When is a Les Paul too heavy?

[cbpickin]

No, it's not a joke awaiting a punchline.
I am trying to figure out what the cutoff for a reasonable weight for Les Pauls is. I am mainly a strat and tele guy and I'm not sure what is too much. I had an LP a few years back, but I traded it for my 335 because it was pretty heavy for me. Now, I'm thinking of getting another LP, but I'm not sure what is considered too heavy. Is 9 lbs. pretty typical or is it getting up there?
If I had it in person I'd know, but I may be buying one sight unseen and just need some guidelines.
thanks!

Edit to add: I'm talking about gigging weight, not just sitting down in the studio without a strap.

[Rock Johnson]

It's too heavy when the guy you hit with it dies instead of just being knocked out.

Seriously... I'd generally consider anything in double digits "too heavy." 8-9 pounds is fairly typical.

Modern LPs are weight relived, so some of them are really, really lightweight. Les Paul Class 5's and Cloud 9s are around 7 pounds.

[cube]

any of the new Gibson USA les pauls are in fact chambered.. you would have to search for one as heavy as 8 pounds..most of the ones i have seen lately have been lighter.
the Custom shop on the other hand are mostly 8 pounds and up.

[Betos]

ask your bass player if your guitar is too heavy.




~Betos

[cbpickin]

I'm looking at two that are both a little over 9 lbs. and I'm wondering if they're going to kill me to do a full night gig (3-4 hours w/breaks).

[tildeslash]

When you have to ask - it's heavy.

[Sean French]

For a solid(non weight relieved or chambered)LP 8 lbs to 9.5 lbs is very typical.Over 10 lbs is getting on the heavy side IMO.

[Pearly Gator]

My 8 lb Les Paul Classic got too heavy after I bought a 6 lb Vintage Mahogany on Memorial Day. Crikey, the VM weighs less than my Strat! The 8 lbs does feel heavy after a couple of sets but a wide & comfy strap makes all the difference in the world.

PG

[buddastrat]

I don't mind them unless they are bottom heavy where a lot of the weight is centered around the bridge area. Then, they are unbalanced especially while sitting and always want to pull or fall off your lap. That's awful because you have to battle that as you play.

Even some that are in the 8-9 lb. range do this. It depends where the most weight is concentrated, I guess.

[Pete Galati]

My '82 Standard's about 10Lbs. That's too heavy on most days. Felt like nothing when I just bought it though. The heavy ones tend to sound pretty good though, and their sound holds together at sound levels that'll make yout ears bleed.

[George Johnson]

9 lbs is the cutoff for me.

A well designed, WIDE strap is the key to managing/distributing that much weight for 4 hours.

[LaXu]

10 lbs is the limit for my. I've currently got a 9.9 lbs LP copy and have no problems with it, weight or tonewise but if I were buying a LP now, I'd want a bit lighter one.

For a few years a 15 lbs doubleneck was my main guitar so after that every other guitar doesn't feel too bad. A good strap is a must for heavier guitars. The best I've found is the Fender Deluxe Wide leather strap because it's wider than any other strap I've seen as well as being nicely padded.

[codeorama]

My Custom is 11lbs... I have no problem with the weight.

[dirtyfinger]

When you are lying on your back with your legs kicking in the air, and the crowd thinks you are doing your best Angus Young impersonation, but you are playing a Dire Straits tune, your LP might be too heavy.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I believe my Standard is a hair over 9 lbs. I don't think I would want to go much heavier. The main problem with mine is what someone mentioned above, it isn't very comfortable while sitting. Tone is great though.

[edward]

Isn't the cuttof ALWAYS when what you've got is "just right"? Kinda like anyone driving slower than you is an idiot, anyone faster is a maniac.

Seriously, many glow over how wonderful their 10-11lb Custom sustain for days, while others will gush over how "resonant and open" their 7.8lb wonder axe sounds. But really the "too heavy" question is a matter of "is it worth it" to you? Is slinging that 10lb Standard rewarding you with tone and feel-goods such that the wight is worth it? If the answer is "yes," then 10.5lbs is too much.

As for me, I grew up with heavy 80s guitars where "heavy" was more than slang, it was how guitars were built. Brass this, plates behind headstocks, you name it ...the perception was weight=tone, baby! So the pendelum has swung now and we're in a diff world. Do I love my 10lb Standard and heavy (don't know it's actual tonnage) 80 Strat? Damn straight and never getting rid of either! But does my light Tele give me huge grins? ...oooh yeah!!! If the tone is there, I don't care (...hmmm, there's a lyric in there methinks)

Sorry for the philosophical musing ...I've got a bit of free time at work at the moment

Edward