What to expect from a light Les Paul?

[AA00475Bassman]

Although the posted weight of the R8,R4 are a bit below average IMO these two have baseball bat necks one common link in the tone chain.

My light weight IMO Firebird V in comparison to my other Firebirds the notes seem more articulate defined .

Not better only my dogs are better , I find myself fiddling with tone & volume less on my lighter weight Firebird .

My very heavy Historic Firebird V gotta be close to 10 pounds has tones unique to itself and very pleasing more in your face Johnny Thunders esque .

I will say I'm not campaigning light weight = glorious tone , with so much subjective I will say the tone chain has many link & hard to define .

Yesterday my wife was gone = crank it, Historic's played with weight feed back .

2007 R8 8.54 pounds killer at any volume this guitar could be the only guitar I own and be fulfilled !

2014 R4 8.24 pounds really a great addition to the tonal palette played this configuration many years 15+ 1972 54-58 at times Today one & only give me Humbuckings or give me death , . Although one really needs a wrap tail P 90 guitar IMO .

Firebird Historic V 1998 8.90 pounds huge AZZ Neck ,Ducan antiquities bridge what ever you plug it into its, Bad Mouth ,In your Face,Some Freaky kind of built in reverb boost most likely illegal in some Country .

2016 USA Firebird V 6.86 pounds Very slim almost flat back of neck , all electrics ️replaced, PEC Pots , Duncan antiquities, NOS Sprauge BB , one trick pony great note articulation no how my only player great addition to line up nothing else I own can replicate great addition wouldn't really miss it .

2016 Historic firebird 111,7.30 pounds, aged , Huge neck , Crappy Spring steel trem whammy gone & forgotten, This is the Goldie lock guitar every thing is just right its one I can't do without Keeper does everything I'm capable of keeper with my R8 !




This is a very interesting thread

 

[Sol]

Although I can not recall ever playing Les Paul a few ounces over 8 pounds I would believe such a instrument could have some specific tones unique .

My light weight IMO Firebird V in comparison to my other Firebirds the notes seem more articulate defined .

Not better only my dogs are better , I find myself fiddling with tone & volume less on my lighter weight Firebird .

My very heavy Historic Firebird V gotta be close to 10 pounds has tones unique to itself and very pleasing more in your face Johnny Thunders esque .

This is a very interesting thread

Realy glad you've jumped back into this thread.. Two Firebirds almost 3lb apart in weight.. I've a few questions if your okay ?

Do the harmonic overtones and dynamics between the two Firebirds change when going from low private practice volume to the high sound pressure volume of a club performance or just a full on rehearsal where your amp is really being driven ?

(Compared to many humans the company of a good dog is unsurpassed)

 

[Birdseye]

How light can they get? I just bought a new 57 reissue Special, single cut, 6.7 lbs. My favorite LP right now. I like them light. I also have an R4 that is 8.2 lbs. Both of them sound bright, seem to have great response in the highs, which is what I like. The Special has the best balance when sitting, just perfect, and will be great for longer gigs.

 

[AA00475Bassman]

My 2007 VOS R8 , this is my house on fire guitar on my trade scale . I ordered 2007 from Gibson through a Gibson dealer not some WHORE in dimly lit basement . This makes the most beautiful tones full on or dialed back . A 8.54 she's a killer should be sitting on death row , with its beautiful flamed mahogany neck and the 14 years of heavy play looks and feels worn . The cats name is Twyla .

 

[AA00475Bassman]

My 2014 R4 Historic the one thing other than close in weight they both have baseball bat necks , and this R4 sounds Marvelous!

 

[AA00475Bassman]

Although I'm very pleased with the sound of the two posted Les Pauls , I have owned 9 pound + Les Pauls wonderful tones equal to these two posted guitars !

 

[El Gringo]

This is my OPINION only.

There is a correlation, but more importantly a BALANCE.

I think a hard/dense/heavy version in neck and body of the R4 above would bite your head off.

It might be too much.

Yes, tone for days.

But it might not be a GOOD TONE.

Just the same. I would play the snot outta it and buy it in a heartbeat and try to tame it with pickup selections.

And I think the neck on Fenders is the same. The neck on this one (51 Wildwood 10 nocaster) is HUGE!

That is just hot . I love it and seeing your No caster makes me want to get a new Fender Custom shop No Caster . Just a beauty !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sol]

Double post

 

[Sol]

Oh boy do I love that No Caster ! That second image says it all. No reduction in the depth of the neck at the first fret whatsoever.. Full depth from fret 1 to 21.. You've got to love it, heaven knows I do.

 

[El Gringo]

My 2007 VOS R8 , this is my house on fire guitar on my trade scale . I ordered 2007 from Gibson through a Gibson dealer not some WHORE in dimly lit basement . This makes the most beautiful tones full on or dialed back . A 8.54 she's a killer should be sitting on death row , with its beautiful flamed mahogany neck and the 14 years of heavy play looks and feels worn . The cats name is Twyla .View attachment 13720

Love your guitars !!!!!!!!!! Twyla is nice also .

 

[rockabilly69]

It all comes down to the individual guitar. My biggest sounding Historic Les Paul, is my lightest one at 8.1lbs. My other ones are 8.6 lbs, and 8.9lbs. I also have two Heritage H150s and one is 9.0lbs and the other 9.4lbs, and neither one of those sound as big as the 8.1lb LP.

And speaking of Firebirds... and I've owned quite a few of them, my best sounding one is 6lb 11oz, and this one is a USA one (although heavily modified, lightweight Faber hardware, new harness/pots/caps, Klein Kauer wind Firebird pickups).

 

[seafood]

i have a jazz bass that is 8lbs on the the dot.....that is heavy to me .!!!! all of my guitars are light...and they all sound great!!!

 

[ajwain]

I’m convinced after owning LPs for many years (and playing hundreds of them), that weight is not directly related to the plugged in sound of the guitar. However, it very much contributes to the “feel”.
I personally don’t have a preference for either heavy or light instruments but there is something about lightweight ones which tend to “ring” or resonate more and this can be felt against the body...particularly when played unplugged.
this characteristic alone can make some owners believe their guitar’s sound is superior, but in my experience, a heavy instrument can have a superb tone through an amp, rich in harmonics, articulation and so called “bloom”.
a guitar is made of many parts and it’s unique sound is the sum of all those components.
Don’t let anyone try to convince you though, that an instrument which is alive and resonant acoustically translates to a better tone at volume. It just isn’t true.

 

[IBurstMyBucker]

I recently picked up a 2011 Goldtop and it's 7 something pounds. It's a freaking dream. My 60s Standard has a couple of pounds on it and the difference is incredible. It's very easy to grab the Goldtop. Not to say I don't love the Standard. It's still my favorite.

 

[J T]

It all comes down to the individual guitar. My biggest sounding Historic Les Paul, is my lightest one at 8.1lbs. My other ones are 8.6 lbs, and 8.9lbs. I also have two Heritage H150s and one is 9.0lbs and the other 9.4lbs, and neither one of those sound as big as the 8.1lb LP.

And speaking of Firebirds... and I've owned quite a few of them, my best sounding one is 6lb 11oz, and this one is a USA one (although heavily modified, lightweight Faber hardware, new harness/pots/caps, Klein Kauer wind Firebird pickups).

Ooo I have that same Firebird. I really like it. Has it's own voice.

 

[J T]

The Bigsby added some weight, but that had nothing to do with the density of the wood. This guitar is just about 9lbs but absolutely sounds great. Nice big R7 neck. I've since removed the B7. I had it on with a vibramate so no holes were drilled. Hmm I guess if I drilled holes it would weigh less.

 

[pdfiddler]

View attachment 13554Congratulations on your new Historic , Firebird V vey light weight & very unique in tone compared to my other Firebirds !

I'm going to end up getting one of those custom shop Firebird's one day.

 

[pdfiddler]

This is my OPINION only.

There is a correlation, but more importantly a BALANCE.

I think a hard/dense/heavy version in neck and body of the R4 above would bite your head off.

It might be too much.

Yes, tone for days.

But it might not be a GOOD TONE.

Just the same. I would play the snot outta it and buy it in a heartbeat and try to tame it with pickup selections.

And I think the neck on Fenders is the same. The neck on this one (51 Wildwood 10 nocaster) is HUGE!

My 2nd favorite model type guitar. Just wonderful

 

[pdfiddler]

Yep, bigger neck, bigger tone. Even true with my Martin D-18 1937 A

 

[bcaldwell]

I have an R7 that comes in at 7.9 lbs (not chambered). I've never noticed any deficiency in tone and the weight was really the deciding factor in my buying it.