The weights of some well-known guitars

**rpguitar** · 12-07-2013, 08:35 PM

I decided to weigh some of the guitars in my collection. Some results were a little surprising. Below are the numbers in pounds (lbs):

Guitar	LBS
2011 Martin 000-18GE	3.9
1989 Martin HD28	4.6
1928 Gibson L-5	4.8
1933 Gibson L-12	4.8
1947 Gibson L-5	6.4
1975 Gibson L-5C	6.4
1947 Gibson Super 400	6.6
2006 D'Angelico EXL-1SH	6.9
Warmoth Telecaster (swamp ash/maple)	7.0
1967 Gibson ES-335	8.1
1999 Gibson L-5CES	8.2

**mr. beaumont** · 12-07-2013, 09:00 PM

Interesting! Fun thread, I'll join.

I bought a postal scale a few years ago...my ash tele is a bit heavier, 7.5lbs.

other gits...

Taylor 414ce: 4lbs, 11 oz
Hofner Verythin: 5lbs, 15oz
Heritage 575: 6lbs, 9 oz
Godin Grand Concert: 6lbs, 15oz

**fumblefingers** · 12-07-2013, 09:20 PM

What do we attribute the heavier weight in the modern Gibson archtop to? thicker plates, thicker rims, both?

**rpguitar** · 12-07-2013, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by fumblefingers

What do we attribute the heavier weight in the modern Gibson archtop to? thicker plates, thicker rims, both?

Thank you, that was my question too.

If I look carefully at the '99 CES vs. the '75 C (acoustic):

- Same tuners
- Both have a pickguard
- Johnny Smith pickup + 2 small pots/knobs on '75
- 2 x PAF + 4 normal pots/knobs, toggle on '99
- Ebony saddle on '75 vs. metal TOM on '99
- '75 built as acoustic; '99 built as electric

So we are gaining 1.8 lbs among all those extras on the CES.

**mr. beaumont** · 12-07-2013, 09:25 PM

Two pickups?

**Patrick2** · 12-07-2013, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by rpguitar

Thank you, that was my question too.

If I look carefully at the '99 CES vs. the '75 C (acoustic):

- Same tuners
- Both have a pickguard
- Johnny Smith pickup + 2 small pots/knobs on '75
- 2 x PAF + 4 normal pots/knobs, toggle on '99
- Ebony saddle on '75 vs. metal TOM on '99
- '75 built as acoustic; '99 built as electric

So we are gaining 1.8 lbs among all those extras on the CES.

I believe you'll also find a thinner top plate carve on the L5C, as it was carved and tuned for it's acoustical properties. The tops on the CES models were left a bit thicker. They were designed and crafted as electric guitars, not acoustic ones. The additional thickness of the spruce was deemed necessary for added structural support of the extra hardware of the two pups and four control pots and knobs. Also, the thicker top plate is less prone to uncontrolablle feed back (by design) due to the thicker top plate. Heritage does the same thing. It's a skill that was carried over from their days with Gibson.

**rpguitar** · 12-07-2013, 11:51 PM

In addition to the spruce, the neck profile on my '75 is thinner from front to back than the CES. But then again, my '47 is the thickest of all three, and it equals the '75 in weight.

Anyway, they all play great and sound like what they're supposed to sound like!

**Eddie Lang** · 12-07-2013, 11:58 PM

Great thread idea! I look forward to read about more guitars.

Year	Make	Type	Model	grams	onces	pounds
1934	Gibson	Archtop guitar	L-4	2100	74,0	4,625
1935	Martin	Archtop guitar	C-1	2000	70,5	4,406
1937	Martin	Tenor guitar	0-17T	1100	38,8	2,425
1941	Martin	Flat top guitar	0-15	1400	49,4	3,088
1949	Gibson	Archtop guitar	L-7	2490	87,8	5,490
1952	Gibson	Archtop guitar	L-4C	2200	77,6	4,850
1957	Gibson	Archtop guitar	ES-225	2600	91,7	5,731
	Godin	Archtop guitar	5th Ave	2060	72,6	4,537

The weight includes a DeArmond FHC-B with bracket and volume control on the L-4C, and a single McCarty pickguard/pickup unit on the L-7. All the guitars had their pickguard on when weighted.

The guitars weighted live in a room kept at about 45% R.H. and 21°C (69.8°F) if it matters. (I suppose it does, dryer wood should be lighter, but I don't know by how much -- and I am not about to let my guitars dry to find out.

)

Two of the lightest guitars I've owned (but sold before weighting them) were a 1924 Martin 2-17 and a 1931 Gibson L-1 flat top. They felt closer in weight to the 0-17T tenor guitar (2.4 lbs) than to the 0-15 (3 lbs).

**powerwagonjohn** · 12-08-2013, 12:42 AM

I find this very interesting too.

1966 Gibson SG JR 6.0#
1956 Gibson ES225T 6.0
2009 Gibson L4CES 6.7
1973 Guild S-100 6.7
1991 Guild X-170 7.0
2013 Guild GSR SFIV 7.0
1969 Gibson SG Std. 8.0
1973 Guild Starfire IV 8.5
1991 Gibson Les Paul 9.0
I was really suprised as I thought some were lighter than it turns out. Now I know why my back hurts.
Thanks John

**fritz jones** · 12-08-2013, 12:55 AM

wow that's a lot of gibsons.
I had a Gibson es 175D from 1992 that was the heaviest guitar I have ever played, and it fed back like crazy.

**Woody Sound** · 12-08-2013, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by fumblefingers

What do we attribute the heavier weight in the modern Gibson archtop to? thicker plates, thicker rims, both?

Over time, some of the wood evaporates. Much more so from the inside of the body where there is no finish. That's why solid bodies don't change much - there is little exposed wood.

**fritz jones** · 12-08-2013, 04:43 PM

some builders like Benedetto seal the inside top and back with shellac.

**kamlapati** · 12-09-2013, 01:57 PM

RP, great contribution!

I have always known that the CES models were just barely acoustic guitars, but I've never seen it backed up with such solid data.

OTOH, that '28 is a featherweight! And your '40's and '70's L-5s are just like mine, surprisingly similar in construction across the decades.

**Jim Soloway** · 12-09-2013, 02:50 PM

My current four guitars

Peerless Cremona 16 = 6 lbs 6.2 oz
Ibanez AFJ91 = 5 lbs 15.1 oz
Soloway Gosling hollow = 5 lbs. 7.2 oz
Soloway Gosling semi-hollow = 6 lbs 8oz

**rpguitar** · 12-09-2013, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by kamlapati

And your '40's and '70's L-5s are just like mine, surprisingly similar in construction across the decades.

The fact that the 70s L-5C weighs the same as a post-war L-5 is a great big "Ha!" to all the Norlin bashers who say that everything produced in that entire decade is heavy, toneless crap. Yes, I once owned a 10 lb '78 Les Paul so it's not total nonsense. But it's clearly not a stereotype applicable to Gibson's carved archtops.

**floatingpickup** · 12-11-2013, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by rpguitar

The fact that the 70s L-5C weighs the same as a post-war L-5 is a great big "Ha!" to all the Norlin bashers who say that everything produced in that entire decade is heavy, toneless crap. Yes, I once owned a 10 lb '78 Les Paul so it's not total nonsense. But it's clearly not a stereotype applicable to Gibson's carved archtops.

I owned a 70's L5CES for years and it was a great guitar. I never weighed it, but it did not feel any heavier than L5's I have owned from pre and post Norlin times. In fact, the 2008 L5CES that I have now seems heavier than the Norlin one.
Keith

**jasonc** · 12-11-2013, 10:53 AM

Out of curiosity I weighed my two personal guitars.

Combs "Premier"= 5 lbs. 6 oz.

Combs "Professional" = 5 lbs. 12 oz.

This includes the weight of the picks which I left stuck in the strings

**jasonc** · 12-11-2013, 12:59 PM

Just for grins I also weighed an "Aureate" that I have on the bench. The finished body by itself weighs 2 lbs. 14 oz. and the neck (no tuners) comes in at 1 lbs. 7 oz. I also weighed all the fittings (pickup/pickguard, tuners, bridge, truss rod cover) and that came to 1 lbs. .6 oz. So there is a break down of what different pieces weigh...to be filed in the "Things that will never be important to know when talking to girls." category.