Vintage Les Paul and Burst Weights

[bursty]

the question of weight is always an important factor......i'm getting old so a lighter weight is on my mind!!!! back in the day i didn't care at all...........!

THIS

61 years here, not getting any younger, and dealing with a herniated L4/L5 for the past ~21 years has certainly offered me a perspective as far as guitar weights.

My heavier carved top Lesters have been hitting the chopping block and I still have a few to go before I'm done.
My 'favorite' carved top LP is 8 lb. - 5 oz. and it lacks nothing sonically.
My LP Spc. in TV White is under 7 lb. and it is beyond a joy for my back issues.
Yep, us old folk gotta think about our maladies when it comes to the bigger picture and an extra pound, or two.

Thanks Mike for taking all of those wonderful guitars outta the cases, weighing them all and posting the info here. Above and beyond!!

 

[Wilko]

I consider weight not because of how heavy they are, but IMNSHO, lighter weight guitars are more likely to have the kind of tone/feel that I prefer.

BTW: from the data in BOTB, the average burst weight in that book is 8.85 lbs.

 

[Doc Sausage]

“I would say that I pull out the '57 Goldtop with P-90s and the '59 cherry sunburst Burst most often…”

Always glad to see some love for the mighty P-90’s. I don’t have a ‘vintage’ LP per se, but my Trad-Goldtop w/ P-90’s was the one that ‘spoke’ to me, tone wise, upon the first time playing it. Well above even an ‘06 Custom Black Beauty. ?

 

[Wilko]

I love the sound of the mighty P90, but I can't get past the noise.

 

[lifebreath]

Newly acquired late '55 Goldtop with ABR-1: a little weighty at 10 lbs 3 oz

 

[Tollywood]

Okay, based on an earlier thread with inquiries on weights, I pulled all the vintage Les Pauls out today and weighed them on a very accurate Pelouze digital scale. None have Bigsbys.
Here they are:

52 Goldtop 9 lbs 6 oz
53 Goldtop 8 lbs (lightest!)
54 Goldtop 9 lbs
55 Goldtop 8 lbs 11 oz
56 Goldtop 8 lbs 13 oz
57 Goldtop P90s 9 lbs 3 oz
57 Goldtop all Mahogany Humbuckers 10 lbs 3 oz (heavyweight!)
57 Custom Alnico 9 lbs
58 Custom 3 Humbuckers 9 lbs 10 oz
58 Burst 9 lbs 8 oz
59 Burst 9 lbs
59 Burst 8 lbs 15 oz
60 Burst 8 lbs 10 oz

I would say that all the necks are a comfortable medium chunky size - not much variation.

So - many in the high 8's and 9+ pound range.

Hope this helps.

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Oh…my…god.

No wonder you are the administrator, Mike. You are worthy of the position. In fact, if you walked around in tights and a cape I would be totally fine with that. Maybe with a big ole G on your chest.

 

[golfnut]

My standard 50 appears to be exactly 9 pounds if my weighing method is accurate. I wouldn't want any heavier. When I end up finding a reissue I'd prefer between 8.5 to 9 pounds. Since I'm likely to end up with an R8 likely be closer to 9 pounds, unless I grab that 8 pound CR8 I'm looking at Saturday.

 

[rialcnis]

My 1952 converted to '57 weighs 7 pounds 9oz .. Apparently many of them have been 7 1/2 lb

 

[TM1]

THIS

61 years here, not getting any younger, and dealing with a herniated L4/L5 for the past ~21 years has certainly offered me a perspective as far as guitar weights.

My heavier carved top Lesters have been hitting the chopping block and I still have a few to go before I'm done.
My 'favorite' carved top LP is 8 lb. - 5 oz. and it lacks nothing sonically.
My LP Spc. in TV White is under 7 lb. and it is beyond a joy for my back issues.
Yep, us old folk gotta think about our maladies when it comes to the bigger picture and an extra pound, or two.

Thanks Mike for taking all of those wonderful guitars outta the cases, weighing them all and posting the info here. Above and beyond!!

I’m having a Laminectomy a week from today (the 19th of October) so that’ll tell you what sort of shape my back is in. I have Bone Spurs, L1/S5 & L4 & L5 are fused and I have some ruptured discs. 50+ years of carry amps along with heavy guitars slug around my neck have finally caught up with me..? along with spinal compression from the weight of the guitar’s for 5+ decades. Would I change anything? NO! I’ve loved every minute of playing shows, bar gigs, traveling around the world ( a couple of times..) the wonderful people I’ve had the privledge of meeting..etc...! In 6 months I should be as good as new.

 

[S. Weiger]

I’m having a Laminectomy a week from today (the 19th of October) so that’ll tell you what sort of shape my back is in. I have Bone Spurs, L1/S5 & L4 & L5 are fused and I have some ruptured discs. 50+ years of carry amps along with heavy guitars slug around my neck have finally caught up with me..? along with spinal compression from the weight of the guitar’s for 5+ decades. Would I change anything? NO! I’ve loved every minute of playing shows, bar gigs, traveling around the world ( a couple of times..) the wonderful people I’ve had the privledge of meeting..etc...! In 6 months I should be as good as new.

All the best wishes for your complete recovery.
I'm pretty sure that a positive mindset is a significant part of healing, so keep up the spirit, mate.
I have similar back problems myself (spinal compression), but fortunately not as serious as yours. But surely I know what back pain is. I'm 65, and have had the spinal problem and osteoporosis for some years, so I can't allow myself to lift anything heavier than 15 pounds. (Where are the free roadies when you need them? )

I really hope you get well again soon.

 

[jb_abides]

All the best wishes for your complete recovery.
I'm pretty sure that a positive mindset is a significant part of healing, so keep up the spirit, mate.

I really hope you get well again soon.

+1, best wishes for a smooth procedure, great results, and speedy recovery!

 

[S. Weiger]

BTW, my 1960 burst weighs 8 lbs 11 oz (3.97 kg)

 

[DANELECTRO]

Here's the weight of my vintage carved top Lesters:

8.2 lbs 1952 Goldtop
9.7 lbs 1960 3-pup Black Beauty
8.6 lbs 1969 Deluxe (converted to humbuckers)

 

[Mark]

Okay, based on an earlier thread with inquiries on weights, I pulled all the vintage Les Pauls out today and weighed them on a very accurate Pelouze digital scale. None have Bigsbys.
Here they are:

52 Goldtop 9 lbs 6 oz
53 Goldtop 8 lbs (lightest!)
54 Goldtop 9 lbs
55 Goldtop 8 lbs 11 oz
56 Goldtop 8 lbs 13 oz
57 Goldtop P90s 9 lbs 3 oz
57 Goldtop all Mahogany Humbuckers 10 lbs 3 oz (heavyweight!)
57 Custom Alnico 9 lbs
58 Custom 3 Humbuckers 9 lbs 10 oz
58 Burst 9 lbs 8 oz
59 Burst 9 lbs
59 Burst 8 lbs 15 oz
60 Burst 8 lbs 10 oz

I would say that all the necks are a comfortable medium chunky size - not much variation.

So - many in the high 8's and 9+ pound range.

Hope this helps.

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My 52/57 conversion is 8 lbs

 

[Jethro Rocker]

A typical Gibson Les Paul weighs between 9-12 lbs (4 – 5.5 kg). When compared to the other types of guitars below, it should be obvious how much heavier a Les Paul can be. What is this? The heavy weight of a Les Paul is due to the thick body design and the use of mahogany for the body.

krnt.run

myindigocard app

Looks like, on average, that is way higher than reality according to actual samples posted here. That is just plain wrong.
I haven't weighed but my new R0 (pics coming later) is 8 lbs 8 oz and is lighter than my 1976.
But heavier than the 2016s.
Nowhere do any of these approach 11 or 12 lbs.

 

[Bar]

Late to the party. Thanks for posting this Mike!
I have a question. Are the bridge pickups on your 54 & 55 shimmed at all?

 

[mikeslub]

Late to the party. Thanks for posting this Mike!
I have a question. Are the bridge pickups on your 54 & 55 shimmed at all?

Don’t know. I’ve never pulled them.

 

[Bar]

Thanks for the reply Mike. The reason I ask is I have a 54 and the bridge pickup sits very low compared to my humbucker equipped guitars.

Beautiful collection of vintage Les Pauls you’ve got there.

 

[Dishimyuh]

59 Burst 8 lbs 15 oz

So is mine!

 

[dwagar]

My '53 Goldtop is 8 lbs 10 oz. My '01 R9 is 8 lbs 12 oz, so I guess that's the weigh range I like.

I also suffer a bad back from being an old guy, if it's really bothering me on a gig night I'll take my '57 Special - 7 lbs 3 oz.