Top Light Weight Electric Guitars
WHAT IS EASY TO CARRY TYPICALLY WORKS BEST
A common question many guitarists of all levels of expertise may ask is why get lightweight electric guitar when there is a plethora of options?
One main answer is reducing discomfort. The most well-known guitars are heavy instruments.
How Much Do Electric Guitars Weigh on Average?
Typically, their weight ranges anywhere from 13 lbs. to 25 lbs. Consequently, many guitarists suffer from back problems because of the pressure they sustain from their shoulder strap every session. Issues such as back problems should not be the barrier between you and your passion.
Why Go With the Light Weight Models?
If you are tired of having discomfort whenever playing your electric guitar, then a lightweight is the perfect option for you. Don’t worry if it seems you are limiting your options. The good thing is that lighter options are available. Even though they weigh less, lightweight electric guitars give a quality that matches or even surpasses the performance of many heavier, iconic models.
It is just a matter of searching for them in the right areas. To sum things up, reducing a guitar’s weight does NOT reduce its quality. You just need to know where to look and pinpoint the one that matches your musical preferences.
What are the Lightest Electric Guitars?
Here we are going to lay out these user-friendly guitars and layout suggestions that are within the range of 6 lbs. (2.72 kg) & 10 lbs. (4.54 kg).
FYI: I may be eligible to earn as an affiliate from my recommendations.
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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.
What is the Lightest Fender Guitar?
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.
Is it Worth Starting Out with A Lighter Load?
Weight is only one factor that musicians consider when purchasing a guitar. This trait is hardly promoted by guitar brands. Moreover, searching for signs associated to these types of instruments is a must when browsing for one.
Body construction is an important indicator to consider when identifying a lightweight. Hollows and semi-hollows are the most crafted types since less wood is utilized to make them, thereby minimizing weight.
For those of you who consider a sound appeal to be more important than cosmetic appeal in a lightweight electric guitar, do not worry about weight having a huge factor in tone & rhythm. In fact, hollow and semi-hollows tend to have more resonance & sustain when comparing them with their solid body counterparts.
Lastly, the wood crafted into these guitars is another clue to look for when identifying lightweights. The type of wood that fabricators use to build. While tonewoods like mahogany are made to build heavier guitar bodies, spruce & cedar is what you should be looking for.
On the other hand, it is not like there isn’t any tonewood in the making of lightweight guitars. That type of material is used to make their necks since less wood is required. When considering what is more comfortable, check out the material it is made from.
To sum up, yes it is worth starting with a lightweight electric guitar as they all have the potential to have a great feel to any guitarist, regardless of their depth of experience.