I hate light guitars!
- Thread starter HotHead
- Start date
Kleegort
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
Pages LPs weigh around 8.5lbs
Keef stopped playing his 75 Tele Custom because it was too heavy
(but he is seen playing it as recently as 2005 so who knows)
Nobody is saying they cant play a 10lbs les paul just that there is no benefit to doing so.
The old ones probably averaged around 9lbs which is on the heavy side for a tele but not a boat anchor and light for an LP.
there are some Norlins that weigh 14lnbs...thats just...stupid.
Nothing wrong with a +10lbs LP, but to actively seek one is not worth it IMO.
Especially since most attribute heavy=tone to marketing and myths.
there is a video of Clapton and George Harrison on tour in Japan talking about guitars and they both agree "there is something to a heavy guitar
that makes it sound better" well, that was back in the 1980s. If you look at Clapton Strat specs they average around 8.5lbs or less.
Pages LPs weigh around 8.5lbs
Keef stopped playing his 75 Tele Custom because it was too heavy
(but he is seen playing it as recently as 2005 so who knows)
Nobody is saying they cant play a 10lbs les paul just that there is no benefit to doing so.
The old ones probably averaged around 9lbs which is on the heavy side for a tele but not a boat anchor and light for an LP.
there are some Norlins that weigh 14lnbs...thats just...stupid.
Nothing wrong with a +10lbs LP, but to actively seek one is not worth it IMO.
Especially since most attribute heavy=tone to marketing and myths.
there is a video of Clapton and George Harrison on tour in Japan talking about guitars and they both agree "there is something to a heavy guitar
that makes it sound better" well, that was back in the 1980s. If you look at Clapton Strat specs they average around 8.5lbs or less.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: I hate light guitars!
In my years on the forum, I've seen many members say they couldn't play a 10 lb Les Paul.
In my years on the forum, I've seen many members say they couldn't play a 10 lb Les Paul.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: I hate light guitars!
I think the added weight idea is foolish to begin with. Tone does not come from weight, but we've beaten up that dead horse so many times already.
HotHead
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
I never said that weight equals tone. I specifically said that it's all about feel.
I never said that weight equals tone. I specifically said that it's all about feel.
regan
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
I like a guitar heavy enough not to neck dive but not ridiculously heavy either, is that what you mean by feel? or do you think it affects playability
tbh when I put my LP on I've never thought gee this is so much heavier than my tele/strat, it's barely noticeable,
I like a guitar heavy enough not to neck dive but not ridiculously heavy either, is that what you mean by feel? or do you think it affects playability
tbh when I put my LP on I've never thought gee this is so much heavier than my tele/strat, it's barely noticeable,
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
I guess I should add a disclaimer for Pagey, who looked like Death warmed over by about '76. While he did hold up Les Pauls for Zep's marathon concerts, perhaps it was a strain. After all, he was sweating PROFUSELY at Knebworth in '79. :lmao:
But not from the weight.... :blackeye:
I guess I should add a disclaimer for Pagey, who looked like Death warmed over by about '76. While he did hold up Les Pauls for Zep's marathon concerts, perhaps it was a strain. After all, he was sweating PROFUSELY at Knebworth in '79. :lmao:
But not from the weight.... :blackeye:
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: I hate light guitars!
Both Page & Richards were at their peak in the late 1960's/early 1970's, as was Clapton. They were young men with a fire inside. But the lifestyles and hard drug use took their toll.
Both Page & Richards were at their peak in the late 1960's/early 1970's, as was Clapton. They were young men with a fire inside. But the lifestyles and hard drug use took their toll.
treyhaislip
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
+1 to this!
Weight of the guitar doesn't bother me–I care about how it feels and sounds. Basswood sounds great and makes for a very light guitar–Parkers are the lightest I've played and they sound phenomenal. I've played heavy and light Les Pauls that sounded and felt amazing.
I really don't buy that weight adds/subtracts from the tone...played too many on both sides that were good and bad.
+1 to this!
Weight of the guitar doesn't bother me–I care about how it feels and sounds. Basswood sounds great and makes for a very light guitar–Parkers are the lightest I've played and they sound phenomenal. I've played heavy and light Les Pauls that sounded and felt amazing.
I really don't buy that weight adds/subtracts from the tone...played too many on both sides that were good and bad.
allbutromeo
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
Bill is spot on about the 70s-80s LP Customs my 81 weighs in abut 13lbs. It used to not bother me, but after a few back injuries playing a full gig with that much weight is too much. Now I like 8.5-9 for an LP.
Bill is spot on about the 70s-80s LP Customs my 81 weighs in abut 13lbs. It used to not bother me, but after a few back injuries playing a full gig with that much weight is too much. Now I like 8.5-9 for an LP.
HotHead
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
I think it affects my playability. I play one of my lighter guitars, and it just feels unstable to me, especially when I'm standing. The light weight seems to throw me off. If a guitar company made bodies out of ironwood, I'd definitely buy one.
I think it affects my playability. I play one of my lighter guitars, and it just feels unstable to me, especially when I'm standing. The light weight seems to throw me off. If a guitar company made bodies out of ironwood, I'd definitely buy one.
regan
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
Knock yourself out, they're called trussart and expensive as hell. I'd rock one though
Knock yourself out, they're called trussart and expensive as hell. I'd rock one though
St_Genesius
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
This is a pendulum that is always swinging. One minute heavy guitars "solid" and have more sustain. The next, light guitars are "airy" and have more resonance. Hell, it even extends to hardware. The fetishization is always vacillating between really dense chunks of metal for bridges and tuners to the lightest material man can find or produce. At different points, we're told that both are obvious hallmarks of true quality.
I say fugg it all. Play what you like, but don't drive yourself crazy trying to chase some fleeting notion of weight-as-quality.
This is a pendulum that is always swinging. One minute heavy guitars "solid" and have more sustain. The next, light guitars are "airy" and have more resonance. Hell, it even extends to hardware. The fetishization is always vacillating between really dense chunks of metal for bridges and tuners to the lightest material man can find or produce. At different points, we're told that both are obvious hallmarks of true quality.
I say fugg it all. Play what you like, but don't drive yourself crazy trying to chase some fleeting notion of weight-as-quality.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: I hate light guitars!
Oh bugg'rit...just play what ever makes you do your thing....nobody plays and feels it the same way anyways!
Unless you're into copyingitalotIgotnoimagination guitar thing
Oh bugg'rit...just play what ever makes you do your thing....nobody plays and feels it the same way anyways!
Unless you're into copyingitalotIgotnoimagination guitar thing
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: I hate light guitars!
It's ridiculous to insist that either a heavy or light guitar is somehow "better" than the other.
The "ideal" weight for any given instrument will be different for every player.
None of us are the same height and build with the same length arms, same size hands and posture. None of us carry the guitar in the exact same position on our bodies with the same angle, hold our hands the same way, use the exact same picking style and like the same type of strap. None of us interpret "feel" or "personality" the same way. Heck none of us like the exact same pickups!
It's cool to say "I generally like heavier guitars", but as soon as people say things like "heavier guitars always sound better" or "players who like lighter guitars should pick up the flute instead", you prove you don't know what you're talking about...
It's ridiculous to insist that either a heavy or light guitar is somehow "better" than the other.
The "ideal" weight for any given instrument will be different for every player.
None of us are the same height and build with the same length arms, same size hands and posture. None of us carry the guitar in the exact same position on our bodies with the same angle, hold our hands the same way, use the exact same picking style and like the same type of strap. None of us interpret "feel" or "personality" the same way. Heck none of us like the exact same pickups!
It's cool to say "I generally like heavier guitars", but as soon as people say things like "heavier guitars always sound better" or "players who like lighter guitars should pick up the flute instead", you prove you don't know what you're talking about...
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: I hate light guitars!
I think my favorite guitar is around 10 lbs with a 2 lb strap. No problem, and I'm only 5'10".
Then my second favorite is REALLY light. I was expecting it to be a lot heavier when I first picked it up. Around 6 lbs, and it has some slight neck dive.
I think my favorite guitar is around 10 lbs with a 2 lb strap. No problem, and I'm only 5'10".
Then my second favorite is REALLY light. I was expecting it to be a lot heavier when I first picked it up. Around 6 lbs, and it has some slight neck dive.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: I hate light guitars!
Page yes. Richards, no. Keith's peak was the late 70's into the mid-90's. He got clean from the hard drugs in the late 70's and really came back to life creatively. The late 80's saw him start his solo career (spawning two excellent albums in that period) and the Stones went back to their roots and put out their best album in over a decade with Voodoo Lounge. After that... well Keith had fallen into the bottle pretty hard by the 00's.
Page yes. Richards, no. Keith's peak was the late 70's into the mid-90's. He got clean from the hard drugs in the late 70's and really came back to life creatively. The late 80's saw him start his solo career (spawning two excellent albums in that period) and the Stones went back to their roots and put out their best album in over a decade with Voodoo Lounge. After that... well Keith had fallen into the bottle pretty hard by the 00's.
