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GSA 60 weight?


blazer21

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Hi,

 

I have a Ibanez GSA 60 I bought second hand in early 2000s. Recently I am having health problems and it is heavy, and I was wondering how much does this guitar weight please. I had read online it is about 9 pounds. I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for lighter electric guitars please. I was told that paulwonia is a lighter material.

 

Thank you

 

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It's quite a bit less then 9 lbs. if I remember correctly.

Yes, Paulownia is a MUCH lighter wood, same with the lower grade of basswood. Problem is, they have to use an epoxy coating on it, which adds weight. It's so soft, that it dings easily.

The Parker fly is easiest the lightest guitar I ever picked up, around 5 lbs. So light in fact, I couldn't play it, was afraid it would break. (it wouldn't have, but still, the fear was there.)

Your best bet, if weight is an issue, may be a hollow or semi hollow. My Epiphone casino is about 7-8 lbs. I don't think they come much lighter then that.

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Chambered or hollow body (ES-175 style) guitar tend to be lighter than solid bodies. A thin line tele is chambered, it should be lighter than a normal tele. I have built chambered guitars which were in the 5-3/4 to 7 pound range. The new Les Pauls are supposed to be "weight relieved" which basically means some chambering.

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years ago, when I was having back issues, my doctor suggested I use a wider strap, to distribute the weight over a larger area of my shoulder. It helped somewhat. I also use wide padded straps on the heavier guitars [strat, LP, ES135, ES335 type].

My SG is definitely the lighter of the Gibsons, except my '62 Melody Maker...I might suggest getting something like that, like the new boltneck Epi Les Paul SL...and then change the tuners, pots, bridge, switch, p-ups ;)

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Thank you everyone for replying. [uSER=658630]badpenguin[/uSER] Thank you, I looked into some semi hollow, and its hard to the weights, I see about adding a coating to the paulwonia. I did search on ebay for Parker Fly, they are out of my price range, though they look good.

[uSER=111570]DeepEnd[/uSER] Thank you. [uSER=37202]Freeman Keller[/uSER] Thank you for the tips, I looked up the ES-1756 they look nice, I am sorry again it is out of my price range. [uSER=31594]daddymack[/uSER] Thank you for the suggestions, something to consider but my back is off. The 62 melody maker looks nice.

 

I have some questions about the suggestions you guys made, as I read up a bit that the tone changes on semi-hollow, and hollow? I would eventually like to play, rock, metal a bit, they use the tremelo. How would these be on an acoustic? Can bends done like on the electric, I was also looking for a 24 fret. The acoustics I have looked at have like less frets, and what would be major differences. Is the action the same? I also play unplugged. Also how is the W body, vs V body shape for sitting in a classical position, ideally with my back straight as possible due to issues. How are Tele's vs Strats for rock?

 

Thanks

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okay, let's start with the basics...playing metal style on an acoustic is probably not going to be a happy thing.

Acoustic guitars typically do not come with a tremolo, for a number of stress related reasons.

The strings on an acoustic guitar are typically much heavier, so string bends beyond a half step are a challenge, but it can be done.

Acoustic guitars typically do not have more than about 20 frets, [on a 14/joint], less on older 12 /joint acoustics.

The action on an acoustic is typically higher than on an electric; that said, it is possible to get the action very low on an acoustic, but that usually entails shaving the bridge insert.

a V body? Like a flying V? not a sit down guitar, at all.

Teles and Strats are both good for playing almost anything, IMHO [i have both], especially unplugged. You might consider something like a Tele thinline, which has the upper bout hollowed out. Your Ibanez GSA 60 is essentially what is called a 'super-strat' style, with a bridge humbucker. IIRC, the body is agathis on those...which is a relatively less dense/lighter wood used on lower end models [although agathis is not a bad wood for a guitar body, any more than basswood is]

 

Another thought, if you are not too worried about tone, and more concerned about playability, is something like a Fender Telecoustic or Stratacoustic; these have very 'electric' feeling necks, deep cutaways and can be found on the used market pretty cheap [i have a Stratacoustic, I use it for playing in the backyard, going camping, paddling the canoe, etc]. They don't sound very good, but they play easily.

Another option would be an Ibanez Talman acoustic, which also has a somewhat 'electric' feel to the neck...or an Ovation, although they are not good 'sit down' guitars because of the bowl back.

 

I wholeheartedly recommend that you spend time trying guitars out at your local instrument emporiums to find what feels best for you. Good luck, and please come back and let us know what you found!

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You might try a Revo guitar strap. I have one on my 11 tele and one on my ~8 lb variax and they make a lot of difference in distributing the weight over a standard strap. For me they were well worth the cost. Also, I second the Melody Maker for a light guitar. I had a mid 60s that I installed an aftermarket p90 in that sounded great and weighed almost nothing.

 

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Blazer, I'm glad you came back. I can't add anything to what DaddyMack said - I think he covered all of your questions very well. I can't stress his last comment about trying everything you can - the more you play the better you will understand the choices. It might also help us to help you if you told us exactly what your budget is, as well as what guitars other than your Ibanez you have played (and your reactions to them)

 

 

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[uSER=31594]daddymack[/uSER] Thank you very much for the reply. I see about the acoustics, and electrics. I have looked into the ones you mentioned. [uSER=18910]madjack[/uSER] Thank you for letting me know about those straps, they look nice, I was looking for around 2 pounds, even at that depends on the days. I realize now its very hard, and I was considering the acoustics. [uSER=37202]Freeman Keller[/uSER] The budget is around the 200$. Sometimes I think I might have to retrofit the body with a lighter one. I played an on older electric years ago and the action was very high. The Ibanez was better than one. [uSER=89816]1001gear[/uSER] nice!

 

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[uSER=31594] ..... [uSER=37202]Freeman Keller[/uSER] The budget is around the 200$. Sometimes I think I might have to retrofit the body with a lighter one. I played an on older electric years ago and the action was very high. The Ibanez was better than one. .....

 

OK, that helps some and it may lead us in some good directions for you. There have been several budget priced guitars coming in from the Pacific Rim (China mostly) that are made out of bass wood. Bass wood is an extremely light weight, fairly soft, and quite inexpensive wood. I know that Ibanez used it on some models (and Ibanez tends to be associated with the whole shredder/metal image) - I don't know the specific models but others might chime in. "Retrofitting" a body might not be as easy as it sounds - my suggestion there is to just keep looking for something that meets your requirements. Used guitars often have higher action - that is something that a good technician can help you with.

 

A few of these might be within your budget - one thing about dealing with Sweetwater is that if you called them I'll bet somebody would go weigh one for you.

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/c590--Ibanez_Basswood_Solidbody_Guitars?mrkgcl=28&mrkgadid=3319245781&rkg_id=0&campaigntype=dsa&campaign=aaDSA&adgroup=1233692277%3ADSA%20-%20Guitars&placement=google&adpos=1t1&creative=335474974518&device=c&matchtype=b&network=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4Z3Yy4GX4QIVx7WWCh3tLwHuEAAYASAAEgI_cvD_BwE

 

 

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Ummm, 2 lbs? 1 kilo? :eek: I don't think there is a guitar made that light in terms of weight! Even acoustics tend to heavier then that! Hell, the pickups and bridge on most electrics are heavier then that. The only possible suggestion I can make is play sitting down with a strap.

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I missed the 2 pound comment. That ain't going to happen. Just for reference, my solid Les Paul is 9 ib 3 oz, my chambered on is 7 lb 10 oz (people comment on how light it is). A "semi hollow body" 335 clone is 8 lb 3 oz, my hollow body jazz guitar is 6 lt 10. The one that really stands out is my chambered mahogany tele - its a feather light 5 lb 12 oz (and lost almost two pounds in the chambering process).

 

[ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32494781}[/ATTACH]

 

And I can promise you won't get any of these for 2 hundred bucks.

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[uSER=37202]Freeman Keller[/uSER] Thank you for the reply. I realize that the weight won't happen even with acoustics as mentioned by [uSER=658630]badpenguin[/uSER]. The chambered could look like an option, I checked out a few online. How are telecasters? [uSER=658630]badpenguin[/uSER] thank you, yea unfortunately, I got back issues. I usually played sitting, even at that its getting the guitar, propping it up.

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blazer, 2 pounds? I have only ever come across a functional guitar even close to that weight once, and they don't make them anymore. They were inflatable body, but the neck and hardware was probably more than 2lbs...guitar=wise, I think you are doomed. Perhaps a ukelele?

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The Parker Fly which is one of the lightest production guitars that I know of, is around 4-1/2 pounds. Carbon fiber, exoskeleton and a price way out of budget.

 

Back to the OP. I happen to play sitting down almost exclusively. Of course I'm not in some metal band shredding my head off, and I don't do it because of back or anything else, its just far more comfortable for me. I still notice the weight difference between different guitars but it really doesn't bother me.

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[uSER=31594]daddymack[/uSER] yes I'm having trouble picking the Ibanez up just to sit down with it etc.... Most likely doomed! [uSER=37202]Freeman Keller[/uSER] the parker fly's are nice, but as you said well out of budget. I did find these traveler guitars, https://travelerguitar.com/, https://www.amazon.com/Traveler-Guitar-Solid-Body-ULE-BKM/dp/B07JPKN24X/ref=lp_2602596011_1_1?srs=2602596011&ie=UTF8&qid=1553823022&sr=8-1&th=1

it is out of budget, even more expensive in the country I am in. Maybe one day I'll get around to getting a lightweight guitar. Thank you everyone for your input!

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[uSER=31594]daddymack[/uSER] i don't knwo about the ukele! [uSER=100245]mrbrown49[/uSER] Thank you for the suggestion, that could be something to look it, I would need help. Also it doesn't ship to where I live and I checked, and [uSER=31594]daddymack[/uSER] it ends up being about the budget I have.

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