What to expect from a light Les Paul?

[ElChivo]

I recently got a 2024 USA Gibson Les Paul 50's standard that sounds freaking fantastic and it only weighs 8 lbs 2 oz. It weighs less than my MIA strat. ha

My Greeny Standard is 8.4 lbs and is my new #1. Super resonant and mid-focused.

 

[David Currie]

I'm more an Epiphone player, partly because of price, but these days when I can afford Gibson they are too heavy for my bad back, anything over 8.5lbs is too heavy usually. My lightest is the newest aquisition, a Maybach doublecut Junior scored off Reverb, only because it was a great price (GAS has nothing to do with it), which at 6.1lbs. is my lightest weight solid body guitar, in a collection full of very light weight guitars. It actually balances well on the leg and strap, which is surprising considering the medium chunky neck, .84" 1st to .97" 12th fret, and the shoulders are taken down a smidgeon, making it easier to get around for those of us not blessed with large hands. The "Amber" P90 was a similar quality to their "spirit of 59" humbucker pickup, fat-clear-sweet, with an unmistakable superior musicality (for want of a better word?) over all the other humbucker pickups in my limited experience. Maybach guitars are very impressive, while priced with Gibson production models, these Maybach copies made by Czech luthiers are similar to Gibson custom shop VOS models costing $6,000+, so about a third of the price of equivalent models from Gibson. The necks are especially lovely, even with my medium sized paw I can get around on the chunky neck Honey Pie came with, that would be the used Lester I bought off Reverb months ago. It weighs 8.2lbs., and is the most wonderful Les Paul I've played in my limited experience, I can imagine the "real thing" plays and sounds much like my Honey Pie!

 

[seafood]

I'm more an Epiphone player, partly because of price, but these days when I can afford Gibson they are too heavy for my bad back, anything over 8.5lbs is too heavy usually. My lightest is the newest aquisition, a Maybach doublecut Junior scored off Reverb, only because it was a great price (GAS has nothing to do with it), which at 6.1lbs. is my lightest weight solid body guitar, in a collection full of very light weight guitars. It actually balances well on the leg and strap, which is surprising considering the medium chunky neck, .84" 1st to .97" 12th fret, and the shoulders are taken down a smidgeon, making it easier to get around for those of us not blessed with large hands. The "Amber" P90 was a similar quality to their "spirit of 59" humbucker pickup, fat-clear-sweet, with an unmistakable superior musicality (for want of a better word?) over all the other humbucker pickups in my limited experience. Maybach guitars are very impressive, while priced with Gibson production models, these Maybach copies made by Czech luthiers are similar to Gibson custom shop VOS models costing $6,000+, so about a third of the price of equivalent models from Gibson. The necks are especially lovely, even with my medium sized paw I can get around on the chunky neck Honey Pie came with, that would be the used Lester I bought off Reverb months ago. It weighs 8.2lbs., and is the most wonderful Les Paul I've played in my limited experience, I can imagine the "real thing" plays and sounds much like my Honey Pie!

 

[seafood]

that sounds like a really cool guitar !! Everything ! I'll have to check out that brand ! Thanks for the cool information and have fun ! Cheers !

 

[garywright]

I compared so many. I have a store with huge inventory and as with all my guitars, they let me choose from many, many until I find what I like. I have not found a very light Les Paul that could compete with the moderately light 8.8-9.2 lb ones I ended up with. I know guys with sub 8lb versions they claim are very toneful, yet when compared to my heavier than their guitar, straight up, side by side, same amp, those claims fall apart and the featherweights fail to impress.

I'll bet you only chose that guitar on weight alone. Because that was what you wanted. Like everyone I've met with one..
In every case the guitar was chosen merely because it was so light. When they'd tell me about the guitar it was all about how light it was and that is the only thing that was compared. I'm not impressed by featherweight, punkwood solidbody Les Pauls. They literally don't measure up. There may be some that do but in 50years of searching I haven't found one. They are not awful, more average or generic, imo.


BTW after decades of 11lb+ Les Pauls sub 9lbs is light.

Classic Big Al !

 

[Blind Lemon Chicken]

Tell that to Angus Young.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

A nice wide padded strap, such as custom made Well-Hung ones, work wonders for a heavy Les Paul. I find no issues using a 10 pounder for part of a gig, I never use 1 guitar all night. Weight is no factor sound wise for me.

 

[garywright]

Tell that to Angus Young.

Ok ….hey Angus Young , Big Al says “ I'm not impressed by featherweight, punkwood solidbody Les Pauls “

 

[Blind Lemon Chicken]

Thanks.