With a few exceptions, it really depends on your ears. A heavy guitar will generally result in increased sustain, but that doesn't always translate into preferred tone. If you're using an ass-load of multi-stage preamp gain, you're hearing more amp than guitar. At that point, it doesn't matter much what you plug into it; only that the pickups don't squeal. With a lighter guitar, you're going to achieve increased resonance; which is something "metal" players generally like to avoid, even if they don't realize it. Increased resonance = decreased sustain. Classic rock players (who use lighter guitars) generally rely on amplifier feedback for sustain. Allen Collins was notorious for this, as were many of that era.
Allen playing in the "feedback loop" here:
Most of us classic rock players reference our sound by playing "X" guitar against a Marshall Super Lead and/or VOX AC circuit. No preamp distortion, other than a boost pedal. For most of us, that is de facto rock tone. 50's era Gibson LP guitars (along with select Historic models) are lighter, because the mahogany was/is sourced from higher up. Stump level wood is more compact, which results in increased mass/weight. I prefer mahogany body guitars that weight between 8 and 9 lbs, but there are occasions where I want something with more natural sustain... For that, I keep an 11 lb LP Custom handy.
Allen playing in the "feedback loop" here:
Most of us classic rock players reference our sound by playing "X" guitar against a Marshall Super Lead and/or VOX AC circuit. No preamp distortion, other than a boost pedal. For most of us, that is de facto rock tone. 50's era Gibson LP guitars (along with select Historic models) are lighter, because the mahogany was/is sourced from higher up. Stump level wood is more compact, which results in increased mass/weight. I prefer mahogany body guitars that weight between 8 and 9 lbs, but there are occasions where I want something with more natural sustain... For that, I keep an 11 lb LP Custom handy.
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