Members rebsy Posted July 10, 2017 Members Share Posted July 10, 2017 I'm looking for a lightweight guitar because I'm petite and have some back issues and don't want to put too much weight on my shoulder. My friend has an awesome 90's Squier Strat that is amazingly lightweight. I recently found a Squier Strat from a few years earlier that was super heavy. Been finding in general that guitar weight is really inconsistent - probably depends on the type of wood and maybe even the particular piece of wood? Any advice for models that tend to be light or which types of wood I should look for would be greatly appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 10, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 10, 2017 Melody Maker!Mustang!Duo-Sonic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 10, 2017 Members Share Posted July 10, 2017 Gibson SG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 10, 2017 Members Share Posted July 10, 2017 Gibson SG +1. Epiphone SG if you're on a budget. Used Parker if your budget will go that high. How much can you afford? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 10, 2017 Members Share Posted July 10, 2017 If you want to know for sure you can sort the Warmoth in stock Strat bodies by weight, buy one you like, and put one together yourself (or have it assembled). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr.Grumpy Posted July 11, 2017 Members Share Posted July 11, 2017 A Fender/Squier Telecaster, as long as it's not an ash body. Basswood is probably the lightest wood that's commonly used for making guitar bodies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 A Fender/Squier Telecaster, as long as it's not an ash body. Basswood is probably the lightest wood that's commonly used for making guitar bodies. I agree that some of the ash bodies can be really heavy (especially those from the 70s) but I've also had some alder Teles over the years that were pretty hefty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Melody Maker! Mustang! Duo-Sonic! Those were my first thoughts too. My Duo Sonic is pretty light. My Mustang isn't bad either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 11, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 11, 2017 my Melody Maker is by far my lightest solidbody...the SG would be next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 11, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 11, 2017 I think you missed the word 'vintage' in there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 11, 2017 Members Share Posted July 11, 2017 I took it to mean "classic". I'll let the OP clarify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verne Andru Posted July 11, 2017 Members Share Posted July 11, 2017 Not sure if they're considered "vintage" or not, but the Rickenbacker 650 and 620 series are quite light. Guitar Fetish has a bunch of "palowina" strat and tele bodies etc. pretty cheap. They are very light but the wood is close to balsa so if you will be doing a lot of screwing and unscrewing you run into situations where the threads can strip pretty easily. If you're just doing bolt-and-go, they should hold up fine. The idea with ash is to find what is called "swamp ash." This refers to ash trees that have been submerged for quite a while. That apparently breaks down some of the wood fiber so when it dries it is super light. Heavy and swamp ash are an oxymoron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 11, 2017 Members Share Posted July 11, 2017 I ignored the word ''vintage'' completely. I figure I can give the OP a couple of lightweight guitars and he/she can take it for whatever it's worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Not sure if they're considered "vintage" or not' date=' but the Rickenbacker 650 and 620 series are quite light.[/quote'] Good point Verne - my 610 (similar, small-body shape) is pretty light too - I've never weighed it, but I'd guesstimate it at about 7.5 pounds. Guitar Fetish has a bunch of "palowina" strat and tele bodies etc. pretty cheap. They are very light but the wood is close to balsa so if you will be doing a lot of screwing and unscrewing you run into situations where the threads can strip pretty easily. If you're just doing bolt-and-go, they should hold up fine. I've always wondered about those bodies. I'd imagine they ding pretty easily too, don't they? The idea with ash is to find what is called "swamp ash." This refers to ash trees that have been submerged for quite a while. That apparently breaks down some of the wood fiber so when it dries it is super light. Heavy and swamp ash are an oxymoron. Aaaaah, Swamp Ash. :love: Light, snappy, and oh so toneful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted July 12, 2017 Members Share Posted July 12, 2017 Define "vintage" What is your budget? Would you consider a weight relieved or chambered guitar? Is there a particularly sound/style/look you are after? ps - before I forget my manners, welcome to HCEG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t_e_l_e Posted July 12, 2017 Members Share Posted July 12, 2017 my warmoth strat is swamp ash and based on my CIJ 68 reissue strat. for some extra money warmoth searched there stock for the lightest piece of swamp ash they had for my body result is, its not much lighter than my CIJ but much lighter then my MIA strat in my experience a tele or a sg would be light, but i personally prefer a strat or a les paul because of tonal preference if you want a strat you could search for a used CIJ 68 reissue like mine which is from the late '90s, i don't know how the new(er) MIJ strats compare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 13, 2017 Members Share Posted July 13, 2017 Before I forget, used Godin Radiator: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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