Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

[MikeRocker]

I tend toward lightweight Fender-style guitars - they're better for playing long gigs made up of many sets, and the prevailing theory is that they resonate better than heavier bodies. I just found an unfinished vintage-Tele style body made of swamp ash that is under 3½ lbs. (3lbs.6oz. to be exact) which is super-mega light (most are around 4lbs, give or take)...does anybody have any thoughts as to whether that would be amazing, or reasons why it's too light??

Thank you!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

I would think it would be fine.

Bill

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

I had a Jackson SLS3 that was the lightest guitar I'd ever owned. While it had great resonance, it was also neck-heavy, which meant you had to hold it up. More pressure on the guitar from you means less resonance, because you're choking it out by having to work to control the tilt.

As long as the body balances well with the neck attached, I'd say a 3 lb body would be fine, however, it's below the sweet spot for mass contributing to resonance, IMO. You'd want a hardtail on it for sure, and minimal cavities.


I'd say 5-8 lbs is the ideal range, personally.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

i have a swamp ash body that is super light too, not sure the actual weight of just the body though. it sounds great

 

[CTN]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

assuming moisture content is consistent across several different bodies of all the same wood, then weight differences can be attributed to differing densities in the wood.

Low density means more microscopic air chambers in the wood, high density means less.

and like a chambered, thinline/semi-hollow and acoustic guitar, the more air you have, the more acoustically louder it will be. That doesn't NECESSARILY mean better tone, but it will be loud and proud. If it was a good piece of wood to begin with (consistent density, no occlusions or knots, dried well to a low moisture content) then it should sound quite good, regardless of the density of the actual body you have.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

In addition to the low mass to move, doesn't grain orientation contribute to the overall tone?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

My swamp ash strat body fully routed and contoured came in under 3lbs. Great guitar, great tones and has low wind A3 strat pickups in too. About 7lbs all up even with Grovers.
Another LP I made was from superlight Mahogany. Its about 8lbs even with Grovers on too. Good tones from that as well.
But I've had good tones from all weight instuments......even if the actual tone is somewhat different.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

How about this-
Jeff Beck uses basswood bodies, they are very very light. He gets great tone an sustain just holding a note. With out any Beck tricks.
SB

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

How about this-
Jeff Beck uses basswood bodies, they are very very light. He gets great tone an sustain just holding a note. With out any Beck tricks.
SB

I was just about to say checkout Basswood, haven't weighed it but this guy is 1 piece Basswood with a Roasted Maple Neck...by far the lightest strat I've played and it sounds killer.

View attachment 68493

Supposedly a roasted body is lighter and Guthrie Govan plays with Roasted Basswood Bodies and Roasted Maple Necks...

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

I was just about to say checkout Basswood, haven't weighed it but this guy is 1 piece Basswood with a Roasted Maple Neck...by far the lightest strat I've played and it sounds killer.

View attachment 68493

Supposedly a roasted body is lighter and Guthrie Govan plays with Roasted Basswood Bodies and Roasted Maple Necks...

That just screams Jake E Lee! I love that!

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

I have a Strat that is light to my Standards and an RG Prestige in Basswood.
I like them but they don't sustain great..
I like Les Pauls and they have to weigh at least 8lbs or I don't like them.
My heaviest one weighs 10.3, I am a big guy do the weight doesn't bother me.
That guitar doesn't really sustain any greater than my Studio does but it's so thick and dark.
I love it's growl and I think the weight makes a difference in that.. I purposely bought the heaviest one they had because my buddy has a really heavy custom that sounds the same.
I wanted that dark growl..

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

That just screams Jake E Lee! I love that!

Thanks man! I love his guitars and did go with his color combo

 

[Mincer]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

Some bodies can be too light if they allow the neck to dive. Soundwise, not really, but ergonomics-wise, yeah, they can be too light.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

I imagine a lighter body might dent more easily, but that's it.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

I guess I like my guitar bodies light to medium; they need to be heavy enough not to dive, but keep overall weight under control. My Explorer tips the scales at just over 9lbs, and that's about the most I'll accept these days. I used to own a '77 LP Custom that was 10.5, and any time I wore it for more than about an hour I'd feel like I was levitating when it came off. OTOH I rebuilt my Tele this summer because it had neck dive with the the butterscotch / amber basswood body and I just didn't enjoy playing it. I found a 4.7lb MIM alder body that I'm much happier with; the total guitar weight is just under 8lbs.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

Thanks man! I love his guitars and did go with his color combo

Love it too!! Charvel neck on what?? Body looks slightly offset and wilkinson trem??

I imagine a lighter body might d'jent more easily, but that's it.

Fixed!!! haha Sorry, just had too!


Years ago, I thought that the body had to be heavy for sustain.. Not so obviously and with the advancements as far as roasting, toasting, baking and frying and stuff, They are getting lighter and more resonant bodies by drying the moisture, sap and other things that could deaden tone.. One of the best guitars I had was pretty light and would just vibrate like mad when I played it.. Miss it dearly

On the other hand I do have a Burny LP that weighs a ton and sustains for days too.

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

Thank you all very much for your input! I'm cautiously excited to see how it will turn out. I'm gonna put a fairly thick neck on it, but with vintage-styled tuners, and the plan is to have a B-bender installed, so hopefully that all will help prevent any "neck-dive"! Hmm...I'm curious about roasted maple necks...but maybe that should be another thread (or a few minutes with the Search tool...)

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

i like light too...as long as it balances with the neck.
I have a 3lb12 body that sits great, but I also had a 4lb body that was outweighed by a dual truss rod neck.
The balance is less of an issue on strats (which is a big part of why leo designed the offset body).
ps: roasted maple is fantastic. I reckon it probably reduces the weight of the neck a little too by evaporating the moisture.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

Supposedly a roasted body is lighter and Guthrie Govan plays with Roasted Basswood Bodies and Roasted Maple Necks...

Roasted woods are lighter because you cook out all the moisture from the wood.



The only way it's too light is if you think it's too light. If you like the sound but find that there's some neck dive, add some lead weights to the body underneath the pickups or in the control cavity. I did it in high school on my Hamer, and neck dive was no more.

I love Gibsons for their lack of neck dive, excluding some SG's.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Is there such thing as a body that's too light?

The only way it's too light is if you think it's too light.

Spot on, John.