I hate light guitars!

[HotHead]

I've noticed a trend recently: It seems that nowadays (for a while now), guitar manufactures and players seem to like light=weight guitars, whether it be from chambered bodies to using weak, low-density woods. I never understood why. Is it really a big deal having a 5/6 pound guitar as opposed to a 9/10 pound guitar? The classic is guys saying that Les Pauls are too heavy to play live, but are they really? I've never been playing guitar, and thinking, "Wow, I wish this was lighter!"

Most of my guitars have this problem. I pick them up, and they feel like toys with no substance to them. I glue big chunks of lead inside my guitars' control cavities to counteract the weight issues, but that could only do so much. It's a completely "feel" type of problem. I just can't put my all into a guitar that doesn't feel right.

The only guitar of mine that doesn't have this problem is my Strat. It's built like a tank. I don't know what it is, but that "alder" body is pretty heavy (I have a feeling that it's really Ash), and it's slightly thicker than most Strats I've played. I'd say it weighs toward the 9/10 pound mark. I've never actually weighted it, but it feels great; I actually wish it was a little heavier.

Anyone else hate light guitars? Anyone hate heavy guitars? I'd like some perspective on this subject.

 

[Demanic]

Re: I hate light guitars!

I have found that light guitars tend to resonate better.

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[Mr. B]

Re: I hate light guitars!

Most of the best sounding guitars I have owned were lighter weight versions of what they were. I don't mind heavier guitars, but I don't really want more weight for the sake of having more weight.

 

[Kleegort]

Re: I hate light guitars!

no. I prefer light guitars. People used to think heavy=tone but thats b.s. IMO.
Pickups = tone.
There are some crap heavy guitars and crap light ones, great heavy guitars, and great light ones.
Since I have the choice I will always chose the great light one over the great heavy one.
I only play teles and they range from 6lbs 14 oz to 7lbs 12oz.
There is such a thing as too light that does feel like a toy but for a tele im talking like 5 lbs.

ash isnt heavier than alder. They both vary. an ash tele can be as light as 6lbs or as heavy as 9lbs.
If anything alder tends to be heavier, but again they vary from around 7-9lbs.

The ideal weigh for a tele is 7lbs give or take 1/2lbs. I have played some killer boat anchors,
specifically a 9lbs 52HotRod. Now if someone gave me that tele I would play it but im not going to buy it.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: I hate light guitars!

For every guy that likes a heavy guitar, there are 20 complaining about the weight. If you were a manufacturer, which market would you try to capture? Gibson has been hearing complaints about the weight of Les Pauls since the day they were introduced in 1952.

If you really want heavy, look for a '70s-'80s Les Paul, and especially a Custom. Many of these run 11.5--12.5 lbs.

I like my Les Pauls to be within a few ounces of 9 lbs., certainly no heavier than 9.5 lbs. And a couple of my G&Ls are just over 9.

I'm loathe to do a 4-5 hour gig with only a Les Paul, not only stylistically, but weight is part of that decision. And I move around my 80 lbs. Mesa combos, even at my advanced age, ahem. So I laugh at the guys who ***** about their Princeton Reverb being too heavy.

And tonally, I also fall into the camp of preferring lighter Pauls and their resonance.

Bill

 

[Wattage]

Re: I hate light guitars!

Comfortable weight please, I tired of boat anchors years ago

 

[aleclee]

Re: I hate light guitars!

The last three guitars I've acquired don't weigh 15 lbs combined.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: I hate light guitars!

The lightest guitars I own are the X series import Jackson's. They sound good and are comfortable. If I thought lighter guitars had weaker tone than heavier ones, I'd agree with the OP. But, the tones of those guitars are just as good as my heavier guitars.

 

[Demanic]

Re: I hate light guitars!

A buddy of mine once had a Jackson soloist. That guitar couldn't have been more than 4lbs if it was an ounce. Best sustain I have ever heard, though I didn't like the EMG HZ pickups. It deserved better.

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[NotCardio]

Re: I hate light guitars!

I personally like heavier LPs, but then, I don't play live anymore, or even standing up. If i did, I'd most certainly see things differently. I used to play live with a '74-ish Jazz bass, and I was almost glad to get rid of that thing. And I was in my early 20s then.

 

[Leon Of Late]

Re: I hate light guitars!

I prefer set neck guitars, Les Pauls among them, that weigh in around 8.5 to 9ish pounds. For me that is the sweet spot. One day I'll find that perfect non weight relieved LP that falls right in that range, at a time when I'm ready to buy. I need to weigh the current guitars I have to see where they fall. (heads to find out what type batteries the bathroom digital scale takes)

 

[regan]

Re: I hate light guitars!

It's not not the weight of a guitar bothers me so much (were talking LP's?)
I owned a 70's LP custom which was really heavy and while it sustained it wasn't at all 'alive' my 90's LP is lighter and livelier IDK if there's a correlation.
I've never knowingly tried one of these swiss cheese lp's but my favourite guitar at the moment is a 335 which to me sounds like a 3D LP

 

[blueman335]

Re: I hate light guitars!

I like heavy LP's, and being 6'5", a couple more pounds on a guitar isn't noticed once I strap it on. I play some gigs using only LP's, standing the whole time, and never notice the weight.

 

[TRex]

Re: I hate light guitars!

Heavy guitars feel substantial. I dislike super light guitars, as I don't really feel the guitar in my hands on on the strap.

Then again I'm not a small dude at 6'1.

I haven't noticed a real correlation between weight and resonance. Resonance seems to be an elusive thing that some guitars have and some lack.

My Epiphone is very resonate, yet it weighs in a above average 9.4 lbs iirc.

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[Darg1911]

Re: I hate light guitars!

There are surely light and heavy guitars that are cheap and not much more than "toys". But weight doesn't necessarily have anything to do with quality. My lightest guitar is probably a chambered Godin, I think it's in the low 7lb range. Feels (in terms of resonance) more like a semi-hollow, has some semi-hollow characteristics plugged in but definitely sounds more solid body. It's well built and doesn't play like a toy. Yeah, personally I don't think "toyish" has much to do with weight.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: I hate light guitars!

I like heavy LP's, and being 6'5", a couple more pounds on a guitar isn't noticed once I strap it on. I play some gigs using only LP's, standing the whole time, and never notice the weight.

I agree with this. May be personal preference, but I'm not really interested in a chambered LP. Nothing against chambered guitars, I like my Godin. Just don't want a chambered LP.

 

[jeremy]

Re: I hate light guitars!

9 lbs is not a heavy guitar, its about as heavy as id like though. 10 is getting heavy, 12-14 is HEAVY. i had a old maple neck lp from '79 i think and it was like 14 lbs. eff that thing

 

[blueman335]

Re: I hate light guitars!

9 lbs is not a heavy guitar, its about as heavy as id like though. 10 is getting heavy, 12-14 is HEAVY.

It's all relative. Depends on the player, his size, and his back condition. For some, 9 lbs is just too heavy. A guy that's a foot shorter and 100 lbs lighter than me, probably isn't going to like the same guitar weights I do. Maybe there's a ratio that comes into play, of the guitar's weight vs the person's weight.

 

[Securb]

Re: I hate light guitars!

I played an Iceman for years and did not feel comfortable with lighter guitars. Like Hothead said it was a "feel" thing, a light guitar made me feel like I had nothing strapped on. Once I bought my Parker that all changed. I absolutely love that axe. That being said when I strap on my Les Paul, I know I am playing a Lester. There is something special about having that huge slab of wood hanging around my neck. I get where Hothead is coming from.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: I hate light guitars!

I have played some older light guitars that had no sustain. And Ive played some newer light guitars that sustain like mad. Same with heavy. It all depends on the guitar. I had a gorgeous LP that I loved the looks of and all, but sold it cuz it had no mojo.. I had a black Epi Ace Frehley model that weighed 6 lbs (with 3 super distortions in it). The guitar felt like a toy cuz if the light weight, but played and sounded amazing. I wish SO MUCH Id never sold that one. Cuz now with my glass back, Id LOVE to have it back. Plus, it was rare too. My Burny LP is around 12 lbs. Its a sustain monster, but kills my back. My current Gibson LP is in the 9lb ballpark. Its a great player, but cant stand too long with it. Im guessing the lightest guitar I have currently is my 80s Kramer. It plays great. Mine are all over the place weight wise, but they all sound great.. I used to think a heavier guitar would sound better as having the weight in the back would remain stable and allow the strings to vibrate more.. However, I have some lighter guitars that you can feel the guitar vibrate in the hands while playing and they feel so alive and are amazing. So, bottom line, it really all depends on the guitar