Got bored and weighed some guitars. What is considered heavy/light?

When I weighed all mine, they are all around 7.5 pounds. I guess I have a type, lol. If I pick up a guitar and it is heavier I put it right back down. I specifically look for lighter versions of the models I want.
 
Around 8 lbs seems to be where most draw the line between light & heavy.

It’s not something I think too much about, when looking at guitars. know 6 lbs feels abnormally light to me, unless it’s a thin line. 10 lbs seems awfully heavy, for anything that’s not an explorer.
 
I prefer lighter guitars - but that increases probability of neck dive unless it's headless.

Most of my guitars are under 8 lbs in general, but I don't weight them.

My lightest guitar is my Gittler Titanium at 3 lbs.

Gittler Titanium 3.png
 
I have guitars that range anywhere from 5 to over 11 pounds. My current lightest being a 1965 Kay Titan and heaviest being a 1978 Schecter Superstrat all rosewood body. It makes Norlin era LPC’s sound small in comparison. Even though the weight is similar, I think the density of the rosewood body gives it also a denser, heavier sound

I find heavier guitars tend to have more density to the sound/heavier note quality and punch harder with a compression to it like the notes breathe less and the tone usually less complex or interesting. Like the notes are compact rocks. Lighter guitars are the opposite where the notes sound more airy and complex generally. My favorite guitars I’ve played or had tend to all be somewhere between 7-8 pounds
 
I think the whole "heavier is better" approach to choosing a guitar is dated, and doesn't usually hold true. At least in my experience. My three best-sounding guitars I've owned have been light or light-ish at least.

That being said, I don't particularly seek a light guitar. Otherwise, I'd just be playing Strandbergs or whatever. I like my Les Pauls, but I'm also not in love with the couple of Norlins I've tried. I'd love to be proven wrong by the right one, though.

I also prefer lightweight bridges and tuners.
 
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Gibson Les Paul Modern 8.2 lbs.

The Gibson page for this guitar says "ultra modern" under the weight relief section but doesn't describe what this means.

So I'm not sure if it's chambering, or special sorting for lighter mohagany slabs, or what other method.

8.2 lbs

20250424_182519.jpg
 
I generally don't care about weight. The only body I worried about being too heavy is the Purpleheart Explorer I built. As a full solid body it was weighing close to 20 lbs. That was a little too heavy to be manageable. I chambered it and put a Douglas Fir top on. That got it down closer to 11-12 lbs.

I look more at what type of wood the guitar is made from. IME denser woods tend to sustain a little more than softer woods. Denser woods would naturally be heavier, but you can compensate for the weight if needed by chambering the body and not lose as much sustain as you would using a softer, lighter wood.
 
Comparing guitars to each other makes sense. Some are heavier, some are lighter. Weigh them all and create a scale. Science!

I usually use complaints about guitar weight to calibrate the strength of the complainer. Aww, is an 11 lb Les Paul too heavy for you? Shut up and go do push-ups!

I gigged with solid figured maple Spector basses for years. You guys and your 9 lb "heavy" guitars are humorous to me.

I should weigh my stuff for science though.
 
Rex Rocker said:
I think the whole "heavier is better" approach to choosing a guitar is dated, and doesn't usually hold true. At least in my experience. My three best-sounding guitars I've owned have been light or light-ish at least.

That being said, I don't particularly seek a light guitar. Otherwise, I'd just be playing Strandbergs or whatever. I like my Les Pauls, but I'm also not in love with the couple of Norlins I've tried. I'd love to be proven wrong by the right one, though.

I also prefer lightweight bridges and tuners.
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I don't think for me there is a direct correlation with weight and tone. Only reason I care about weight is I don't want my shoulder or back to hurt after a long time playing live, otherwise it wouldn't matter to me. And with bass I have no options, both my jazz bass and MM sterling 5 are 10lbs, is what it is with bass.

I just got my 73 custom Les Paul refurbed and the bridge was collapsing. With the new bridge, its like a completely new guitar. I always thought it was dark before, but now it sings. I wonder how many norlins have collapsing bridges that really need to be replaced.
 
MadAsAHatter said:
This thread belongs at TGP...
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Had there been an argument presented like "Heavy guitars sound better" then maybe.....

As it sits, I weighed a few guitars for the hell of it

I cannot control the Tan Pants invaders and their arguments. Lol
 
  • Haha
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