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R0 Balance

FretNot

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Jul 9, 2003
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584
Was wondering how the balance is on the R0 and if it is butt heavy like my Classic is?

My R7 balances great but I'm thinking it may have to do with its more substantial neck. Since the R0's neck is more in line with the 60's thin profile I was wondering if it would have the same problem as my Classic where when you play while sitting it wants to drop off your lap.
 

DonP

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Feb 21, 2003
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???

I assume your thoughts are correct, but I have no issues with balance on my Classic, 60's neck standard, or R0. Mine balance fine for me, but then again I have no fat necked LP's and never will.

A big difference is going from LP's to SG's.
 

FretNot

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Jul 9, 2003
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It may be that my Classic just has a very heavy body and extemely light neck but a friend was playing it yesterday and made the comment that it sure is bottom heavy and had a tendancy to want to slip off the right side of his lap as it does when I play it if I take my hands off it.

I realize the SG's have the opposite problem with the neck side taking a dive. Was hoping some R0 owners could comment on the balance.
 

DonP

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Feb 21, 2003
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Well, I'm an R0 owner but compared to the Classic or the '02 Std. 60's neck, they all feel quite the same balance wise to me. My Classic is a Premium Plus, but since they swiss-cheese all bodies, I doubt mine is very different from yours. My R0 I believe is 8.6 lbs (me + guitar) - (me alone) method.
 

phil47uk

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Apr 17, 2002
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My old 1995 Classic P.P weighed in around 8.5lb and my RO weighs in at 9lb dead. Buggered if I can notice any difference.
Mind you, saying that, I have played a few modern Classics, which bore no resemblance to my old 95 P.P . They felt like dead weights. Bloody great heavy things. The amount of wood shaved of the RO neck wouldn't make a jot of difference anyway, as most of the mass is in the body.

Phil.
 

FretNot

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Jul 9, 2003
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Well I guess my question is answered and that the R0 is well balanced.

It's not my intention of discussing my Classic here in the Historic forum but I just makes me wonder if my '91 Classic + is just an oddball. I thought at first maybe it was just me and how I sat the guitar on my lap but without a word from me my friend made the comment about the heavy butt end too. Maybe its that metal plate in the control cavity is extra thick and heavy on my Classic or perhaps it escaped the swiss cheese routing machine :spin
 

MIKE20

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Aug 11, 2004
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...hmmm...i have three classics and an R0...other than weight differences,no balance problems with any of mine...surprised to hear your 91 seems a little "butt heavy"...if anything i would think yours would balance very close to an R0...you have the metal plate in the control cavity?...my 93 doesn't...i thought all of the early "model " ones didn't have one...
 

Desertdawg

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Nov 25, 2001
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If you sit down and play it they're ALL butt heavy. It's true of ALL LPs. You just have to find something to lean the butt end on. An amp or bench type chair works fine.
 

phil47uk

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Just thanks your lucky stars you don't play an Ovation or a flying V without a strap......Yuk....

Hope you enjoy the RO. I'm sure you will.
Phil.
 

69strat

Formerly stephjeff
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Dec 22, 2001
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No they are not all butt heavy. Most are very balanced and you should be able to sit with it on your lap and let go of both hands and have the guitar stay exactly where it's told to stay. Most all historics are like that. very balanced and neither top or bottom heavy.

I just played a very recent standard that was butt heavy. Oh it was awful. the guitar constantly wanted to pull away and you had to fight this while you played! While sitting, of course.

But I did play one historic that was like this. Same thing, a lot of weight concentrated around the bridge/butt of the guitar. I sent it back, but man did that thing sound good.
 

C-4

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Jan 5, 2005
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I recently bought an R0 and it weighed 9 pounds even but was butt heavy. It had a wonderful tone and feel but it would not stay in tune, so I brought it back to GC.

I also bought an R9 Cloud Nine last week and it balances perfectly, and weighs 7.4 pounds. I was knocking around on the body to see where the sound chamber was but it was solid sounding everywhere, so I assume that it may have had a light weight piece of mahogany to begin with. The neck was closer to a real 59 then the blister top R9 I tried out just before getting the Clound Nine R9 also.
 

Desertdawg

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If it is a solid piece of mahogany, it will be butt heavy. I have never played a solid mahogany LP that wasn't. Arithmetically, you can work this out. Even easier, try balancing it in your hand at the "waist."

The "Cloud Nines" have holes in the bodies to make them lighter. I don't know if "balance" was a requirement but it follows.
 

69strat

Formerly stephjeff
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Dec 22, 2001
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Desertdawg, I really don't find that at all. Every historic I've had have been perfectly balanced. They don't pull away while you sit and you can let go with both hands and it stays right there, perfectly balanced. They aren't weight relieved.

that 10 lb.+ one I spoke of earlier, was definitely unbalanced but that was an oddball.

My current R8 is 9.3 lb.s and perfectly balanced. I can hold it one hand at my waist and it stays right there. Believe me, I'd never spend that kinda dough on a guitar that was not balanced.

You must'a played some bad historics DD.
 

Desertdawg

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Nov 25, 2001
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Heh, heh, 69...do this then.

Put your guitar on the lower waist where it would normally sit on your right leg but close to your knee. Let go and see what happens. Catch it before it hits the floor.

If it's "perfectly balanced" then it will just sit there without falling.
 

69strat

Formerly stephjeff
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Dec 22, 2001
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To me a strat is the most balanced of any guitars. But I find historics pretty good too. The butt heavy LP's are out there and I don't find the historics to be that way in most cases. BTW, I can balance my LP at my knee pretty good. Simply hold it comfortably and play without fighting it, and it's balanced to me. You should be able to let go with both hands and the guitar will stay.

The recent standard I played was a students, it was total J-Lo heavy. You HAD to wear a strap or it'd fall off your lap. We then compared a historic and it was fine. Very comfortable. That's good enough test for me.

I sit and play my guitar about seven hours a day, and plenty of times I need two hands for something else like writing down music and cue'ing up cds while my guitar sits on my lap. Trust me, it's got to be balanced!!!!!!!!
 
Last edited:

gkelm

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Mar 25, 2003
Messages
189
FretNot said:
Was wondering how the balance is on the R0 and if it is butt heavy like my Classic is?

My R7 balances great but I'm thinking it may have to do with its more substantial neck. Since the R0's neck is more in line with the 60's thin profile I was wondering if it would have the same problem as my Classic where when you play while sitting it wants to drop off your lap.

Don't post here much, but...I think I know what you mean. My 93 Classic had a very thin neck, thinner than more recent Classics, and it felt butt heavy (nice new terminology!). Actually made teh guitar feel heavier than it was. I had a GC R0, and now a flametop R0...both felt more balanced. Right or wrong, my impression was that the thinner neck made teh difference.
Greg
 
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