He ain't heavy, he's my Lester

[patentcad]

So I'm weighing all my guitars tonight, interesting.

2011 LP Standard Plus (chambered LP): 7lbs, 12 oz

Fender Custom Shop Strat (c.2000): 8 lbs, 1 oz

2011 PRS MEQ: 7 lbs, 7 oz

2010 PRS SC- 58: 8 lbs

2011 LP Historic R0: 9 lbs, 1 oz

Would anyone here have guessed that a Singlecut and an LP would be lighter than a Strat? That surprised me. The lightness of the MEQ is really cool. Doesn't sound light a lightweight.

Very happy with this mix of guitars.

[rumblebox]

my old strat was pretty hefty too.

[rusted]

Would anyone here have guessed that a Singlecut and an LP would be lighter than a Strat?

Considering that there a gazillion Strats with weights all over the place, from the high 6's to 10+ lbs, with about 8 lbs being average for vintage ones from the 60s. Though LPs have a higher typical weight than the average for a Strat, there are light ones. And single cut mahogany models like LP Jr's are also all over the map. I've played lots of vintage ones that were in the high 6's and lots that were well over 8 lbs.

Point being, in a random, tiny sampling...no, I'm not surprised.

[patentcad]

Considering that there a gazillion Strats with weights all over the place, from the high 6's to 10+ lbs

I didn't know Strats got that heavy.

[rusted]

I didn't know Strats got that heavy.

Though the 70s Fender weight issue can get overblown, I've come across more than a few Strats from the 70s that were over 10 lbs. Teles, too. That said, I've also come across more than a few of both that were under 7 lbs. But Fender made a LOT of instruments in the 70s, and heavy guitars weren't necessarily viewed the way they are these days.

[EADGBE]

I didn't know Strats got that heavy.
Maple weighs more than mahogany.

How does the Fender Custom Shop Strat (c.2000) sound? Is it your best sounding guitar?

[Alister]

Some of the vintage, and custom shop reissues, of 60's Strats are heavier than shit.
The Strat Pluses that I've played are right there with Les Pauls.

I used to play a LP Custom (Norlin) that would make 20-year-olds grunt when they strapped it on.

I was completely, blissfully unaware of this supposed "weight issue" with guitars, until very, very recently. Probably, in fact, not until I joined The Gear Page.

[saf_1]

However - most Strats are not made out of maple - except for the necks. Ash and alder, are the two most common woods for Strat bodies. So it just depends on the piece of wood. I've played ash bodied Strats that weighed a ton - and I don't mean 8 lbs. or so - I'm talking more like 10+. And others that probably weighed between 7 and 8. Alder seems a little more consistent, weight-wise. I think that in general, Fender tries to look for lighter weight pieces of wood, to make their bodies out of these days (especially in the higher end instruments). There was a LOT more inconsistency during the CBS period. I've played some strats from that time frame, that were absolute boat anchors!

[patentcad]

Maple weighs more than mahogany.

How does the Fender Custom Shop Strat (c.2000) sound? Is it your best sounding guitar?

Sounds fine as far as it goes. But it's a Strat. Thin to my ears. I'm much more of a LP/PRS guy. That being said, sometimes I like the quack. That guitar does have some righteous Strat quack. It's a very nice guitar (see photo below).

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/PcadGuitars3112.jpg

[MKB]

My mid eighties Japanese Strat and SG weigh within a few ounces of each other (7lbs and change). The LP Trad Plus and ES-333 weigh within a few ounces of each other (around 8.5lbs). I'm very happy with these weights.

[magicaxeman]

I was surprised when I put my guitars on the scales.

PRS hollow body 2 - carved flame maple top and back, mahogany sides and neck - 5lb 4 oz
PRS Se custom semi hollow soap bar - mahogany with maple veneer - 5lbs 8 oz

Gibson les paul studio 60's tribute - chambered mahogany & maple - 7lb 8oz

Squier vintage modified thinline telecaster - Alder and maple - 7lb 9oz !

[TRS1]

Beautiful guitars Pcad, especially the R0, but I must admit I cringe every time I hear the word Lester

[IPLAYLOUD]

I walked into a shop with my g/f that had 2 "The Strat" models from the 80's (Brassmaster hardware) and told her "pick that up. It'll be the heaviest Strat you ever held". Her eyes popped open. "Now grab that one...it's heavier than the other". She yelled "HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?:
Damn things were over 10 pounds for sure.

They were on stands on the floor because of the fear of the wall hangers bending. ;-)

[patentcad]

I wouldn't want a guitar that's much over 9lbs, that's about my limit. Man that PRS MEQ is light. Very nice. Sounds fat too.