude in a chair (lol), I have to kinda be particular when it comes to Les Pauls. In October ‘21, I was fortunate to find a Custom Shop LP at GC Nashville and it’s awesome. It weighs between 8.2 and 8.4 pounds and has great sustain, resonance, etc. 👍🏼
So i live here in Southern Pines and come in your shop every once in awhile. I have purchased two martins and 3 taylors but one of them I traded to upgrade to the first Martin. Anyway this conversation is really one I wanted to add a little thought. Ibrought in a gibson les paul it was the studio version lowest on the for price. I relly wanted it and got it through Google. When I received it and picked it up I just felt right away that it was heavy. Ive always played accustic so really used to not heavy. I kinda feel like when rock legends pick the guitar up to seewhat they think they would notice the weight but in the decision on whether to get or not that weight would matter but it might not register as to be the reason they don't want it. I'm older now so my joints speak to me about weight and I might not even realize it. Thats it, love your channel and i really appreciate you guys bringing your guitar shop here to our beautiful litltle town. May God shine his light on all of you and your family's.
Baxter - Give the kids some Adam West Batman. I loved it as a kid and it didn’t ruin the real, adult dark Batman for me later. Plus Adam West has the best Batmobile.
ding ding ding!!!! the older serials from the 40s weren't very good (and got a little racist, too if I recall). but, the '66 show is the bestest!!! the '89 Batman really isn't that "dark". it's just a hair less campy than the '66 iteration. that was one of my complaints about it then when I saw it. I was hyped to see a 'darker and brooding Batman", but what we got was literally darker because of all the night shoots and Tim Burton's nutty directing style.
I think that balance is way more important than weight. An SG with a lighter body and thick neck with a huge headstock feels way worse to me than an equivalent weight telecaster. For extended stage time or long practices I find it better to bear the weight evenly between the shoulder strap and the neck. Guitars that are unbalanced towards the headstock make my arm tired over time which has an effect on my playing.
I bought a Yamaha SG1500 when I was about 20. Back then it was known as the “Les Paul killer,” due to its rich tone and sustain. I’m 63 now, and refer to it as the “shoulder killer.” It weighs in at 12.5 LB. A few years ago, I dropped it on my foot from about 12 inches, and my big toenail had a black spot for about a year.
I am a guitar collector who also plays live, and I think weight definitely matters. My first guitar was a Fender Mustang, and I've collected them over the years. You can see my collection on RU-vid, but I also have many different guitars, and I can choose to play some really good vintage instruments on stage, but I leave them all in the case and usually play my Japanese Competition Blue Mustang, or the Fender Squier Carbonita Telecaster which sounds great and is super light. I've played my 90's Les Paul on stage purely for the sound I was going for, but it is certainly not very comfortable to wear. It is quite heavy. Rickenbackers are very light and easy to play too. I have a 70's Fender Telecaster that is extremely heavy, I love playing it, but I don't really use it much on stage anymore. Too heavy. My Fender Lead guitar which is custom and has 3 pickups is strangely heavy too. I love the sound, but again, it is on the heavy side, so I don't play it too much. Of course if you are 6 feet tall vs someone who is Prince's size may have a different opinion on the weight of a guitar, and how comfortable it is on stage. Lighter is always better for me, especially if you're playing several long sets. Check out my guitar review & collection videos and music videos on RU-vid. Here's my guitar collection in a video for one of my original songs: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-I_5TNyCXRbs.html
I always chuckle at the idea of a 9 lb. guitar being heavy. If you’ve ever carried a 27 lb. M240B, 60 lb. rucksack, plus tripod, spare barrel, linked ammunition, body armor and water for miles and miles up and down hills, it puts the weight of a guitar in a different perspective.
Was going to make the exact same comment about carrying a ruck and a M107 around Astan. This was long enough ago it was still an XM107 in fact. So I'm not young anymore and still love my 10 lbs 60s LP over all my other guitars. Even my 7 lbs Tele.
A heavy gun is a chore to carry, which is why most gun owners avoid them. A leisure activity shouldn't be an ordeal, otherwise it'll be replaced by something more enjoyable.
Unless I’ve missed it seemingly lost in the conversation was the race, finally, to build stiffer guitars to act as a better platform for the string vibration. Much like Parker and Steinberger with the requisite stiffness some of the weight could be lost realizing it didn’t contribute to sustain. That seem to come into favor in the 70s with all the brass parts that were being made for guitars to add to their sustain. Possibly the weight that came with these brass additions was perceived to be the cause of the increased sustain, when it worked. Just my two cents…
Steve at Wildwood personally picked my Gibson LG-2. He played the two in stock, gave me a detailed description of them, and told me which one he thought was best. Wildwood is awesome and so is my LG-2. You guys rock too!
I don’t have a fixed number but I chose an SG over a Les Paul and weight was one of the deciding factors making it more comfortable to play. I will say that was real world weight, having them in my hands. I’ve got no idea what the actual difference was between them but I’m sure it was a lot more than 0.1lbs!
You guys are about the same age as my kids. They sound like you guys in the way they talk. Not so much about guitars but their memories of growing up over the last 30 yrs. or so. Makes me feel good. Thanks.
What is more important than weight is balance. People go into a music store to try out a guitar and sit on a stool and plug in only to get home and put on a strap to find out the guitar neck dives or it's not comfortable. Bring your strap when trying out a guitar and stand UP when trying it out then sit down. Also, I use a 3 inch strap as it distributes the weight across the upper part of your back instead of all the weight on your shoulder. You can thank me later but I have been there and done that.....
I took up guitar building as a hobby 3 years ago. I've been playing for over 40 years. I build minimalist stick/paddle type electrics. My lightest build to date is 2.25 lbs for a maple neck, spruce body, 24 fret, 25.5" scale length, Strat type single coil at the bridge, tail tuner with non-locking tuners, a six floating saddles bridge, and dual Schaller style strap locks. I'm trying to limit my collection to one of each type of guitar, but I stopped counting at 70 guitars or so. With all those different types of guitars, there is no noticeable pattern of weight vs tone,. sustain, etc. About the only exception is my original Jackson Roswell (no inlays above the 12th) which has more bass than any other guitar I've ever played. But i don't know if its the size, shape, weight, wood, pickup, or some combo thereof that makes it that way. I've been wondering "how little is too little" when it comes to minimal guitars. At 2.25 lbs, i still have yet to reach the "too light" point. I'm down to 20mm thick necks with trapezoid profiles, 40mm wide flat triangular heels, 3/4" thick bodies, and two neck screws with no issues. Its getting to the point that the pickups are taller than the necks are thick.
I was a '70s Hard Rock keyboard player that had a Hammond B-3 with 2 Leslie 122's, a Rhodes 73 key Suitcase, a Mini-Moog an an ARP String Ensemble. My band was a house band in AC, New Jersey. We did 3 month contracts because it was a back destroyer to move the gear. I took up guitar in the '90s and ran with a mic'd Fender Deluxe Reverb with my Gibson ES-335 and Fender American Strat. To this day, I don't know how much they weigh and don't care to know.
I want the lightest body I can have without neck dive. That being said, I have an over 9 pound Les Paul that sits in the strap well and is well balanced that I love it. And I have a crazy light SG that is exhausting…I feel like I have fight to keep it upright enough to play. No right answer. What feels right to you is right.
I agree with the beard. Started in the 70s, then you started seeing Stienberg and Parker start their race in the early 80s. Ken set out for light weight because as a luthier in NY for 20+ years, working on guitars from some of the greatest players of that time...the common complaint was weight (among other things). Which is one of the leading factors as to why he set out to create the Parker Fly (>4.5llbs). Ned Steinberg had the same reasoning. 1993 to 2003 Parker Flys are the most underrated guitars of all time. They last
Sorta, the fretboards suffered a lot of 90's Grunge minded people, thus the fretboards delaminated in many examples, which now Im not sure how would one fix that? Also, I recall something about the pickups as well but what escapes me now... sorry... lol but yeah, proper cared for ones closet examples shall we say, excellent guitars. Fast, so fast.
@Caius Madison That was very rare between 1993 and 2003 when Ken Parker owned the company and they were being manufactured in the NE. Post 2003 when USM bought them, we started seeing that happen quite often. Which is what ruined its name. They moved production and changed a lot to reduce manufacturing costs. I have a 1995 fly deluxe and other than pain scuffs. It looks and plays like it's brand new... and has never had a truss rod adjustment or any adjustments to the bridge/saddles. From 2003 to 2019 (USM and JAM ownership periods) they brought business into it and ruined the name by lowering QC standards.
As a tennis coach, I can definitively say that swing weight matters. If I’m doing my best Kurt Cobain or Pete Townshend impression on stage, I’d probably need something under 7.5 lbs to get optimal swing speed.
What I have come to find in the last couple of years is that the lighter guitar is “usually “ louder acoustically and vibrate through the whole guitar. It’s not always like this but, I would say 7 out of 10 times this is true.
I sold my Gibson Les Paul Standard 10 - 11lbs replaced with 2010 Les Paul Studio Fireburst 7 lbs 6 oz. Night and day to play sitting or standing. So yes, it does make a difference! Comfort = more play time!
@Frozen Pizza I once did not mind the weight myself. But once you start getting younger your opinion may change. The guitar is much easier to play and sounds as good or better than the Standard I payed 3 times as much for. So, hang that from your nutsack Frozen Pizza!
@Frozen Pizza I don’t think wanting to be comfortable means you are weak. I think people not being active is a problem way beyond musicians. Most of the musicians I’ve met in my area are actually in great shape. To me choosing the lighter guitar of the same model just makes sense. Would you choose the heaviest sword to take into battle? That wouldn’t make sense, what if your enemy had a light katana they could swing faster? Lol
@Frozen Pizza How many times have you actually gone into battle carrying a heavy weapon? The lighter sword cuts the quickest not the heaviest. Heavy weapons slows you down. In battle the fastest wins not the slowest.
I think Eric Johnson started it. Mick on That Pedal Show popularized it. In the age of buying online and unplayed, buyers need some spec to differentiate between two of the same model hanging on the wall next to each other and weight seems as good as anything. I will say that playing more than a couple songs standing with my LP or Electric XII becomes uncomfortable. I can stand for hours with my SG, Hollowbody 2 or Vela Semi-Hollow. I think there is something to it in both ways. My heavier guitars take more of a beating to get going, but then they sustain more and have "thicker" tone. My lighter guitars can be played with a feather touch at low volume and they just go and have more "jangle"... but they fade out just as easily. Depends on what you're going for. My $0.02 of a devalued US dollar.
My heaviest guitars, two Les Paul Studios, two Les Paul Standards, one Les Paul Custom and a Carvin Contour 66. Of the two Les Paul standards, one is a 2000 Standard Plus. The Custom, Standard and Carvin are the heaviest. Guessing...the Standard is the heaviest with possibly the Custom to be second heaviest. There's something special about the Standard (96) that just calls you to play it. My guitar tech even pointed that out after working on it. The Standard Plus is the lightest of the six. It was my number one for many years. I bought the Standard with a friend in mind. He bought the guitar from me and had it for many years. I told him that there was something special about it and if he decides to sell it I want first dibs on it. He played his Strat (another guitar I bought with him in mind) more often and decided to sell the Standard. I bought the Standard and it has become my number one. However, the Standard Plus is the "old shoe'. At this point, I play them both regularly. I had my tech take the Standard and Standard plus and do a complete setup on both to make them as close as possible to being identical in their action and feel. Complete meaning....New nut, bridge and saddles (tech slotted the saddles), fret board leveling, new frets (same on both) and same strings. I wanted to be able to pick up either guitar and have it feel as close as possible to the other. It's interesting that one is the heaviest of the six and one is the lightest. Of all the the electrics I own, (there's many more than these including a PRS Special addition Core McCarty) these two have that special something that call me to play them. I don't consider weight when i purchase a guitar but I do like the way a heavier guitar feels. All my guitar straps are at least three inches wide.
I recently picked up a 2013 Les Paul Traditional, which was supposedly spec'd out to resemble a '59. Super resonant, articulate, and versatile instrument and without a doubt the first time I've been aware of the weight issue, because it's decidedly heavy -- 10.3 lbs. I sometimes waiver between getting totally lost in the music and remaining oblivious to the weight, to feeling just how cumbersome it really is. But overall, I'm in the camp of he ain't heavy, he's my Les Paul...
I have the exact same guitar and when I pick it up I can’t believe the weight, and it takes a few seconds to forget about it and just play. I have many guitars and this Les Paul can’t be beat for overdrive tone. Worth the weight…
So...I bought a Les Paul that was close to 10lbs. I play sitting down. The guitar played well. It sounded like a Les Paul. Still, I rarely played it and eventually sold it. Since then I prefer light guitars because I have it in my mind that I won't want to pick upand play the guitar if it's heavy.
Honestly, it was used as a "filter" for finding a nice Gibson Les Paul. I attribute this to early 2000s online shopping, inconsistency, and not being able to try it in person. The thought was if it sounds good "acoustically" then it sounds good.
Once upon a time, a bass player was watching a youtube revue and wrote a comment, "How much the guitar way?" and the content creator went and weighed the guitar for him. After that he put the weight of every guitar he reviewed in the video about it. Others watched his videos and said to themselves, "Whoa, I didn't know the weight mattered... but if youtube guy thinks it's important, I better pay attention to it!" And the world has never recovered.
When I started playing in the '70s, most players I knew said heavy guitars gave better tone and sustain. There was even a degree of bragging rights about having a ridiculously heavy Les Paul. I hated the weight of them, though, and it was a big factor in why I bought a The Paul - it was quite a bit lighter and so easier to strap on for hours at a time (plus, of course, it was affordable for me when I was still at college). But, over the years, I never really thought a great deal about the weight of my guitars until I got my ToneFox Elcaster - it's so light (just over 4lbs), it makes all the others feel like brutes by comparison. I don't know if it's just a coincidence, but the Elcaster is also the most acoustically loud electric I have.
For me, it’s all about how comfortable it is to have it round your neck for several hours to play a gig. It’s another reason I play Fender over Les Pauls!
I have a friend who played country style music as a semi-professional lead singer for years using a Gretsch CG , and I recently asked why he stopped playing it on stage and he said it just got too heavy. After we learned to play guitar as teens, he used to put down my Fender Tele as not as good as his Gretsch since they were hand made and Fenders were mass produced (I didn't care...I loved the sound my Tele). Well, fast forward to a few years ago, we were playing together again for the first time in years and we switched guitars. Mine being a new MIA Fender Strat. After a couple of hours I asked if he wanted to switch back, and he said NO, the Strat was sooo comfortable! I just laughed and continue playing his Gretsch.
I don't remember guitar weight ever being brought up in a conversation about guitars except for within the past 5 years. These days I cannot hear a player talk about a guitar without mentioning weight at least once. It's peaking into an obsession. Saw a couple youtubers hunting for one of them buying their first R9 and they literally had a scale out and were weighing each one at Norm's Rare guitars.
As many guitar players get over 50 years old heavier guitars aren't better. Unless you like playing with one that feels as if you have a boat anchor around your neck. I currently have 3 guitars one 72 Telecaster Thin Line that weighs under 5 pounds, a Music Man Albert Lee that weighs 6 pounds and an ES 339 that weighs 8 1/2 pounds. I like them all, but the ES 339 is not as easy to play as long as the others. The weight is a strain on my neck and shoulder muscles. It makes it uncomfortable to play for 3 to 4 hours.
I don’t think weight has anything to do with whether a guitar is good or bad. When I was 58 I missed three months of work because of neck and shoulder problems and the physical therapist thought one of the main reasons was my boat anchor of a Les Paul. I missed three months of work. I finally got better and did the stretching and strengthening exercises I was supposed to, but didn’t change any of my guitars. Then the same thing happened the following winter and now all of my guitars are 7 pounds or less except for a PRS that I have, which is a little over 7 1/2 pounds. it scares you when you can’t work or play. I’m sure there are other reasons but I don’t think I’m alone in this being the reason I want light guitars.
Baxter & Jonathan, Great video! Very interesting comments to the topic. For me, I’m an old guy- been playing about 60 years, have had over 100+ guitars. The guitar that has been my main love is an old Alamo single pick up. It weighs 5 lbs. I have lots of guitars….the lighter ones get played. My current favorite guitar is a Peavey Raptor, a telecaster layout in a strat style body that weighs about 5 pounds. Amps are same way, smaller/lighter is the path to “enlightenment.” There are some great small amps made. The Fender Champion 50 comes to mind. Not real heavy, and great tone. Wisdom does come with age! You really don’t have to suffer for your craft. I don’t think you should have to be uncomfortable and hurting yourself, playing should be enjoyable and fun….🎸😂
over 55 years I never ever thought about weight until the internet came along in the past year and made it a thing. So I weighed them. 2001 Tele 7.8 lbs. 2019 Les P Studio Trib. 7.8 lbs. Just picked up a 2011 Tele 1952 reissue and it was shockingly only 6.8 lbs when I thought it would be heavier. My lightest. Gibson EB-0 bass 6.6 lbs, heaviest, Epi EB-3 bass at 10 lbs. But yes the key issue is what if feels like and what is sounds like. But I haven't gigged since 1980.
I have replaced both my Epiphone Dot (335) and my Country "Gentleman" Classic with Gretsch Electromatic 5422 series because of the weight. I am now 65 years old and these guitars make more sense for me now. PS They sound VERY MUCH like my Country Classic!
Fun video, as usual. I love being an acoustic solo guy. I carry about 100lbs of gear in two trips when I gig and my main guitar weighs 4.39lbs (I only know because it was on the paperwork). Weight has never been a factor in choosing guitars for me although with acoustics the lightest guitars I've played sound the best by far.
I went to a guitar shop in West Seattle where they had a 1973 (iirc) Telecaster Deluxe. It was beautiful, all original, wonderful aging and wear... but it was just shy of 12 lbs. When I sat down to play it, the guitar even felt heavy in my lap. Unfortunately for my pocketbook, I went home that day with a 7lb Fano JM6.
I had a Dean Razorback V and I changed the original block for a tungsten one. Definitely felt like I was holding a les Paul, weight wise.i also had other mods on the guitar so, I can't determine that it helped with tone. Though, if you guys have the chance to try it out, you definitely should.
Weight only matters to me as it relates to comfort. If it's heavy but comfortable we are good. If it's light and comfortable we are good. If it's feels good, it is good.
When it comes to playing at home, the weight matters less. But for gigging, a moderately light guitar is preferred. The weight of a guitar is at the bottom of my list when I'm looking to make a purchase.
Neck / Spine injuries make guitar weights extremely important… Makes the difference between being able to play or be paralyzed… 8lbs or under is a must and means a lot of my favorites have been put away or sold off…
I play a 10lbs Gibson 355. And I owned a 10lbs Fender 79 Strat. Loved both when I was sitting down and even. when I played. upright.. but I have. learned a booked a weekend of 4 hr gigs with my 355 is especially felt after two days and 8 hrs of playing. So I def want something slightly lighter now to help with that post gig pain.
Love the channel fellas! How about an episode where you describe how somebody can "get over" what they want - and have only wanted forever - and be open to something different. Is it just playing a bunch of different guitars? Same with amps. I am 62yo and I had what I called the "Zep setup" (Les Paul / Marshall, Jazz Bass / Ampeg). Went through financial issues, had to sell it all, almost ready to get back into this. All I'm thinking is getting another '50s neck Heritage Cherry Sunburst GIbson LP and a maple necked tobacco-burst American Fender Jazz. Plus the new Marshall and Ampeg vertical 2x12 stacks. Your thoughts??
As I get older, I appreciate a lighter weight guitar. So I stay away from guitars that tend to be heavy. I also prefer a smaller guitar, like a 339 style.
When I was still a teenager in the late 70's and reading every issue of Guitar Player magazine as it came out. I thought I should become a luthier and so digested every tidbit of info on what makes the best electric guitar. The general consensus of the day was "heavier is better", "add more brass", "bigger bridges", even sustain blocks I think. The thinking being that the less the guitar vibrated the more vibration would stay in strings. I think many of us bought into that at the time....... but after playing a couple guitars (and a 70's Peavey bass) that were way to heavy to hold standing up for any length of time, and then playing a "light" guitar that sounded great and felt better, I reorganized my thinking, now an average 8.5 lb guitar feels light and just right. Anyone with back issues (or some other physical disability) will for sure take a new instruments weight into consideration.
I love my chambered Gretsch Power Jet better that most Les Pauls that I have played, but the R8 I played last year was pretty sweet. Also, the 1980s Japanese Basswood Strats I thought sounded better than the 1970s US Strats that weighed a ton. I think the mid weight Strats sound the best personally.
I agree that sound and feel are two big factors as well as how it looks. That said, have you ever picked up a Strat or Tele copy that is made of woods like Pauwlonia? It is so light that it is alarming and neck dive city! I have a few IYV 300 thinline Tele style guitars where I upgraded the hell out of it (bought it as a neck and body and pretty much replace everything else) and I have noticed as you replace cheapo parts with better parts is that the guitar gets into a familiar weight. I have two and both times each guitar gained a pound with regular humbucker sized pickups vs OEM, locking tuners vs OEM, and quality electronics vs stock. So weight has a way of fluctuating if you mod and like most other players I really do not care too much about weight. I have one guitar where weight was a topic, a Ltd Viper 300 which weighs about as much as a P Bass, but looks, feel and tone, it has it in spades. Then I added a Bigsby which isn't too heavy but it did add a bit more weight. At the end of the day pick up and play a bass guitar and then reasses guitar weight. I promise you that weight will be pretty much a nonexistent issue. And if weight is an issue, there are always Danelectros and Rain Song guitars.
so far there were two occasions on which i put a guitar on a scale: first was with a very heavy tele. i just wanted to know how much it weightes because the weight was insane. weight would have probably come to around 9.5 pound. second time weighting a guitar was with a SG that was just crazy light. again i just wanted to know how light. came out to be 2.5kg but was not as resonant as my other SG (more heavy) with a wraptail. in the end i dont care for weight. some guitars are too heavy for me though. playing a 60 min set with that 9.5 pound tele was certainly not great for my back.
I had a '73 Telecaster Custom that had to weigh close to 14 pounds. The heaviest guitar most of my friends had ever picked up, even Les Pauls. That said, it sounded fantastic in every way. No other heavy guitars have sounded nearly that good. I prefer light guitars generally.
Was it made of mahogany ? ;) Actually nearly bought a 69 mahogany Tele a coupe, of years ago. Only thing original was the wood and finish and overpriced for it so I passed.
@@IrishBog No, it was a natural finished Northern Ash. The clear finish was really yellowed to an amber color. It was a great sounding boat anchor. Wish I still had it.
I have a squire se Stratocaster that I consider pretty heavy at 8 lbs 3 ozs. I find it might be a quieter guitar acoustically then a lighter guitar, but is has loads more low end when plugged in vs. most strats
Speaking of SW, my 7lb tele came in at 10lbs! I kept it because the neck body etc are great and seriously how often will you get the chance to say I have a ten pound tele. But even sitting down (balance is great too) when you do get up you know there was 10 pounds resting on your leg. If not a tone thing it is definitely a comfort thing.
If you can play the guitar before you buy it; it only matters if it’s a boat anchor. If you’re buying online it’s a way to help pick the one you want. I play sitting down mostly, still want a lighter guitar.
Crazy. Never once thought about guitar weight, until I bought a MIM JM years ago. Was my second Fender after my AV 52 Tele. Just so happened that JM resonated more and “felt” alive all around. Not sure the paper weight is important to me but it seems like the lighter it is the more it’s resonates, the bonus is always if it doesn’t weight 10 lbs. Plus, wicked neck and arm issues are easily triggered 😆
only guitar star i can remember actually mentioning weight is derek trucks in a interview stated he preferred light guitars , he felt they resonated better , can also remember on a gig rundown were the interviewer commented on how light billy gibbons guitars were ....
As I recall in the late 70's and early 80's we wanted heavier guitars, the idea was that heavy was synonymous with sustain. Today the trend is for lighter and the idea is lighter has more resonance.
I hate heavy guitars. I have a Squier Classic Vibe ‘50’s Tele that weighed 10lbs. I loved the Alnico III pickups in it, but it was way too heavy. So, I did a smugglers rout on it, along with an arm cut and a belly carve. I removed the heavy poly finish and let it air out for 3 months. I refinished it with a purple stain and a wipe on poly finish, and also put a short scale Warmoth neck on it, and it’s 7.4lbs now. I love it now. It’s perfect.
I used to have a 77 Les Paul custom, I never weighed it but it was SO heavy and I’m a small guy. I only played it live twice. I just would admire at it in the case😂. Traded it for a es175.
Ryan Burke's '60-Cycle Hum' show hit on this subject recently and it got me curious so I weighed all my guitars. They range from a 4.7lb Yamaha acoustic to some Squiers and Epi Specials around 6-7lbs and top out with a Les Paul and Schecter at 8.8, for an average of 6.955lbs across nine guitars. I proposed we call that the "Burke's Number." I had an LP Custom Black Beauty that weighed 10.4lbs. I could feel that one in my back and shoulder the day after a long practice or gig.
OK, 50 sec in. The fascination with weight started in the 70's and 80's. I had a '82 LP that weighed 13.5lbs!!! You had to play it sitting down. That sucked! It sounded great though. Weight is so important because we're buying them over the internet, we can't just get in the car and drive 5 hours to a decent store that stocks custom shops. I live in Mississippi, Nashville is the mecca of used guitars, 5 hours away.
Pickups matter more for sound than weight, although I prefer a lighter guitar for comfort and I feel they do sing longer as my Strandberg weighs 4 lbs 10 ozs and sounds awesome.
If "resonance" is the question, semi-hollows resonate (feedback) far easier than either Strats or LP's. So, if that's applied in reverse to the weight, heavier is not better. But if it's a question of sustain, supposedly heavier guitars provide more sustain. My experience is that the sustain argument is not truly representative of the reality of sustain if measured correctly. Thanks guys! Keep up the great conversations!
Weight definitely matters if it’s backbreaking. Some Norlin era Les Pauls are so heavy that despite their great tone, I would never want to spend 1-2 hours on stage holding one. As far as tone though, I agree it doesn’t matter.
I am semi convinced a heavier guitar tends to sound brighter. Wood tends to be denser and less resistant and to me that equals being brighter. I have a high quality parts caster with real heavy ash body and it’s extremely bright sounding. The pickups came from an old American Strat I had and they react totally different.
Arthritis in my shoulder and neck is why I seek lighter guitars. Weight is so important that I have walked away from some guitars I loved because I couldn't play them for more than a few minutes. There have been a few cases, where the weight was a little too high but I loved it so much that I had to have it. For those, I play sitting down or switch to a padded bass strap.
The only time weight came into play for me was when I bought a Strat Professional II from Sweetwater, where they literally list every individual Strat they are selling with its unique pics and specs. Because each guitars weight was noted, I searched every black/white pickguard Strat for the lightest. I only cared that one time because they offered the data. Had I been looking for a guitar that showed grain, a nice grain pattern would have been more important to me than weight. I sit when I play because I’m currently not performing out. I’ll cross the weight bridge if I ever come to it.
That's what I did when I bought my Pro II. I simply chose the lightest one they had with the color/neck combo I wanted. It just so happens to be an awesome Strat - or I'd have returned it.
@@PaulSter Sweetwater sent mine without a trem bar. It was my first purchase from them and although it was a minor issue, and they did make it right, it’s left me with a bad first impression due to my high expectations that came from their reputation. I look elsewhere for gear first now and haven’t purchased from them since as a result.
@@danwilson9530 that's harsh brother. It's because they go to the trouble to take the guitar out of the case, do a photo shoot of the guitar, weigh it, and give it at least some level of inspection (however I don't buy their "55 point inspection" thing), which is not something the other big stores do. I'd cut them some slack.
@@PaulSter I hear you, and I actually agree that I took it worse than I should have. I spend what to me was a lot of money on a major purchase, so to have it arrive with parts missing was a buzz kill and spoiled the moment to a degree. When I pay full retail list, no discount or deal, I have trouble accepting dropped balls, especially by a seller who promotes that 55 Point Inspection. Some part of me felt like they didn’t care enough to make sure my order was complete and correct even as part of that 55 point inspection process... I mean, how did they not notice a missing trem bar as part of the 55 points? Then I wondered what else they may have forgotten that I would not know to look for as far as case candy, accessories, etc. Why I managed to get somewhat butt-hurt about it, I don’t know. Just did. In fairness they did send me a trem bar and made it right, but I think they should have shipped it overnight rather than ground, and/or perhaps included something like a token $10 gift card for the trouble, or even had a manager call to follow up and apologize. They made it right, but only by the bare minimum. Definitely wasn’t saying I’ll never shop Sweetwater again, just that my disappointment doesn’t make me think of them first, and I’ll look for gear I’m seeking from places I’ve had better experiences with first.
I buid my own guitars, and the last Strat body I used, - a newer CV in Fiesta Red , - surprisingly weighed over 6 pounds.After some thought , I ended up drilling out every non visable access point as deep as possible. Now it is firmly within the desired weight, and it actually has an unusual resonance not like any of my other Strats.If I had the tools to do it, I would build bodies that were mostly hollow; since some of the best sounding guitars I've played were either pine or pasteboard Danelectro's Ive never put much stock in the weight or tone wood debates. At any rate, the semi hollows really come alive at stage volume through a tube amp.If that's also true with heavy Les Pauls that's great, - but I'm not playing them. Isn't that why they make compressors?
I bought a few guitars without knowing what was the weight. Then I got a tele I really liked and put it down picked up the one I bought first and went damn it's heavy by 2 1'2 pounds. Still like both but notice the difference when playing the lighter tele and then picking up the other tele.
Id have to say I dont really count heavy as good, but i like what Fender does now, pairs woods that vibrate similarly so I get that haptic response of great reverberations. That in turn, makes me play best, weight is irrelevent, if that vibration haplens just right.
I don't really care about weight on paper, but generally prefer the feel of a guitar with a bit of weight to it. My guitars tend to fall right around 8 lbs. There's a guitar builder near me and they build very light telecasters. It feels really weird to me when I try one. Who knows, maybe if I played one for a few weeks I'd end up preferring it? 🤷♂
Lots of people weigh their guitars and prefer that it be under 8 pounds. Personally, I don't care but I weighed my Les Paul knock off to see & it's 9 1/2 pounds & I played every rehearsal & live show for 7 years with that guitar mainly & an Epiphone Explorer as a back up. I don't really consider it heavy but I do like the sound of it.
The only time I cared about weight was when I was playing out every weekend, and even then I didn't really care but my back would be hurting after a gig alot more if I used my "heavy" tele versus my "light" tele, does it matter for tone, I don't really think so
I have a Charvel Jake E Lee strat that is the lightest guitar I've ever encountered and it's a monster. Super loud, great sustain, it's just perfect. I also have a bunch of Les Pauls and my heavy Zakk Wylde bullseye is also awesome. I don't think weight matters at all - some guitars are just great regardless of what they weigh. You just have to play them first and judge based on tone and sustain. I do understand if somebody doesn't want to stand for hours with a Les Paul - that could get pretty tiring. But you might be missing out on the guitar that's perfect for you if you judge them based on weight.
My first Strat (which I still have), weighs a ton. Its a 70's with a 3 bolt neck. It weighs more than any Les Paul I've owned. It was my main guitar for 20+ years. I've retired it as its too heavy for me in my older age, lol. I have lighter Strats. I will say it sounds f'n great.
Great topic! I personally like teles and strats to be as close as possible to 7 pounds. My 335 is right at 7.5 pounds and it is perfect for me. Around 7 to 7.5 pounds is just a preference for me. Not sure why - possibly because I was acoustic only for so long that it was shocking when I first held electrics. The difference between 7.5 and 7.6 makes is a bit extreme as to that making a difference. I do think that lighter tend to be more resonant, but have no scientific proof of that and I think a lot more goes into it than weight alone.
I have one heavy ass mahogany monster that I don't think it's the weight but it kills in tone. Out of my 20 something guitars, it outshines all. 3.5 inch foam strap. 😂 And I concur.. your amp(s) are the most important..
Seems appropriate the heavier the guitar the wider the strap. Watch videos of Allen Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd playing his Gibson Firebird, a guitar with a mahogany body and walnut neck, his strap looked to be at least 4" wide. Good Point - Heavier Guitar use Wider Strap. And I'd imagine, the foam helps too.
I have a 79 KM Les Paul that is heavy as stink. In fact, it's the heaviest guitar I have out of 40+. With that said, it sounds and plays great. Creme bobbin HBs that rock. It weighs in at 10.8 lbs. A full 2 lbs. more than my 72 Gold Top Deluxe. At the other end of the spectrum, I have a Fender Commemorative featherweight that's 5-6ish lbs. and it is a fantastic guitar. I think you can get good tones out of light or heavier guitar.
weight matters a lot in one way -- I remember having to carry my twin reverb up four flights at 2 in the morning -- but I think the weight of guitars being good for tone thing started from the SRV heavy gauges are better for tone thing. that said, I just bought a 335 from Sweetwater and the guy asked me if I knew I could pick between several with differences of two or three ounces. I told him, yeah, I pretended to care and picked one.
