Getting my first LP: Tell me about weights

[nolefinity]

Hey, I’ve owned Strats and Teles my whole life and I’m finally getting my first Les Paul Standard.

I’m used to playing the lightest guitars I can, just since they feel great to pick up and on a strap for my shoulders. But I know Les Pauls are different.

Could you give me your recommendations, pros, cons, benefits, and favorite preferences? I’m getting a Standard brand new, non weight relief. If I had my choice, I would naturally pick something under 9 pounds, but from what I’ve read, a lot of people don’t like that, even if they like light guitars in theory.

Thanks!

 

[charliechitlins]

Light guitars are in style.

 

[DrewB]

My experience is that lighter guitars typically have better clarity than a heavy guitar of the same type, but every guitar is different. I want clarity with the switch in the neck position and volume and tone controls all the way up. You can always roll off some treble with a tone control, but you can't add what's not there. I have four Les Pauls, all under 9 pounds. They're all pretty clear in the neck position, but the clearest of them is the one that's just under 8 lb. 5 oz. The other three are all a bit over 8 3/4#. The one thing I should add to that is that a friend had an R9 over a decade ago that was 7 lb. 15 oz., not weight-relieved, and it actually sounded anemic, so there may a point of diminishing returns.

 

[Azmedian]

heavy vs light is the 2nd oldest guitar debate behind

Ebony vs rosewood

And slightly ahead of Fender vs Gibson

 

[nolefinity]

Thanks for the help so far. Appreciate the perspectives

 

[the_007_life]

Between 8.5-9lbs seems to be the ticket at least for my stable.

My 8.3lb LP non-weight relieved is by far my brightest sounding LP I own (which is not a bad thing) but then again that could be a lot of factors.

Around 9lbs is just comfy to wear for me.

 

[charliechitlins]

Mine is about 9.5 and I feel it has all the warmth and depth of any Lester I've heard.
I think neck mass does more than it gets credit for.
Not every chunky neck guitar sounds great, but every Lester that has really turned my head has had a chunky neck.
I think the old Norlin Canoe Paddle Headstock may even help.

 

[JASIII]

Mine is about 9.5 and I feel it has all the warmth and depth of any Lester I've heard.
I think neck mass does more than it gets credit for.
Not every chunky neck guitar sounds great, but every Lester that has really turned my head has had a chunky neck.
I think the old Norlin Canoe Paddle Headstock may even help.

Agree on neck mass, I think it makes a sizeable difference. And for folks looking for neck pickup clarity, lower that sucker as far as you can til it's well below the pickup ring.

 

[charliechitlins]

Agree on neck mass, I think it makes a sizeable difference. And for folks looking for neck pickup clarity, lower that sucker as far as you can til it's well below the pickup ring.

Exactly.
I have Antiquities, and they are low wind, but the neck pickup is buried.
So sweet.
I also wind the strings up the tuner posts and have the tailpiece adjusted way up (not top wrapped. GASP!), and I think this improved feel and gives the sound a snappy quality.
All these contribute to that hint of Telecaster.

 

[LPR6]

I have a few ranging from 8 1/4 to 9 pounds and there isn’t that much difference in tone between them. Custom Shop or Gibson USA. I prefer under 9 pounds in terms of comfort when playing while standing. These days, the lightest ones are generally CS and you will have to pay more for them.

 

[Tollywood]

I like to say that I have a nine pound limit, but I just made an exception for a 9 pound 12 ounce Les Paul because I really liked it. A wide strap helps.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Pick the one that sounds the best. The weight is secondary.

 

[1allspub]

8.5-9lbs (+/- a bit, as all guitars are different) is the sweet spot for a LP, IME. If all my LPs were in that range, I’d be happy (they are not! Ha!) This weight range is fairly common with CS RIs, and while it is less common with USA made LPs, they are out there (my last two USA Standards— a 50s and a 60s) are/were both around 8.5lbs+/-).

At about 8.25lbs (again, IME) they can start sounding thin (exceptions always exist and if you have a fat sounding 8.1lbs LP, bonus for you!). Under 8lbs and I’ve yet to hear one that wasn’t a bit thin sounding to my ear (ie, solid body LPs under 8lbs… chambered LPs have a different sound altogether to me (not bad, just different) and I’m not referring to them in this comment).

The heavy ones (esp. Norlin era) seem to benefit in the sustain department from the extra weight, IME (the larger Norlin headstock may assist with sustain too… and maybe even the Norlin era maple necks, as well).

Anyway, you (OP) have to determine what’s most important to you. Tone? Sustain? Feel? Playability? Or whatever ratio of those things works for you when it comes to a LP. If you’re used to 6.5lbs Teles, any LP is gonna feel heavy to you—even most chambered ones. That said, looking into a chambered one (or maybe even a 2008-2018 Standard with modern weight relief—which also can save a lot of weight, although these too have a unique take on the classic LP tone, IME) might be worth your time to investigate. Either way, pick the guitar that speaks to you and try not to get overly focused on just its weight, at least not at the unjustified expense of other important aspects of the guitar.

Good hunting!

 

[Jeepster]

I'll give my anecdotal experience, from having owned numerous Lesters, and from having worked for a Gibson retailer for 6 years.

I currently have a couple chambered models that both weigh 7.4 lbs and two others that both weigh 9.2 lbs.

People use different adjectives, but in my experience, heavier ones sound clearer and more pointed, more present. The lighter ones tend to sound less pointed and rounder.

I did an experiment a few years ago using my 10.5 lb Classic, my 9.2 lb Traditional, and my 7.4 lb Studio (chambered) - I had time on my hands during lockdown.

I took 4 sets of pickups: Gen 1 SD Slash set, SD Whole Lotta Humbucker set, Gibson 57/57+ set, and a set of Dimarzio Super Distortions from the 1970s. Over the course of a few days I installed the first set in the Trad, then the Classic, then the Studio. I used the same tuning and the same string gauge and brand for each guitar and recorded each guitar.

From my ears and the recordings I felt that the 10.5 Classic sounded the brightest and most present. The 7.4 lb Studio sounded "softer" and rounder, less pointed. The 9.2 lb Trad was somewhere in-between.

The Classic was the best sounding guitar I've ever owned. Part of me wishes I'd kept it, but at 10.5 lbs, I found it uncomfortable.

I recently picked up a 50s Standard with P90s. It weighs 9.2 lbs and it sounds incredible. I love the sound of all my guitars, but to me, the sweet spot is right around 9lbs, give or take a quarter pound.

 

[Tollywood]

I like to say that I have a nine pound limit, but I just made an exception for a 9 pound 12 ounce Les Paul because I really liked it. A wide strap helps.

I’m adding Grover’s to the Slash so it will end up being ten pounds. I just ordered a 3” wide neoprene strap to see if that helps it feel lighter.

 

[GlassSnuff]

My 50 year old LPC is 12 pounds, almost. 3" Levy's MSS-2 required. It sustains like a Hammond organ. You have to lift your finger to stop the note. And, it's so resonant it sounds like the reverb is always on. After all, it's made of tonewood. The more wood, the more tone, no?

There are times when it's just the ticket. But it sounds like the Glory of Thor's Hammer! all . the . time.

Mostly, now, I play more versatile guitars.

 

[metropolis]

I think there's heavy vs. light but then also chambered vs. non-chambered. I think solid, non-chambered guitars have a more pure tone to them so usually more bright and better sustain, but you're more likely to find heavier guitars there obviously. I suspect the lightest blanks end up in custom shop or M2M.

I'm exactly the same as GlassSnuff - 53 year old LPC which is a boat anchor but has incredible sustain. I also use a Levy's strap on all my Gibsons which is a lifesaver.

 

[bern1]

I’ve had original 50’s, modern ones of varying years, lighter ones, heavy ones and chambered Les Paul’s. They all sounded and felt different, as do all guitars. Ya gotta go with what you like. After all these years, one thing is for sure: when you play a guitar that REALLY does it for you, you should buy it if at all possible.