Epiphone Les Paul Special II

WEIGHING 8 LBS. OR 3.6 KG

Out of all the lightweights, this is one of the heaviest. However, when compared to other regular weight guitars, it is still much lighter thanks in part to its mahogany wood. When this electric guitar was first made, this wooden finish made it easier to carry when comparing it to spruce or alder wood.

Unlike the Gibson Les Paul, the Epiphone Les Paul series is an affordable alternative because of its slim body. Keep in mind that this is a solid body and those types of guitars tend to be heavier at around 10 lbs. or 4.53 kg for everyone outside of the United States.

This guitar has the typical Les Paul single-cutaway feature embedded onto it. There is no top wood, but it has a gloss body finish to it. Additionally, Epiphone added what is a called a sunburst finish to add some brightness to the body style. As for its neck, this Epiphone has a bolted-on joint neck. One would think that by having bulky joints. However, that does not take away tuning & tone stability as will be discussed next.

Arguably more important than its aesthetics are its sound & feel. The Epiphone could not be further away from disappointing in this aspect. It has a 700T humbuckers that provide a rich, warm tone when strumming your favorite riff.

On top of that, it is a low string height guitar. Therefore, the sound emitted by the Les Paul is brighter & has less of a sustain because the magnets in its pickups restrict the guitar strings’ oscillation.

Since it is a labeled as a Les Paul, the creators did not feel that it should deviate anymore from the original features of the Gibson Les Paul. Furthermore, the Epiphone Les Paul is the lightweight electric guitar to buy if you are looking to get a balance between the sound quality Les Pauls are known for without tolerating the extra few pounds and investment a Gibson requires.

Danelectro ‘59M

WEIGHING 5.51 POUNDS OR AROUND 2.5 KG

Described by many as a stylish looking lightweight guitar, the Danelectro ’59M is an almost ying yang (because of its black and white construction) design to it compliments its double cutaway shaped body that has been fabricated for comfort while creating a little nostalgia to the brand.

Made as Danelectro’s flagship guitar, this vintage work of art is a nod to this guitar manufacturer’s original Shorthorn model that combines with its lightweight, semi-hollow construction.

To complement its visual appeal, the guitar’s electronics is where the true vintage characteristics come into play. ‘59Ms have lipstick pickups that come with Alnico magnets that contribute to allow them to sound unique.

As if that were enough, this lightweight guitar has a fine crafted hardware that contains a flexible, wraparound bridge that allows the guitarist to have full control of the ‘59M’s intonation while including a metal nut that keeps that pitch for a longer period. The ‘59M is the definitely one of the best valued electric guitars.

Danelectro Wild Thing

WEIGHING AROUND 6 LBS. (2.72 KG)

Speaking of Danelectro, this brand did not just stop with ‘59M. The Wild Thing was another one of its lightweight designs. Like the ‘59M, the Wild Thing has a Ying Yang coloration to it except it has a candy blue color swirl surface instead of black.

The Wild Thing is nothing but striking with its eccentric 50s & 60s look & sleek neck that connects to a body that has curved edges. It is hollow thanks to its masonite crafted design, which is a form of fiberboard.

The sounds it produces tones ranges from funk to jazz because of its series coupled lipstick pickups. Keep in mind that heavy metal and hard rock aren’t genres that it can perform. It also includes a psychedelic effect to its tone. The Wild Thing’s hollow body is a T shape center block that appeals to a ton of musicians.

A pair of lipstick single-coils is controlled by their own volume and tone knobs with a three-way selector. The neck is very smooth and snug to play with and the headstock guarantees effective string pull over the nut.

The Wild Thing produces a wide range of tunes from jazz to funk and is impressive overall. Its neck is sleek, and the tones are versatile which appeal to guitarists everywhere. This is an inexpensive, great-sounding guitar for anything except metal and heavy rock with distinctive looks.

Answer, The Fender Squire Classic Vibe 70's Telecaster Thinline

WEIGHS 10.98 LBS. (4.98 KG)

You can’t have a list of lightweights without mentioning a Fender. It is a little heavy for this category. However, there is more to it that makes it categorized as a lightweight.

With a three color sunburst aesthetic, the Thinline models are a classic electric that is semi-hollow. This body style makes them less heavy as thinner than other Fenders Telecasters. When investing in this guitar, you get an organized fretboard with C-shaped neck.

As for its electronics, this model has a bridge that gives guitarists flexibility to bend notes for blues riffs. Overall, if you are looking to have a versatile instrument that plays a variety of genres as is the case with Telecasters without carrying the weight that comes to it, the, then the Squire Thinline is for you.

The Empress Telebration Telecaster

WEIGHS 6 LBS. (2.72 KG)

Fender doesn’t just have the Squire Thinline, the Empress Telebration Telecaster is another beauty. Unlike the Thinline, it is a solid body, making it slightly heavier. The guitars’ surface is crafted out of tonewood that adds to its slick feel. A couple of single coils are included to amplify its tone.

Ibanez Steve Vai

WEIGHT 8 LBS. (3.63 KG)

Ibanez can’t be excluded from a lightweight guitar list. This signature make has monkey grips that complement its mahogany finish and rosewood fretboard. And if that weren’t enough, Ibanez included a Tree of Life inlay on its fretboard. This model is one of the more recognizable guitars out there.

To top things off, the Steve Vai has a smooth feel to its Wizard III maple neck. When strumming, you get a durable sound produced from its double locking bridge that comes with a single coil pickup.