Looking for a light weight guitar

[napalmdeath]

Gibson SG.

Mine feels like a toy. Whenever I get tired of hanging some heavy lump over my shoulder, I just grab the SG.

This would be my choice as well. Typically 6-1/2lbs., or so.

 

[LP Freak]

I bought this one not too long ago. 6.4lbs and a killer guitar all around.

 

[braintheory]

All the really great light sounding guitars I’ve played seemed to all have either strat or p90 pickups, not metal/hard rock style guitars. That’s kinda the problem because we need a punchy, ballsy sound for metal that usually gets compromised with lighter guitars. That being said I agree that some sort of SG may be the way to go. If you’re on a budget some of those Japanese brand one I’ve tried have been great for the price, IMO better than any SG I’ve tried in Gibson’s US line (not Custom Shop or vintage though of course). I forgot which brand it was (I get em mixed up) because this one friend of mine collects so many of those various Japanese Gibson knock offs and this one SG he had was particularly good. I think it was either Orville or Edwards, but can’t remember 100%. He also had a whole bunch of Navigators that were even better, but I think those have gotten pricy

I had a Suhr Modern Satin in red and remember it being decent (better even than some of other more expensive Suhr’s I tried), but nothing amazing or enough to warrant keeping around for me, but maybe a solid choice it it’s gotta be light. I wasn’t too impressed with the Skervesen Raptor I had, but that was years ago and have heard they’ve gotten better lately. I don’t remember it though being particularly light though

Some of the Knaggs Honga’s can also be on the lighter side and are nice guitars, but not cheap. I think those may have also been going for an SG vibe. They actually may be my favorite of the Knaggs models

 

[skullfxr]

I have had three Gibson SG's none had neck dive. But I tried them with a strap prior to buying just to be damn sure they didn't. I did demo one with a strap that had neck dive, obviously I didn't buy that one.

Personally I recommend checking with a strap prior to purchasing.

 

[skullfxr]

I should also mention that my back and neck are royally screwed up (9 bad levels, most discs hurniated or have bone spurrs) I have had to sit on a chair in part of a set in the past, I just told the crowd that my spine was fucked up and I will be standing again in a few minutes. Mind you this was blues rock. I never caught shit for it TBH.

 

[Monkey Man]

Suhr modern satin

I was going to suggest this one too, mate.

By far the lightest guitar I've ever owned, which is incredible given the mahogany body and neck.

 

[skullfxr]

Suhr modern satin

I was going to suggest this one too, mate.

By far the lightest guitar I've ever owned, which is incredible given the mahogany body and neck.

Good mahogany isn't heavy, the cheap mahogany is heavy from my experience.

 

[Monkey Man]

Really? Wow.

Thanks bro'.

 

[bubucci]

Basswood is light and an excellent tone wood too.

This is not always true. Best playing basswood body guitars I have own were on the heavy side. Anderson Drop top, Ibanez JPM and early 90's Japan IBZ's. Lightweight basswood guitars were always very weak sounding from my experience.

My vote goes for Suhr Modern satin. My have 3.0 kg/6.6 lbs with Floyd.

 

[circle]

Ibanez S series, get one of the early 90's ones with the block heel. Super light, mahogany, MIJ and sound great.

 

[Buckeyedog]

The PRS SE Zach Myers is very light and sounds quite good.

 

[Riggins1966]

For super light weight? I would probably have someone put you together a guitar with a paulownia body. The bodies weigh in at under 3lbs.

I built one with a GFS paulownia body years ago and I've never had a lighter guitar.

 

[alan67]

Ibanez S series, get one of the early 90's ones with the block heel. Super light, mahogany, MIJ and sound great.

yeah, this would probably be my first choice if it weren't for the Wizard necks feeling too small to me now

 

[alan67]

I bought this one not too long ago. 6.4lbs and a killer guitar all around.

Is that a 61 reissue?

 

[LP Freak]

Yes

 

[errrrrl]

SG's for sure or if you can find a Les Paul lite version those are pretty cool. You could go headless. I have traveler guitar that's handy or you could try those Strandbergs out, not my thing but they are super light.

 

[Kevin11]

SG's for sure or if you can find a Les Paul lite version those are pretty cool. You could go headless. I have traveler guitar that's handy or you could try those Strandbergs out, not my thing but they are super light.

Was going to suggest Strandberg as well if the OP doesn't mind that type of guitar. The other guitarist in my band is a recent convert and has a few of them now. Not really my thing either, but the lightest guitar I've ever tried. He covers a ton of musical ground with his too.

I have a basswood/maple Suhr Standard that is super light...the lightest guitar I own. If it's in budget and you want something more traditional looking/feeling, I don't think you could go wrong with a Suhr. Every one I've tried, regardless of wood, has been on the light side.

 

[alan67]

SG's for sure or if you can find a Les Paul lite version those are pretty cool. You could go headless. I have traveler guitar that's handy or you could try those Strandbergs out, not my thing but they are super light.

Yeah, I tried out a Strandberg at NAMM a couple of years ago...interesting but I just don't think I can get into them.

Right now I'm on an SG hunt

 

[blackba]

An SG is the only option here that isn't a gimmick.

Mine have also never had neckdive, but even if you happened to get one that did, its very easy to remedy.

So what's the remedy if it does have neck dive. I sold my Tony Iommi SG due to excessive neck dive. Tried weights to counter balance, didn't help much. Tried different straps. I didn't move the strap button. Shame as it was a nice guitar.

For me I went with a Gibson ES-339 for my light weight guitar, comes in at 7.3lbs, but of course doesn't have the punch of a solid body guitar.

 

[skullfxr]

An SG is the only option here that isn't a gimmick.

Mine have also never had neckdive, but even if you happened to get one that did, its very easy to remedy.

So what's the remedy if it does have neck dive. I sold my Tony Iommi SG due to excessive neck dive. Tried weights to counter balance, didn't help much. Tried different straps. I didn't move the strap button. Shame as it was a nice guitar.

For me I went with a Gibson ES-339 for my light weight guitar, comes in at 7.3lbs, but of course doesn't have the punch of a solid body guitar.

Simply buy one you are able to play. That's why I won't buy an SG unplayed.