Weight Relief. How much is really possible

[Dave Locher]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

I really like your design!
If you are using a through-neck the "wings" can be totally hollow, like a hollow-core door. Just make sure there is enough solid wood on each side for the trem route and mounts.

Based on my limited experience building, it seems to go like this in order of importance for making a body light: 1) light wood, 2) chambering, 3) thin body.

My scratch-built in my avatar (on the right) has a thin, chambered body made from light wood. I added the heaviest stop bar I could find and solid metal knobs because it was TOO light for my taste! I am considering adding weight to the control cavity and maybe a metal cover to replace the plastic one I made.

The Gibson Marauder in my avatar (left) I belt-sanded the heck out of the edges, front and back, and planed about 1/4" or more off of the back. That also made a noticeable difference.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

Google "thinline telecaster construction" to see some examples of how hollow you can get. A 1/4" maple or spruce top covers it all.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

guitardoc :
How do you do the weight relief? just Big chambers? Round cut outs?

My brother is a carpenter, so he should know what he's doing. Even he doesn't know a thing about instruments

I started many years ago doing multiple chambers. Now I do one complete chamber except for a block under the bridge (my guitars are string through) and around the neck pocket.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

Looks like this

View attachment 100079

Weight reduction ideas:
1. That middle pickup is adding some weight. I suggest exploring the added tonal options that a 5 position or 6 position superswitch gives to a two humbucker guitar that could eliminate the need for a middle pickup and its weight.
2. Any kind of tremolo-type bridge is adding weight compared to a non-tremolo bridge. Typically on the order of 11 ounces (mostly in the trem block) which is substantial.
3. Gotoh stealth tuners -very liteweight. Weigh only slightly more than 2 ounces vs normal tuners which are typically over 9 oz.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

Kingswebe makes a good point: hardware really adds up. Using aluminum strap buttons, lightweight tuners (with plastic buttons) and the super-light Lace aluminum pickups mentioned earlier in this thread can add up to big differences in weight. Add a chambered and/or thin body made of light wood and you could have a seriously light guitar.
I assume the trem is a must-have for your metal tastes? That is a bit of weight to add.

 

[jtees4]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

Actually, A LOT of weight relief is possible. Check out this Strat. Personally, I used to have serious back problems to the point where the only guitar I could play was my Parker Fly Deluxe at 4 1/2 pounds. Now I play SG's mostly.

https://youtu.be/7Oo2H-W7d6A?t=129

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

You can also save quite a bit of weight by using a NFT Floyd Rose with a graphite nut instead of a locking nut. Throw in some lightweight Hipshot open-gear locking tuners and you'll have all the stability of a traditional Floyd Rose setup with less weight and less roughing up your fingers on the nut.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

The closer you get the the strap button on the upper horn to the 12th fret
The better it will balance, no matter what the body weighs

If making it yourself extend it out
You can always remove material later if you dont like it
Harder to glue it back on

 

[chadd]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

Once you get done making your guitar as light as possible, throw one of these on it.
http://wittmanspinscom.ipage.com/?page_id=6

They distribute the weight so much better than a standard strap. I don't know how many Kenny sells anymore, but the website was updated a few years ago

 

[Mincer]

Re: Weight Relief. How much is really possible

I know Gruv Gear makes a strap that distributes weight better, too.