wardd Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 I've seen many posts and guitar designs that center on keeping the instrument as light as possible or at least lighter than it would be if everything was left solid. My player guru has a theory that the optimum weight of a solid body electric would be 7 1/2 pounds. I'd be interested in other opinions on this idea. Be Cool, d ward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 My opinion on the optimum weight of a guitar changes the longer I've been wearing the thing. After 4 hours or so I'm thinking that a pound and a half is about right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardd Posted May 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Ok, that's one vote for Less Filling. d ward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 I try to keep my guitars around the 7 pound range myself as well. Most people don't want guitars that weight 10 pounds, and after playing 4 hour at a gig, their back is killing them. It's a balancing act though, you don't want the guitar body so light that it's neck heavy. If you make the body too light, the weight from the tuners, etc. on the headstock will tend to make the neck drop when your not playing or holding the neck. This can be a pain and annoyance to players. It's really just a personal preference though. You bring up a good subject though, because weight should definitely be taken into consideration when planning a build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser Rob Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 I definitely go with lighter is better. I've tried some ridiculously good electrics and almost all of them were pretty light to featherweight. And they sustained just fine, thank you. All that heavier = better crap was basically marketing started in the 70s when guitar companies started using cheaper (heavier) wood. Those good old vintage Gibbies and Fenders ... not that they're all fantastic ... are a lot lighter than the modern ones. In fact it's really really hard to get swamp ash that's that light. The closest thing is probably a Japanese wood called sen and that ain't that easy to get either. Heavier wood just doesn't resonate as much as lighter stuff. Basswood is really light and undderrated. I had a basswood Japanese Tele once that sounded great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 I like light AND thin...I don't see any reason to have a huge block of wood banging against my gut. But the balance point is important -- should be part of the overall design process. On one of the Girlbrand guitars (the bass, I think), he put three strap buttons on there. I'm sure a really well balanced guitar can help minimize the effects of weight too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Brown Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Mickguard do you mean 3 strap buttons as in one on the upper horn and two on the rear of the guitar? if so this i belive is done so the guitar can be stood if needed when there isnt a stand availble and not fall over so easily, tom anderson and dan armstrong guitars feature this. imagine using the lower strap button. but recently iv made a few mistakes so i may well be wrong but acording to this im not (just use the find function in your browser and search "two") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikhailgtrski Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 1 vote for sounds great. I tend to prefer a slightly heavier guitar (probably influenced by that first real LP I tried years ago), though I really don't care about the weight so much as long as the tone and sustain is there. To put it another way, I'll gladly sacrifice back comfort for tone. Thin guitars don't do it for me... a regular PRS body feels unnaturally thin, but the McCarty seems "normal" with the "extra" thickness. My new one is chambered mahogany, so heavier wood but a little less of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Mickguard do you mean 3 strap buttons as in one on the upper horn and two on the rear of the guitar? Nope, definitely three. There's a pic here: fat girl bass Hard to know if he's joking though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Hey, anybody notice the interviewer's name on the Anderson deal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Mickguard do you mean 3 strap buttons as in one on the upper horn and two on the rear of the guitar? Nope, definitely three. There's a pic here: fat girl bass Hard to know if he's joking though. I'm not sure I've seen an uglier instrument in quite a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 I'm not sure I've seen an uglier instrument in quite a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Creative, yes, but it doesn't push any of the right buttons for me. Anyway, I don't worry about weight too much, but a nice, light, resonant gutiar is a joy to play...as long as it balances properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammoth guitars Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 We have a 1995 Les Paul Custom that weighs in at a whopping 13 pounds. It's a beast to carry around for any length of time. Our new Touchstone semi-hollow weighs in at about 7 lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 I'm not sure I've seen an uglier instrument in quite a while. Yeah, maybe he should stick to guitars. I love the headstock idea though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Hey, anybody notice the interviewer's name on the Anderson deal? No? Hmm. Maybe my phrasing was a bit too suttle (sic). Read this article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Hey, anybody notice the interviewer's name on the Anderson deal? No? Hmm. Maybe my phrasing was a bit too suttle (sic). Read this article. Yes, I caught that...what I was trying to work out was the play on "Cliff" ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Yet another reason I like Alder so much. Besides almost always sounding good, it's a quite comfortable finished product weight. Alder is almost like the do-all be-all of guitar woods. Cheap, easy to come by, sounds good, good weight, resonant, finishes easy, small closed pores, takes dyes and stains evenly, sturdy, takes screws and hardware well...what's not to like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert_the_damned Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 This thread got be curious so I had to weigh my guitars (and covert from Kg Ibs) I like heavy guitars apparently! 8-10 pounds is 'right' for me...the lightest guitar I have is about 7 1/2 pounds and that does feel to light IMHO, though I'd rather be standing up with that round my neck for 5 or 6 hours than 11 pounds of LP (heaviest of my lot). I think its partly what each person is comfortable with. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sobot Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 I'm into heavier guitars... not good for my back though... I'm only 16, I might have problems later. I say... 9 1/2 pounds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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