Heavy guitars - what's your threshold?

Kebabkid · August 2013

[quote="octatonic;12052"]Nothing over 9lbs if a LP.Ideally under 8 if anything else.

This ^
My PRS CU24 is a 9 and my Strat is an 8, however, I've played some Nash and MJT Teles around the 7lb mark and enjoyed their lightness, and resonance-are they linked?

stickyfiddle · August 2013

My bigsby tele is my heaviest, around 9lbs at a guess. All my others are 7 or 8, which is pretty much perfect for me. I'd happily go up to 10 for a perfect Les Paul, but I generally prefer the woody lighter ones anyway. Eventually I expect to get an 8.5lb R7- that'd make me very happy indeed

jaygtr · August 2013

I'm much more concerned with the overall feel and balance of a guitar than its actual weight.
Give me a nicely balanced heavy guitar over a neck heavy but lightweight one any day!

Van_Hayden · August 2013

p90fool;12559" said:
That's a good point about knowing the weight of your guitar. I don't remember anyone weighing them pre-internet, and I still haven't.

I hadn't until somebody asked me to weigh the Hot Rod tele I'm selling. Then I weighed the lot....

ICBM · August 2013

I weighed some 70s Les Pauls pre-internet, but only because the were so staggeringly heavy I really wanted to know how much, more for the amusement than anything else. Even then the numbers weren't quite as crazy as I expected, the heaviest was just over 14lb. Felt like 20!

I think I might have weighed a 'The Strat' which felt like it was made of solid rock too, but I can't remember for sure.

It certainly wasn't part of the buying ritual like it is now. Everyone knew a Les Paul was a heavy guitar and that was that. Now no-one seems to even consider buying a guitar unless they know the weight to the nearest half ounce...

Adam_MD · August 2013

I can honestly say I've never weighed any of my guitars and have never asked a seller what weight theirs weighed. I couldn't care less, if I like the guitar I'll deal with the weight. I did move on the Tremonti SE I had as it was super light (felt like a toy on the strap), my Epi Les Paul has a maple neck and feels like a mountain but I love that guitar and its going nowhere.

guitarfishbay · August 2013

I think my Les Paul is 11.5lbs.

The best thing I did was switch from a 3" Leather strap to a 3" nylon one. The leather one was suede finish on the underside and it would stick to my shirt. There was far too much friction, which only got worse when I sweated in to my T-Shirt, it basically glued the strap to my shirt and as I moved around it could get really uncomfortable. The nylon strap slides around much better.

I've played a lot of guitars and I still think for an immediate attack and a big chunky sound for power chords and palm muting nothing beats a heavy guitar. Light guitars can sound bigger and warmer but they never have the same snap and power, at least when I play them with a heavy pick attack. I often find lighter guitars get mushier quicker on the bass end. Not always though, it is a bit of a minefield, hence why I never buy without trying first.

impmann · August 2013

I'm actually moving my heavy Les Paul on... its not *that* heavy really, as its 9lbs but having slipped a disc in my neck last year, in conjunction with the lower back issues I have its just too heavy for me.

The Gold Top in my avatar is much lighter - I've never weighed it but its a lovely weight, not much heavier than my SG!

On the subject of heavy vs light and tone, I agree there can be difference - and it works for some and not others. For example I know someone with a late 70s Strat Anniversary that is a total boat anchor, its heavier than my black Les Paul. I think its a hateful thing, and no matter what pickups he's had fitted it still sounds awful when I play it - but he always sounds great on it, and yet sounds 'meh' on my (much lighter) Strat.

I know a lot of LP players who enjoy the bragging rights of having a boat anchor around their necks... and the footage of Mary Ford gets shown a lot to tell folks to 'man up'. Yes, BUT... most of the '50s Les Pauls I've played have been significantly lighter than later ones. And if you look carefully at both his and her guitars in this piece of footage, they are hardly "stock"!! And knowing how much of an experimenter he was, it wouldn't surprise me if he lightened her one to suit (look at how little the thin strap actually cuts into her shoulder - there's no clothing to cushion it, so its fairly clearly not *that* heavy).

Horses for courses and all that.

bertie · August 2013

Adam_MD said:

I couldn't care less, if I like the guitar I'll deal with the weight.

after 3 x 45 minute sets you might have a different opinion.

Playing a 9lb+ guitar at home for 30 minutes is one thing(and these days bad enough

), gigging it is a different kettle of kippers

jaygtr · August 2013

I can understand why a person who is old, ill or infirm may need to be careful with the weight of their guitar, and I can sort of see why someone would choose a light one for reasons of tone , but I am struggling to see how 1 lb can make much difference for a healthy adult, especially with a descent strap

impmann · August 2013

Trust me, it can.. a back injury can happen very easily and often will never cure. I slipped a disc in my neck turning my head whilst reaching to put a DVD in the machine and due to the damage, some of the symptoms can be alleviated but never cured.

martinw · August 2013

Of course weight of a guitar makes a difference.

People can get repetitive strain injuries doing things where no weight at all is involved! It's not surprising that hanging a weight over one shoulder (which contains nerves, blood vessels, connective tissue etc.) and then performing a demanding small muscle exercise over a period of time can and does cause problems. It gets worse as you get older and acquire a bit of battle damage.

Under 8lbs is my limit. I prefer less.

axisus · August 2013

I've never weighed any of my instrument ever, maybe I'll have a go tonight!

I had a gorgeous status bass, but it weighed a ton. Sold it as I didn't enjoy standing too long with it, but if I look at an old YouTube video I did with it, it makes me wish I still had it.

My Tele feels pretty heavy, especially as I dropped it on my little toe 2 days ago. Didn't break my toe, but it went black overnight! T'was painful.

jaygtr · August 2013

I fully understand why someone would want to avoid a 14 lb monster.
It just seems a shame to dismiss what might otherwise be a stunning guitar for the sake of a few ounces, which could happen if you set arbitrary limits

(

Dave_Mc · August 2013

I haven't actually gone to the bother of weighing mine, I just know I like lighter, given the option.

I mean I was aware of how heavy things were before the internet. I assume other people might have been, too. They mightn't have been just so OCD about it (and lord knows the net does facilitate these anxieties), but I'm sure other people were too.

Evilmags · August 2013

Not to OCD on the subject personally but I did get rid of two Lesters and an SG2000 because after a two hour gig I could feel it was not doing my spine any good. I know some metal players and classic rock players really like heavy Norlin Gibsons for the clarity and attack but for me the trade off is not worth it. The list of old rockers who switched to lighter guitars is very long indeed. Scott Goram of thin lizzy says he had to ditch his LP deluxe because of weight. I think as you age being able to gig pain free and jump about without an injury leads to lighter guitars and shorter straps. I run cycle swim and am fairly active. But I definitely notice spine issues if I play a heavy guitar on a low strap. When I spent a day with Clarky he told be what he thought was a correct position and it improved my playing inabout. 3 minutes. I suspect if Jimmy Page had of done that at the O2 the playing would have had less mistakes. And he is aanother player with back probelms to boot. That said if your built like Zakk Wylde I doubt it matters...

Adam_MD · August 2013

bertie;12731" said:
Adam_MD said:

I couldn't care less, if I like the guitar I'll deal with the weight.

after 3 x 45 minute sets you might have a different opinion.

Playing a 9lb+ guitar at home for 30 minutes is one thing(and these days bad enough ), gigging it is a different kettle of kippers

I gigged that Les Paul for years until I got my prs. It's bloody heavy but with a nice wide strap it never really bothered me. The prs replaced it because it was a better playing, sounding instrument with a trem, not because it was lighter.
I guess I've been lucky because I've never had back problems... yet.

fretfinder · August 2013

jaygtr said:

I fully understand why someone would want to avoid a 14 lb monster.
It just seems a shame to dismiss what might otherwise be a stunning guitar for the sake of a few ounces, which could happen if you set arbitrary limits

I've set myself 'arbitrary limits' of 9lbs for a Les Paul and 8lbs for a Fender but preferably 7.5, partly because I've had a bad back for nearly 40 years (yes I am mature...) but also they just feel better and sound better to me than heavy guitars. I'm not too rigid about it though as the last two LPs I bought weighed 9lb 1oz and 9lb 3oz. I'm sure there are heavy beasts out there that sound great, but in my experience so do many - possibly even most - of the lighter ones, and I've never had a lightweight guitar that seemed to be compromised in any way by not being weighty! Pickups, amp and pedals must be a factor in sound and tone too, surely? I've bought and sold dozens of guitars over the years and I've had a lot of heavy ones that I have absolutely no regrets about selling, and I've got a few lightweight ones in the family now that are going nowhere unless I get desperate for money. The lightest I've got is a Cunetto Nocaster at just under 7lbs, it doesn't feel anything like a toy and does feel and sound everything like one of the greatest guitars I've ever played, never mind owned. (Apart from the 'leaning' headstock due to the instability of the highly figured neck, but that's a whole other story...)

geepers0677 · August 2013

rpr said:

This?
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/819/for-sale-rare-k-m-guitar-performer-stand-not-a-guitar-stand-by-the-way

geepers0677 · August 2013

have had two LP standards, and sold both because of the back ache - my G&L ASAT is also killer heavy. I think it won't be long before I seek something a little lighter myself...

CloudNine · August 2013

geepers0677 said:

have had two LP standards, and sold both because of the back ache - my G&L ASAT is also killer heavy. I think it won't be long before I seek something a little lighter myself...

That is G&L's absolute downfall for me. Some of the best playing and sounding guitars, but the weight variation is often absurd. The USA strats (Legacy & S500) seem to range from 7.5lb to 10lbs. A 10lb strat is unacceptable in my view.

I know some people maybe aren't as obsessed with the weight as me, but if you were buying a G&L online you would really need to know which end of the scale it was. And 90% of online retailers don't seem to think listing the weight of a guitar as important. They will advise you of infinitesimal differences in nut width, that any player would easily get their head round after 5 mins of playing, yet fail to mention colossal weight differences that might put you in traction!

mike_l · August 2013

I've never weighed any of my guitars, but I can honestly say I believe they are all weigh less than the Epi LP I P/X'd against my Charvel, which wasn't noticeably heavier/lighter than any other LP I've tried..

My Charvel is probably the heaviest I currently own, and is possibly marginally heavier than my Strat.

I don't particularly worry about weight when I buy a guitar, I'm more worried about playability/tone/looks than weight.

Dave_Mc · August 2013

CloudNine said:

That is G&L's absolute downfall for me. Some of the best playing and sounding guitars, but the weight variation is often absurd. The USA strats (Legacy & S500) seem to range from 7.5lb to 10lbs. A 10lb strat is unacceptable in my view.

I know some people maybe aren't as obsessed with the weight as me, but if you were buying a G&L online you would really need to know which end of the scale it was. And 90% of online retailers don't seem to think listing the weight of a guitar as important. They will advise you of infinitesimal differences in nut width, that any player would easily get their head round after 5 mins of playing, yet fail to mention colossal weight differences that might put you in traction!

I can notice minute differences in the nut width...

That being said, I care about weight as well. I agree they should list both.

I think the big thing is that everyone is different, some people are stronger than others, bigger, etc., and for some people weight's not a problem. That's fair enough. For some people it is, and it's the person buying the guitar's prerogative.

Lixarto · August 2013

I don't have anything particularly heavy - I sold the Rosewood Tele as it was undergoing gravitic collapse and threatening to form its own event horizon.

The Sparkly Aria is the heaviest, but it's not in LP territory, despite the same woods (thinner body)

JookyChap · August 2013

My rosewood Tele is 14lb, though OK on a wide strap for about an hour, other than that I've never really worried about weighing a guitar, must admit.

Saying that I play at home and tend to sit down and after half an hour with it resting on my leg I am in some danger of gangrene setting in.

Lixarto · August 2013

I didn't use a strap, I used a tractor beam. Two hour gigs were still unpleasant.

fretfinder · August 2013

JookyChap said:

My rosewood Tele is 14lb, though OK on a wide strap for about an hour, other than that I've never really worried about weighing a guitar, must admit.

Saying that I play at home and tend to sit down and after half an hour with it resting on my leg I am in some danger of gangrene setting in.

I had a Jap rosewood Tele for a while, mine weighed 'only' 10 pounds! I had to sell it to pay a builder's bill and it was bought by 'George Harrison' from a Beatles tribute band, can't remember which one.

JookyChap · August 2013

fretfinder said:
I had a Jap rosewood Tele for a while, mine weighed 'only' 10 pounds! I had to sell it to pay a builder's bill and it was bought by 'George Harrison' from a Beatles tribute band, can't remember which one.

Probably the one wearing a truss...

UnclePsychosis · August 2013

I reckon my TRB bass weighs more than most six strings, but ever since I bought a really comfy strap I can play it for hours and not have any issues. One of these bad boys:

http://www.bassgear.co.uk/product/neotech/neotech-mega-bass-weight-reduction-comfort-strap/

johnnyurq · August 2013

As I am vertically challenged and have an ahem low centre of gravity I have a high tolerance for schlepping heavy guitars for many hours.

This is just as well because my favourite guitar (a 1971/1972 Gibson Les Paul Recording) weighs the same as your average neutron star and has supermassive black hole mass.

Light guitars feel strangely odd but nice at the same time to me.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Heavy guitars - what's your threshold?

Comments