5 lb Telecaster Weight depends, upon WHERE, on the tree, the wood is cut. The ALDER on this instrument was quarter sawn, but it was cut from outer part of the tree. This makes the difference. Despite opinions, the fact is that heavier solid-body guitars do NOT necessarily produce a longer note sustain. It is LIGHTER guitars that resonate more. In 1978, I purchased a 1966 Esquire that weighed 5 lbs and about a half ounce. People told me it felt like balsa wood! It has Brazilian a rosewood fretboard. East Indian rosewood is slightly more dense than Brazilian, but both weigh about the same. Luthiers tell me there is little, or no sonic difference, and I agree. Alas, Brazilian is far more attractive, but it sounds about the same. Both rosewood genus are difficult to work, but East Indian rosewood has a chalky type of oil and is slightly more difficult to work. I played my 5 lb Esquire professionally for many years. My present Telecaster has the same Johnny Smith PUP at the neck, and weighs a tad over 6 lbs. It has a swamp ash body. The ash is white and seems almost spongy. This is indicative of ash taken from below the water line. It is lighter and more resonant. The guitar has a stunning piece of Brazilian rosewood for a fretboard (a black thin streak runs the entire length of the fretboard. Unusual for a Fender. Alas, I wish my old Esquire was still viable. You can make a 5lb Telecaster (or lighter) by cutting the alder and maple as close to the outer part of the tree as possible. A light Telecaster plays easier over a long night, and they sound acoustically loud and resonant. Why the new Teles are heavier than the old days is a mystery. Moreover, they average a tad more weight than Strats. On average, Strats should weigh about 25 - 30% more than a Tele! I have noo idea… Once, on a studio date, a D-18 flat top sound was requested by the producer for chord rhythm backing. All I had was my Esquire. (In Manhattan, it is difficult to get a cab when you have too much gear.) The engineer, DI'd (direct injection) the guitar into the mixing console. Then he miked the upper bout of the guitar, with a sensitive, directional condenser mike. -much like an acoustic guitar. As instructed, I set both pickups on and the tone off. After 5 - 10 minutes of EQ and an echo chamber setting, I strummed a few 1st position chords with both PUPs active. He played back the test. Amazing. The guitar sounded like a D-18 flat-top. Moreover, with the echo chamber from the effects-send buss and the condenser mike, he was able to create a good stereo image. Overall, it sounds like a good D-18. This can be done with most Telecasters, to varying degrees, but the lighter, the better. The engineer said that he noticed that my Telecaster sounded, unusually, acoustically loud and bright, thus, he came up with the idea. A clever engineer.
Amazing! True talent and dedication. The musical accompanyment was really cool too. Nice tunes.
So sick🤟
Thanks for sharing! A lot of work went into making that guitar!
It would have been nice to see and hear you play the guitar too. 👍
Thanks! I figured it would appear somewhere when I had the right song for it and I'd link that.
5 lb Telecaster
Weight depends, upon WHERE, on the tree, the wood is cut. The ALDER on this instrument was quarter sawn, but it was cut from outer part of the tree. This makes the difference.
Despite opinions, the fact is that heavier solid-body guitars do NOT necessarily produce a longer note sustain. It is LIGHTER guitars that resonate more.
In 1978, I purchased a 1966 Esquire that weighed 5 lbs and about a half ounce. People told me it felt like balsa wood! It has Brazilian a rosewood fretboard. East Indian rosewood is slightly more dense than Brazilian, but both weigh about the same. Luthiers tell me there is little, or no sonic difference, and I agree. Alas, Brazilian is far more attractive, but it sounds about the same. Both rosewood genus are difficult to work, but East Indian rosewood has a chalky type of oil and is slightly more difficult to work.
I played my 5 lb Esquire professionally for many years. My present Telecaster has the same Johnny Smith PUP at the neck, and weighs a tad over 6 lbs. It has a swamp ash body. The ash is white and seems almost spongy. This is indicative of ash taken from below the water line. It is lighter and more resonant. The guitar has a stunning piece of Brazilian rosewood for a fretboard (a black thin streak runs the entire length of the fretboard. Unusual for a Fender. Alas, I wish my old Esquire was still viable.
You can make a 5lb Telecaster (or lighter) by cutting the alder and maple as close to the outer part of the tree as possible. A light Telecaster plays easier over a long night, and they sound acoustically loud and resonant. Why the new Teles are heavier than the old days is a mystery. Moreover, they average a tad more weight than Strats. On average, Strats should weigh about 25 - 30% more than a Tele!
I have noo idea…
Once, on a studio date, a D-18 flat top sound was requested by the producer for chord rhythm backing. All I had was my Esquire. (In Manhattan, it is difficult to get a cab when you have too much gear.)
The engineer, DI'd (direct injection) the guitar into the mixing console. Then he miked the upper bout of the guitar, with a sensitive, directional condenser mike. -much like an acoustic guitar.
As instructed, I set both pickups on and the tone off.
After 5 - 10 minutes of EQ and an echo chamber setting, I strummed a few 1st position chords with both PUPs active. He played back the test. Amazing. The guitar sounded like a D-18 flat-top. Moreover, with the echo chamber from the effects-send buss and the condenser mike, he was able to create a good stereo image. Overall, it sounds like a good D-18. This can be done with most Telecasters, to varying degrees, but the lighter, the better.
The engineer said that he noticed that my Telecaster sounded, unusually, acoustically loud and bright, thus, he came up with the idea. A clever engineer.