onewilyfool Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 One of the best thing about these old guitars is their weight. Some are 'feather' weight compared to their modern counterparts, I really need to get a scale and weigh some of these babies.....the light weight seems to correspond to great tone, AND you can feel the thing just vibrating on the chest.....that light weight actually gives a different "feel" and playability to the guitar.......I was playing my '59 00-17 and '53 Cf-100 side by side, both are very light, and very responsive.....The closest modern luthier I've found who's guitars are very light weight out of the box are Santa Cruz guitars...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainpicker Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I agree 100% about a light build. And a builder has to have balls to do it too. I had a little Larrivee 00-60 with a gorgeous burst but I parted with it because it just didn't quite have "it". I believe that if it had been built lighter it would have been outstanding. I'm hoping Jean Larrivee builds a line around a lighter build. Hell, he's getting old enough and he's established enough he needs to show what he's got. And I'm with you on Santa Cruz I sold a Vintage Jumbo to a friend and it was just the lightest instrument. Talk about rockin' your chest when playing it. And one of the things that sold me on a Bozeman instrument was the lightness of the build, especially in light of the possible warranty problems one could get into by doing it. Kudos to Gibson for doing it right. I love my J-50 and my J-45. When I took out the electronics in my J-45 it became the lightest large guitar I own. Lighter than my SC D/PW (even with it being rosewood it was the former lightweight). I hope you do weigh your guitars. I'd be interested to see them and other's guitar weights too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kebob Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Bingo Wily -- nothing like a lightweight acoustic where you can literally feel the thing move as you play. It's one of the primary reasons I prefer mahogany guitars -- they are lighter than their rosewood counterparts. I have a Martin D-18V that I can feel through my gut when I play -- fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 I'm glad I'm not alone in this....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 For a really light acoustic you need to look at a Gibson Cascade. Maple back and sides and cedar top. 3 lbs 10.4 oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 A world renown violin maker friend of mine and I have had this discussion in (scientific) detail. You have all come to the correct conclusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 (scientific) There ya go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 I always like when science backs up my "gut" feelings....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Just for kicks I weighed some of mine. They're were all within 4 oz with the lightest being a brand new Humminbird with electronics weighing in at 4lb 2oz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I agree owf even with the huge necks. They really resonate. I also agree with Mersey about Santa Cruz I have 2 and they are very light and resonate. The vj more so than the D12. My Kopp is light as a feather too with a huge bass. Anyhow ill get back to playing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 One of the best thing about these old guitars is their weight. Shame that doesn't work with old guitar players..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 My newly acquired banner LG-2 is so light Im worried it might fly away when not attended ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I have been around old guitars all of my life and so probably take them for granted a bit more than others. Initially it was because they were cheaper than new guitars and all I could afford. For me though it was probably more about the necks and nut widths than anything. By the time you got the 1960s it was getting harder and harder to find guitars with big beefy necks and wider nuts. The Harmony and Kay guitars still had them but these were the days when we all thought those guitars were no longer good enough for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 One of the best thing about these old guitars is their weight. Some are 'feather' weight compared to their modern counterparts, If you think about it though, these guitars, even the LGs, are heavier built than many of the ladder braced concerts made by Schmidt and others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 Shame that doesn't work with old guitar players..... LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I'm afraid I have a real prejudice against heavy guitars. I've played some hefty instruments that turned out to sound great - but as soon as I felt the weight I'm already expecting not to like it and it's an uphill struggle to convince myself it actually sounds good. Conversely if it feels nice and light when I pick it up, I'm immediately expecting great things. I've held ukuleles that were heavier than my 1926 L-1! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 I'm afraid I have a real prejudice against heavy guitars. I've played some hefty instruments that turned out to sound great - but as soon as I felt the weight I'm already expecting not to like it and it's an uphill struggle to convince myself it actually sounds good. Conversely if it feels nice and light when I pick it up, I'm immediately expecting great things. I've held ukuleles that were heavier than my 1926 L-1! I tend to agree with you, and if I played standing up, I would want the LIGHTEST guitar possible. I always play at home sitting down, and at the cafe gig, sitting down, so the heavy guitar doesn't matter much to me. HOWEVER, that being said, I still feel the weight when I play the National, and it does take some getting used to on how to balance it and play comfortable.....but I prefer light too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 The weight is very much dependent on the wood, maple being much lighter than hog or rosewood. Maple produces a lighter and brighter sound. So if you are looking for warmth in your sound then rosewood is the answer but with it comes weight in the instrument. Ever small things make a weight difference such as pick guards and strap pins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Ya'll do realize that J-200s were one of the heaviest guitars out there. The Guild 12 strings also weighed as much as a tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 Ya'll do realize that J-200s were one of the heaviest guitars out there. The Guild 12 strings also weighed as much as a tank. Yeah, and I wouldn't mind at all if they sounded good. Light weight doesn't always translate into good sound or tone, but when it does, WOW. I just like it! Zomby I'll bet some of your old 50's arch tops and Harmony flat tops are pretty light! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 I tend to agree with you, and if I played standing up, I would want the LIGHTEST guitar possible. I always play at home sitting down, and at the cafe gig, sitting down, so the heavy guitar doesn't matter much to me. HOWEVER, that being said, I still feel the weight when I play the National, and it does take some getting used to on how to balance it and play comfortable.....but I prefer light too Just putting my new National down long enough to drop in and say Hi! Balancing the National (and my metal Dobro) is a bit of an art. Live, I use to use a strap even when sitting to help balance the guitar, especially when playing slide. Tonight I found a good solution - I put 2 strips of adhesive backed Velcro on the lower waist of the National (where it sits on my leg). Problem fixed - no more slipping! Though I have been warned by the Boss that my pants will get marks where they contact the Velcro........small price to pay if you wear jeans but not so good if you have the Elvis outfit. (I meant to mention I was driving into town the other week on a Saturday night and guess who was in front of me in a Mazda wreck-on-wheels? Yep! Elvis. In all his gear on his way to a gig - even had Elvis plates on his car. See you - back to playing the National.... BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 I was driving into town the other week on a Saturday night and guess who was in front of me in a Mazda wreck-on-wheels? Yep! Elvis. In all his gear on his way to a gig I've always wanted to quote someone saying that. Well, not ALWAYS..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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