I do think there’s a sweet spot. My Eric Johnson strat is like 8.5 pounds, but it feels balanced and it stays in place. My SG on the other hand probably weighs like no more than 6 pounds and it’s like trying to grab a chicken!
i have lupus and i’m a small handed girl. Balance, low action and tiny strings are life changing. i’m learning to have a light touch after 20 years of fighting my guitars.
Balance in so many ways is a great thing to try to achieve in life. I wish you well on your way to a lighter touch, it opens so many more doors of expression with the instrument.
I have a Les Paul, and I have purchased and sold many guitar, but that one will stay with me till my time is complete on 🌎 earth. 😂 Yet, with new technology, and wisdom I would encourage you to purchase one of those wide straps that literally takes a portion of the weight off that shoulder. As you get older, it may become a factor. So be proactive, and protect your greatest asset, your overall health. I’m in over 55, but have taken great care of my health, and I sincerely feel 32-35. Blessings, always and keep the art of music alive.✨💎🦁💎✨
I've had the opposite experience. After thirty years a les paul guy, I found an '04 SG special faded that weighs 5.4 pounds. My LPs don't vary in weight much, being between 9 and 9.25lb, and I've never thought about the weight before. It was what it was. My fenders go from 7.4 to 7.8 pounds, and I barely notice the difference between them and the Gibsons. Even after a couple months with this SG my eyes pop with joy every time I take it off the wall and it feels like a feather. Guy had no idea what he had lol No paint or grain fill on the 20 years' wear on the fat 50s mahogany neck, zero neck dive by some minor miracle, local boutique scatter wound pickups, and it rings out acoustically miles above the ten other guitars here. I would take the pepsi challenge against any custom shop with this thing, which I would never do with my production line lp standards that cost 3x what the sg is worth. I've learned an important lesson here, and now I pick up guitars I never would have taken off the wall at the stores, just to feel their neck and weight and access. The things that can't be upgraded. That's not to say I play the other guitar any less, nor do they suddenly seem too heavy; I just love every aspect, including that one, of the SG.
Good point on posture, though on the flip side maybe the industry should also get used to more demand for them making lighter guitars and basses. Because of physical issues, I've thinned my guitars out to only having a bunch of guitars under 8 pounds (even my bass). A couple under 7 pounds. That is except my Les Paul which is 9 pounds, so I only sit with it. I've seen quite a few bassists complain about how heavy their Sterlings are and that they dreaded having that as their beginner bass.
I have 4 guitars, and all of them weigh differently. I just remind myself of that every time I pick one up. Each one has its own awesome tone, enough that I'm willing to put up with the weight difference. When you find a keeper like that, you don't let it go - you just make compromises. My local shop had a used Peavey J-F1 (semi-hollow body) and I'd never played one before. After an hour of jamming, it was love. Not my usual style, but it has mojo that my others don't have.
I think this is the first video I've seen that addresses posture. Kudos to you for bringing it up, it's not brought up often enough you've made me realise. When taking piano lessons, posture was very important. Why I forgot this when learning Bass I don't know. But this video reminds me my posture is awful. Weight never truly has bothered me. Except for a Harley Benton fretless I have that WEIGHS A TON. And anytime I lift that Bass up, there's an audible grunt that comes from me cuz it's so damn heavy. It does actually make wanting to play it reduce. Glad you found a way to make a disappointment into an improvement on your overall being, and then telling others what you've learned that may benefit them too. 😉
Great video man! Yeah it’s funny this sort of topic how we can focus on a statistic like weight and not realise the impact of technique, in this case posture. Plus, in my case, I’ve had a tendency to hyper focus and critique things putting yet more in the way of just enjoying and playing 🙈 all about technique and mindset! Hope you’re all well over there man!
Thanks for sharing, this is some great advice! Something that doesn’t get talked about a lot is elbow tennis caused by playing slim necks. It took me about 8 months to fully recover with therapy and had to stop playing entirely. Especially as you get older, guitar health is a must!
Bought a chambered Les Paul, a Brad Paisley tele (Paulonia) and I sold the heavier Les Pauls/Teles (my Fender Road Worns are pretty light too) and don't miss the heavy guitars. Strap advice is very true!
Thanks for pointing out posture, that's probably a bigger problem for most of us than we think. Also, pointing out that your little lady can handle a bass that weighs more than any guitar I own really puts things in perspective :)
Great points and good topic. My LPs are heavy as heck. I’ll play them at home sitting down, but I’m never quick to grab them for a gig. I love my tele and 355 for that because they are so much lighter. But as I have my eye on a gold top, I’ll take your suggestions and try to utilize them.
You’re missing the plot, bro. Women don’t complain about anything. They’re like superheroes. They’re either super strong, or just impervious to pain, or just don’t bitch about pain. It’s incredible. I’m a dude, and I definitely don’t like heavy stuff if a lighter option is available.
As a woman, I am going to tell you that I do not like or tolerate heavy instruments. Anything over 9 pounds isn't comfortable for me. Back in my early playing years it never bothered me. At 65 it's a big difference.
Great topic , i prefer light weight guitar in general . I always ask for the weight of the guitar before buying it. The only 2 exceptions were a peslay telecaster too much light (2,6kg) and a lp 54 custom shop light but not sounding... I can accept the 4,15 kg on a lp , but not on a fender . Nowadays i just want guitar at 3,7 kg maximum , except for a good sounding les paul .
Interesting video Jim, the main reason I no longer buy heavier guitars (which for me is anything over 8lbs) is I tend not to play them. Most of my playing happens in the studio, so if I’m writing songs or recording I’m constantly picking guitars up and putting them back on stands. I noticed that because of the constant inconvenient ‘wrestling’ lifting and lowering I just wasn’t playing my heavier guitars. I have a 41-year old Burny LP which is hands down the best LP I have ever played or owned but it weighs 14lbs and only ever gets used when I need it for specific parts in songs. On the other hand my Suhr Classic S weighs 6.5lbs and is in regular use.
That actually makes a lot of sense. The studio I used to frequent in San Diego had three guitars that lived there for musicians to borrow if need be and now that I'm thinking about it ALL of them sounded great but were insanely heavy.
I have scoliosis. No one would notice it normally but, my spine has a pronounced “S” curve. My current favorite guitar is a 9 1/2 lb. Les Paul Standard. I thought I cared about guitar weight also. I was always weighing my guitars on a food scale. I noticed that staying under a certain weight and exercising has made me never care about holding a heavy instrument. I’m 54 years old. I’m done with that scale.
I’m in your age range, and have dealt with certain minor injuries that have changed the way I purchase a new guitar. I have found that the balance of the guitar is as important to me just as much as the weight…✨🦁🙏🏼🦁✨
same here! sold my SG because of the dive. Ended up getting sick and permanent damage in my hands and tried a jag. holy crap! i never knew what low action and good balance really was before. i can play just as long as i used to as a 20yo
Interesting topic! I have bought several guitars that showed up heavier than reported. You are a champ for rolling with it. I liked your explanation about how online purchasing has led to this.... I am starting to wonder if all of these "measurements" actually help. I bought several guitars online because of the weight and been very disappointed (even thought the specs were "perfect").
It's a societal shift as a whole, a lot of things are just better to do in person. Purchasing a guitar is absolutely one of them because spec sheets absolutely do not tell the whole story as we've both learned over time
Posture, makes sense. My was first going to conditioning. My daughter and her marching band snare, that total set up is 20-30lbs and it'll be in her shoulders for hours. She's 14, a hell of a lot weaker than I am, I get antsy carrying it for her after a show or parade, let alone with full costume and doing a routine with it. The conditioning aspect plays a huge role, just doing it. That said, it does look so cool having the guitar slung low but it's just so uncomfortable and does add unnecessary weight. Great tips and I'm glad the AV will be working out. I wouldn't have th there would be an difference with balance from the Marr Jag to a more traditional model. That is very interesting. Any idea why? The electronics are different but surely that isn't enough difference to influence the overall balance is it? Strap buttons on different positions?
Wide straps can help a lot, but don’t always work for small females. I’m 5’3” and the wide strap I tried was either falling off my shoulder or cutting into my neck. Heavier guitars start to bruise my bony clavicle after a little while, but I found that a regular width elastic strap mitigated that a lot. Of course if you only play seated, none of that really matters and you can play just about any weight guitar comfortably if your posture is good.
I hadn't taken that into account from a womans' perspective but that makes sense. So I actually just went and measured the thickness of the strap my wife uses because I know she doesn't use one as thick as I do when we play out together. Hers is a padded 2 inch strap. She's an inch shorter than you are and it's worked for her at this point.
Absolutely. I played bass in a band and save for a few ridiculous 10 lbs plus Les Pauls I don't get fazed by any guitar in the 8 lb to 10 lb range, I actually get a little bit freaked when a guitar is less than 7.5 lbs.. I also use my 3" - 4" padded bass straps.
I have a guitar that weighs under 6lbs and I went to play it the other day for the first time in a bit and it did feel extremely strange having starting to play heavier ( to me ) guitars more regularly so I get it
I have an Warmoth walnut solid body with fatback neck that weights 10.2 pounds... and I love it. I have a fantastic large, stretchy strap and I am fine with that. Weight is not a reason to ditch a guitar that sounds good. People are still willing to pay thousands of dollar for a vintage Gibson, right?
over the 30+ guitars and basses i own, not one was ever bought with weight in mind, and if there was an option for different serial numbers its the heaviest just out of defiance of the norm, everything comes before the weight of the guitar.
I am probably a little too obsessed with weight but I do have some neck issues at times. My sweet spot is 6 to 7 lbs, with my fav guitars all at about 6.6 ..6.7 lbs and well balanced. I have played some heavy LPs and they all sounded great but just too heavy for me. An interesting topic for sure.
I totally get it, I've sold on killer sounding guitars in the past that I thought were just too heavy for me. I don't regret it at this point that stuff happens in life but I do wonder how I would feel about similar guitars now
My Les Paul is about 10 pounds, and so far my back is holding out. But I know someone with a 70s Strat that is at least as heavy as my Les Paul. But it’s a nice guitar, may have to get him to weigh it. I like light guitars as well, my bass is lighter than most solidbody guitars I have played. Sounds and plays great.
When I was young (a long time ago) everybody from my uncles age & up wanted the HEAVIEST guitars and would change every part to brass... If you had one less than 10 lbs someone took advantage of you. Lol. Even the parts guitars were proud of 5,6 & even 7 pound bodies.
Always used to be that heavier = more resonant. These days its seems to be the opposite, maybe everyone has swallowed all the marketing or maybe manufacturers have realised the lighter the weight the less shipping costs!
I'm only 5'6 but i like a medium heavy to heavy guitar, hey I forgot to mention on the other video someone here in San Antonio Texas is selling one of the guitars they bought from you because in the description they specifically mentioned your RUclips name. I believe it's a black Jazz master 🤔
Fun fact, I've never had a black hybrid ii Jazzmaster. I just looked up the ad, looks like it could be a gunmetal blue one I had and even then that's much more than I've ever sold a hybrid ii for that's for sure
Some folks like lighter... Some folks like heavier... Some folks go through phases lol... Whatever. I will say though... If you got a light guitar that's well made... OOOooooOOO that's niiiice : )
8 lbs. 15 oz. is not bad. My Epi LP was a tad over 9 lbs. until I replaced the bridge and tail piece. It's now a tad under 9. With a comfy strap, standing straight, and walking back and fourth, I can practice for hours without my 61 year old back hurting.
I don't notice it as much with Les Pauls, the weights are a bit better distributed and not so body heavy compared to the Jag. The Tokai in the thumbnail and that i held int he vid for a bit is almost 9.5 lbs and i don't mind that thing one bit. keep on truckin man, love to hear that
I like instruments under 9 pounds. But, I do have a 10.7 pound MIM Fender Jazz bass that I love because of the tone that heavy thing puts out. It's a tone monster. But, it's one I'd prefer to sit down to play. 😊
Looking forward to your Tokai review. It funny, I never once weighed my Epi Tak Matsumoto Les Paul, never gave it a thought. My guess, around 8.5-9 lbs.
The Tokai is on the way hopefully next weekend, thing is outrageous. I'd be interested in you weighing your guitar if for no other reason to see if you are in the ballpark or way off haha
@@AudiomoMusic Sadly, I no longer have it. But my guess is that it weighed under 9 lbs. Elitists were made with high end African Mahogany, so they did not have weight relief holes, something they marketed at the time. The FGN Neo Classics appear to be very close. No burstbuckers, but same head stock minus the logo. The FGN's do have the slightly curved frets, which the Elitist did not have.
It's called Circle Fretting System (C.F.S.) which is supposed to make all strings cross the fret at a 90 degree angle for better pitch and articulation. I have never played one, but I would like to try one. I find the concept intriguing.
Yeah I'm familiar with CFS, years ago I had a CoolZ that had it on it and a few others since. It's an interesting concept that worked pretty well in practice
the bajas were awesome guitars. i had a baja 60's that i wish never left production but I guess Fender had to water down the mexican line from back in those days the value was too good.
I've wondered how much of a weight difference the average person can actually feel. 🤔 Like what percentage of players can reliably tell the difference between 8 lbs and 8.5 lbs?
Pointing out workarounds for a heavy guitar only underlines the obvious. It's too heavy. I think the focus on weights is down to the internet. Prior to that, weights were hard to establish. especially if there weren't multiple, well stocked shops in your area. Even then, they might have stock that's on the heavier side. Personally, I favour lighter, and the heavyweights stay in their cases while I mull their future. I wanted to get an ES 339 to replace my Les Paul, but they're too expensive and any used ones tend to be US based, which requires another too expensive shipping price to my part of the world. I have a Mustang and have thought about a Jaguar for some time, but they're heavy in comparison. Trying to find a light one with the original layout has ended up in the too hard basket, for now at least.
For the Jaguar, the modern traditional ii's from Japan are easily findable under 8lbs ( some in the low 7's ) with traditional wiring and actual quality control
I played for years not even knowing guitar weight was a thing people cared about. I think a lot of the weight discussion has been manufactured by forums.
Yep, when I started in the 90's and well into the 2000's gigging on a regular basis, NOBODY talked about weight unless it was to remember those 14+ lb les pauls from the 70's. It wasn't something discussed at all.
It's all dependent on what you're used to. I played my Les Paul for years and never thought it was heavy. Then after playing Strats and SGs for a while I'd pick up the LP and think "How did I ever play this thing night after night?"
@@AudiomoMusic Sometimes these days I already have a sore back before I even pick up a guitar but I will play the Les Paul if I feel up to it. So besides an SG I have a partscaster with a paulonia body and Fender noiseless pickups, or a Gibson 175T or 330L if my back is sore.
I mean I tried for a few minutes and all that popped up was people talking about the actual weights of their signature guitars and a snippet of an interview where Billy Gibbons said BB King told him to use lighter strings... then I gave up.
I once got to play a friends artist package hollowbody ii PRS that was one of the more expensive modern guitars I've ever played and it was so light that it did indeed feel much more like an ukelele than a guitar because of how light it was.
Neck dive and the like to me has always been an absolutely absurd concept, and when someone actually cites it in real life, it shows the mark of an unadaptable amateur in my eyes. The guitar greats of yesteryear did not complain about neck dive, fret radius, tonewood, fretboard material, etc. They just had a passion for the instrument and played it. Old guitars are heavy and you didn't hear those guys wining about their back hurting. They were tough dudes who played on minimal rigs, focusing on playing their instrument vs tinkering with their gear.
Where in this video did I reference neck dive? I talked about overall balance, that's not exclusive to neck dive. Speaking of the guitar greats of yesteryear they also did not like their own comments or waste their time making lecture posts in the comments section of youtube videos.
@@AudiomoMusic You completely misinterpreted my comment, clearly. I am agreeing with you. I don't understand how you could possibly think my comment is an argument against you. Literally everything I said is in agreement with the points you made in your video. Also I am certain that most guitar greats would like their own comments. Isn't that what being a rockstar is, thinking you're the best thing since sliced bread?
Then I totally took what you said out of left field then, the neck dive thing kind of caught me off guard. Turns out we are in agreement but really, four years into this I do get a laugh out of the instantly liking your own comments but it doesn't hurt me either way haha
@@AudiomoMusic I honestly realized that social media just doesn't matter in the real world at all so who cares if I like my own comments. It would be weirder if I didn't like my own comment
It depends on the type of exercise, when I was surfing all the time in So Cal I never had problems with anything and could play a non weight relieved les pauls for 3-4 hour gigs. When we moved 4+ years ago I continued to exercise but in different ways, turns out running and playing drums weren't enough and it's likely hunching over while playing drums too didn't help my cause either.
Bad take. This is the kind of penny-wise, pound-foolish approach that has nearly wrecked other programs chasing quick fixes that then backfire. A more sensible idea is to see what they have in Jayden Denegal. He’s also a scholarship QB and we’ve heard nary a peep from him. If we are intent on playing Jadyn Davis, do so next week so that we don’t burn his redshirt.
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I do think there’s a sweet spot. My Eric Johnson strat is like 8.5 pounds, but it feels balanced and it stays in place. My SG on the other hand probably weighs like no more than 6 pounds and it’s like trying to grab a chicken!
that is the best description i've ever read of the gibson SG
Great analogy! 😂😂😂
My number 1 Strat weights 8lb 11oz and it feels great to play.
that's all that really matters
A topic that really hits home - thanks for addressing it 😊
Appreciate you checking it out!
i have lupus and i’m a small handed girl. Balance, low action and tiny strings are life changing.
i’m learning to have a light touch after 20 years of fighting my guitars.
Balance in so many ways is a great thing to try to achieve in life. I wish you well on your way to a lighter touch, it opens so many more doors of expression with the instrument.
As someone with a Les Paul Deluxe that weighs a ton, I appreciate this post
Those are killer guitars
I have a Les Paul, and I have purchased and sold many guitar, but that one will stay with me till my time is complete on 🌎 earth. 😂 Yet, with new technology, and wisdom I would encourage you to purchase one of those wide straps that literally takes a portion of the weight off that shoulder. As you get older, it may become a factor. So be proactive, and protect your greatest asset, your overall health. I’m in over 55, but have taken great care of my health, and I sincerely feel 32-35. Blessings, always and keep the art of music alive.✨💎🦁💎✨
@hlcotten6587 good tip 👌🏻
I've had the opposite experience. After thirty years a les paul guy, I found an '04 SG special faded that weighs 5.4 pounds. My LPs don't vary in weight much, being between 9 and 9.25lb, and I've never thought about the weight before. It was what it was. My fenders go from 7.4 to 7.8 pounds, and I barely notice the difference between them and the Gibsons.
Even after a couple months with this SG my eyes pop with joy every time I take it off the wall and it feels like a feather. Guy had no idea what he had lol No paint or grain fill on the 20 years' wear on the fat 50s mahogany neck, zero neck dive by some minor miracle, local boutique scatter wound pickups, and it rings out acoustically miles above the ten other guitars here.
I would take the pepsi challenge against any custom shop with this thing, which I would never do with my production line lp standards that cost 3x what the sg is worth. I've learned an important lesson here, and now I pick up guitars I never would have taken off the wall at the stores, just to feel their neck and weight and access. The things that can't be upgraded.
That's not to say I play the other guitar any less, nor do they suddenly seem too heavy; I just love every aspect, including that one, of the SG.
you found the holy grail of SG's, no neck dive and rings like a bell - never sell it man that's a cool find
Good point on posture, though on the flip side maybe the industry should also get used to more demand for them making lighter guitars and basses.
Because of physical issues, I've thinned my guitars out to only having a bunch of guitars under 8 pounds (even my bass). A couple under 7 pounds. That is except my Les Paul which is 9 pounds, so I only sit with it. I've seen quite a few bassists complain about how heavy their Sterlings are and that they dreaded having that as their beginner bass.
I have 4 guitars, and all of them weigh differently. I just remind myself of that every time I pick one up. Each one has its own awesome tone, enough that I'm willing to put up with the weight difference. When you find a keeper like that, you don't let it go - you just make compromises. My local shop had a used Peavey J-F1 (semi-hollow body) and I'd never played one before. After an hour of jamming, it was love. Not my usual style, but it has mojo that my others don't have.
Those are the best finds, the ones you never see coming. Glad you decided to pick that thing up
I think this is the first video I've seen that addresses posture. Kudos to you for bringing it up, it's not brought up often enough you've made me realise. When taking piano lessons, posture was very important. Why I forgot this when learning Bass I don't know. But this video reminds me my posture is awful.
Weight never truly has bothered me. Except for a Harley Benton fretless I have that WEIGHS A TON. And anytime I lift that Bass up, there's an audible grunt that comes from me cuz it's so damn heavy. It does actually make wanting to play it reduce. Glad you found a way to make a disappointment into an improvement on your overall being, and then telling others what you've learned that may benefit them too. 😉
Great video man! Yeah it’s funny this sort of topic how we can focus on a statistic like weight and not realise the impact of technique, in this case posture. Plus, in my case, I’ve had a tendency to hyper focus and critique things putting yet more in the way of just enjoying and playing 🙈 all about technique and mindset! Hope you’re all well over there man!
Thanks for sharing, this is some great advice! Something that doesn’t get talked about a lot is elbow tennis caused by playing slim necks. It took me about 8 months to fully recover with therapy and had to stop playing entirely. Especially as you get older, guitar health is a must!
Wow I'm sorry to hear that happened, bummer you had to stop playing entirely. Health is all too important.
Bought a chambered Les Paul, a Brad Paisley tele (Paulonia) and I sold the heavier Les Pauls/Teles (my Fender Road Worns are pretty light too) and don't miss the heavy guitars. Strap advice is very true!
I can't say I blame you, paulownia wood can spoil a lot of other guitars because you realize how light and awesome it is haha
Thanks for pointing out posture, that's probably a bigger problem for most of us than we think. Also, pointing out that your little lady can handle a bass that weighs more than any guitar I own really puts things in perspective :)
It made me really feel pathetic to know I complain about it after really thinking about that haha
Great points and good topic. My LPs are heavy as heck. I’ll play them at home sitting down, but I’m never quick to grab them for a gig. I love my tele and 355 for that because they are so much lighter. But as I have my eye on a gold top, I’ll take your suggestions and try to utilize them.
Awesome video man!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
You’re missing the plot, bro. Women don’t complain about anything. They’re like superheroes. They’re either super strong, or just impervious to pain, or just don’t bitch about pain. It’s incredible. I’m a dude, and I definitely don’t like heavy stuff if a lighter option is available.
As a woman, I am going to tell you that I do not like or tolerate heavy instruments. Anything over 9 pounds isn't comfortable for me. Back in my early playing years it never bothered me. At 65 it's a big difference.
you need to meet more women
Great topic , i prefer light weight guitar in general . I always ask for the weight of the guitar before buying it. The only 2 exceptions were a peslay telecaster too much light (2,6kg) and a lp 54 custom shop light but not sounding... I can accept the 4,15 kg on a lp , but not on a fender . Nowadays i just want guitar at 3,7 kg maximum , except for a good sounding les paul .
Interesting video Jim, the main reason I no longer buy heavier guitars (which for me is anything over 8lbs) is I tend not to play them. Most of my playing happens in the studio, so if I’m writing songs or recording I’m constantly picking guitars up and putting them back on stands. I noticed that because of the constant inconvenient ‘wrestling’ lifting and lowering I just wasn’t playing my heavier guitars. I have a 41-year old Burny LP which is hands down the best LP I have ever played or owned but it weighs 14lbs and only ever gets used when I need it for specific parts in songs. On the other hand my Suhr Classic S weighs 6.5lbs and is in regular use.
That actually makes a lot of sense. The studio I used to frequent in San Diego had three guitars that lived there for musicians to borrow if need be and now that I'm thinking about it ALL of them sounded great but were insanely heavy.
I built a tele.
GFS Ash body
Squier Neck
Bigsby
11.5 lbs
It’s a beast, sounds great though
I have scoliosis. No one would notice it normally but, my spine has a pronounced “S” curve. My current favorite guitar is a 9 1/2 lb. Les Paul Standard. I thought I cared about guitar weight also. I was always weighing my guitars on a food scale. I noticed that staying under a certain weight and exercising has made me never care about holding a heavy instrument. I’m 54 years old. I’m done with that scale.
I’m in your age range, and have dealt with certain minor injuries that have changed the way I purchase a new guitar. I have found that the balance of the guitar is as important to me just as much as the weight…✨🦁🙏🏼🦁✨
same here! sold my SG because of the dive. Ended up getting sick and permanent damage in my hands and tried a jag. holy crap! i never knew what low action and good balance really was before.
i can play just as long as i used to as a 20yo
Good on you for taking care of yourself first. It's amazing what you can handle in life when you simply do that.
Interesting topic! I have bought several guitars that showed up heavier than reported. You are a champ for rolling with it. I liked your explanation about how online purchasing has led to this.... I am starting to wonder if all of these "measurements" actually help. I bought several guitars online because of the weight and been very disappointed (even thought the specs were "perfect").
It's a societal shift as a whole, a lot of things are just better to do in person. Purchasing a guitar is absolutely one of them because spec sheets absolutely do not tell the whole story as we've both learned over time
What is the fantastic video have a great weekend Jim ❤😊
Thank you! You too!
Posture, makes sense. My was first going to conditioning. My daughter and her marching band snare, that total set up is 20-30lbs and it'll be in her shoulders for hours. She's 14, a hell of a lot weaker than I am, I get antsy carrying it for her after a show or parade, let alone with full costume and doing a routine with it. The conditioning aspect plays a huge role, just doing it.
That said, it does look so cool having the guitar slung low but it's just so uncomfortable and does add unnecessary weight. Great tips and I'm glad the AV will be working out.
I wouldn't have th there would be an difference with balance from the Marr Jag to a more traditional model. That is very interesting. Any idea why? The electronics are different but surely that isn't enough difference to influence the overall balance is it? Strap buttons on different positions?
Wide straps can help a lot, but don’t always work for small females. I’m 5’3” and the wide strap I tried was either falling off my shoulder or cutting into my neck. Heavier guitars start to bruise my bony clavicle after a little while, but I found that a regular width elastic strap mitigated that a lot. Of course if you only play seated, none of that really matters and you can play just about any weight guitar comfortably if your posture is good.
I hadn't taken that into account from a womans' perspective but that makes sense. So I actually just went and measured the thickness of the strap my wife uses because I know she doesn't use one as thick as I do when we play out together. Hers is a padded 2 inch strap. She's an inch shorter than you are and it's worked for her at this point.
Great video!
Glad you liked it!
Absolutely. I played bass in a band and save for a few ridiculous 10 lbs plus Les Pauls I don't get fazed by any guitar in the 8 lb to 10 lb range, I actually get a little bit freaked when a guitar is less than 7.5 lbs.. I also use my 3" - 4" padded bass straps.
I have a guitar that weighs under 6lbs and I went to play it the other day for the first time in a bit and it did feel extremely strange having starting to play heavier ( to me ) guitars more regularly so I get it
I have an Warmoth walnut solid body with fatback neck that weights 10.2 pounds... and I love it. I have a fantastic large, stretchy strap and I am fine with that. Weight is not a reason to ditch a guitar that sounds good. People are still willing to pay thousands of dollar for a vintage Gibson, right?
If it sounds and great and plays great, find a way to get used to the weight
over the 30+ guitars and basses i own, not one was ever bought with weight in mind, and if there was an option for different serial numbers its the heaviest just out of defiance of the norm, everything comes before the weight of the guitar.
I am probably a little too obsessed with weight but I do have some neck issues at times. My sweet spot is 6 to 7 lbs, with my fav guitars all at about 6.6 ..6.7 lbs and well balanced. I have played some heavy LPs and they all sounded great but just too heavy for me. An interesting topic for sure.
I totally get it, I've sold on killer sounding guitars in the past that I thought were just too heavy for me. I don't regret it at this point that stuff happens in life but I do wonder how I would feel about similar guitars now
My Les Paul is about 10 pounds, and so far my back is holding out.
But I know someone with a 70s Strat that is at least as heavy as my Les Paul.
But it’s a nice guitar, may have to get him to weigh it.
I like light guitars as well, my bass is lighter than most solidbody guitars I have played.
Sounds and plays great.
When I was young (a long time ago) everybody from my uncles age & up wanted the HEAVIEST guitars and would change every part to brass... If you had one less than 10 lbs someone took advantage of you. Lol. Even the parts guitars were proud of 5,6 & even 7 pound bodies.
I was going to comment this same thing - I've heard the market shift from desiring heavy to desiring the lightest possible. Pretty funny...
Yep, for a while more weight = more sustain. It's funny how marketing can evolve over the years
Always used to be that heavier = more resonant. These days its seems to be the opposite, maybe everyone has swallowed all the marketing or maybe manufacturers have realised the lighter the weight the less shipping costs!
I'm only 5'6 but i like a medium heavy to heavy guitar, hey I forgot to mention on the other video someone here in San Antonio Texas is selling one of the guitars they bought from you because in the description they specifically mentioned your RUclips name. I believe it's a black Jazz master 🤔
Fun fact, I've never had a black hybrid ii Jazzmaster. I just looked up the ad, looks like it could be a gunmetal blue one I had and even then that's much more than I've ever sold a hybrid ii for that's for sure
Some folks like lighter... Some folks like heavier... Some folks go through phases lol... Whatever.
I will say though... If you got a light guitar that's well made... OOOooooOOO that's niiiice : )
8 lbs. 15 oz. is not bad. My Epi LP was a tad over 9 lbs. until I replaced the bridge and tail piece. It's now a tad under 9. With a comfy strap, standing straight, and walking back and fourth, I can practice for hours without my 61 year old back hurting.
I don't notice it as much with Les Pauls, the weights are a bit better distributed and not so body heavy compared to the Jag. The Tokai in the thumbnail and that i held int he vid for a bit is almost 9.5 lbs and i don't mind that thing one bit. keep on truckin man, love to hear that
I like instruments under 9 pounds. But, I do have a 10.7 pound MIM Fender Jazz bass that I love because of the tone that heavy thing puts out. It's a tone monster. But, it's one I'd prefer to sit down to play. 😊
There's always that one super heavy instrument that sounds unfathomably good that you live with haha
Looking forward to your Tokai review. It funny, I never once weighed my Epi Tak Matsumoto Les Paul, never gave it a thought. My guess, around 8.5-9 lbs.
The Tokai is on the way hopefully next weekend, thing is outrageous. I'd be interested in you weighing your guitar if for no other reason to see if you are in the ballpark or way off haha
@@AudiomoMusic Sadly, I no longer have it. But my guess is that it weighed under 9 lbs. Elitists were made with high end African Mahogany, so they did not have weight relief holes, something they marketed at the time. The FGN Neo Classics appear to be very close. No burstbuckers, but same head stock minus the logo. The FGN's do have the slightly curved frets, which the Elitist did not have.
It's called Circle Fretting System (C.F.S.) which is supposed to make all strings cross the fret at a 90 degree angle for better pitch and articulation. I have never played one, but I would like to try one. I find the concept intriguing.
Yeah I'm familiar with CFS, years ago I had a CoolZ that had it on it and a few others since. It's an interesting concept that worked pretty well in practice
@@AudiomoMusic I've never played one. Some day perhaps.
Had a Baja Tele that weights over 9lbs. It sounded huge…
the bajas were awesome guitars. i had a baja 60's that i wish never left production but I guess Fender had to water down the mexican line from back in those days the value was too good.
I've wondered how much of a weight difference the average person can actually feel. 🤔
Like what percentage of players can reliably tell the difference between 8 lbs and 8.5 lbs?
The heavier the better. Heavy guitars with massive baseball bat necks. PURE GOLD.
Pointing out workarounds for a heavy guitar only underlines the obvious. It's too heavy. I think the focus on weights is down to the internet. Prior to that, weights were hard to establish. especially if there weren't multiple, well stocked shops in your area. Even then, they might have stock that's on the heavier side.
Personally, I favour lighter, and the heavyweights stay in their cases while I mull their future. I wanted to get an ES 339 to replace my Les Paul, but they're too expensive and any used ones tend to be US based, which requires another too expensive shipping price to my part of the world.
I have a Mustang and have thought about a Jaguar for some time, but they're heavy in comparison. Trying to find a light one with the original layout has ended up in the too hard basket, for now at least.
For the Jaguar, the modern traditional ii's from Japan are easily findable under 8lbs ( some in the low 7's ) with traditional wiring and actual quality control
I played for years not even knowing guitar weight was a thing people cared about. I think a lot of the weight discussion has been manufactured by forums.
Yep, when I started in the 90's and well into the 2000's gigging on a regular basis, NOBODY talked about weight unless it was to remember those 14+ lb les pauls from the 70's. It wasn't something discussed at all.
It's all dependent on what you're used to. I played my Les Paul for years and never thought it was heavy. Then after playing Strats and SGs for a while I'd pick up the LP and think "How did I ever play this thing night after night?"
Did you stop entirely with the Les Pauls after switching to the strats and SGs? That'll do it right there if ya did but I get it
@@AudiomoMusic Sometimes these days I already have a sore back before I even pick up a guitar but I will play the Les Paul if I feel up to it. So besides an SG I have a partscaster with a paulonia body and Fender noiseless pickups, or a Gibson 175T or 330L if my back is sore.
I find with weight comes sustain
Perhaps research BB King or Leslie West comments about extra ounces of a guitar during a performance.
I mean I tried for a few minutes and all that popped up was people talking about the actual weights of their signature guitars and a snippet of an interview where Billy Gibbons said BB King told him to use lighter strings... then I gave up.
@@AudiomoMusic these individuals were "heavy"... Do you think an additional 4 ounces of wood caused any issues on stage?
Light guitars feel like toys to me
I once got to play a friends artist package hollowbody ii PRS that was one of the more expensive modern guitars I've ever played and it was so light that it did indeed feel much more like an ukelele than a guitar because of how light it was.
Robert fripp.
Neck dive and the like to me has always been an absolutely absurd concept, and when someone actually cites it in real life, it shows the mark of an unadaptable amateur in my eyes. The guitar greats of yesteryear did not complain about neck dive, fret radius, tonewood, fretboard material, etc. They just had a passion for the instrument and played it. Old guitars are heavy and you didn't hear those guys wining about their back hurting. They were tough dudes who played on minimal rigs, focusing on playing their instrument vs tinkering with their gear.
Where in this video did I reference neck dive? I talked about overall balance, that's not exclusive to neck dive.
Speaking of the guitar greats of yesteryear they also did not like their own comments or waste their time making lecture posts in the comments section of youtube videos.
@@AudiomoMusic You completely misinterpreted my comment, clearly. I am agreeing with you. I don't understand how you could possibly think my comment is an argument against you. Literally everything I said is in agreement with the points you made in your video.
Also I am certain that most guitar greats would like their own comments. Isn't that what being a rockstar is, thinking you're the best thing since sliced bread?
Then I totally took what you said out of left field then, the neck dive thing kind of caught me off guard. Turns out we are in agreement but really, four years into this I do get a laugh out of the instantly liking your own comments but it doesn't hurt me either way haha
Apologies for that
@@AudiomoMusic I honestly realized that social media just doesn't matter in the real world at all so who cares if I like my own comments. It would be weirder if I didn't like my own comment
Some need to exercise more often and then they can handle a 10lb guitar
It depends on the type of exercise, when I was surfing all the time in So Cal I never had problems with anything and could play a non weight relieved les pauls for 3-4 hour gigs. When we moved 4+ years ago I continued to exercise but in different ways, turns out running and playing drums weren't enough and it's likely hunching over while playing drums too didn't help my cause either.
@@AudiomoMusic Hunching while editing videos! 😹 Computer posture is practically an epidemic these days.
Yes yes yes…..people care too much about weight. I need to lose some!!!
I could stand to gain a few pounds let's trade
Bad take. This is the kind of penny-wise, pound-foolish approach that has nearly wrecked other programs chasing quick fixes that then backfire. A more sensible idea is to see what they have in Jayden Denegal. He’s also a scholarship QB and we’ve heard nary a peep from him. If we are intent on playing Jadyn Davis, do so next week so that we don’t burn his redshirt.
I needed this update on Michigans football team, now I’m going to watch the game to see what happens.
@@AudiomoMusic hahaha! Must have responded in the wrong comment box😅. Anyway, that Tokai Love Rock is a stunner!