It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 12:45 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: A Matter of Weight
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:39 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:30 am
Posts: 1
I know the "weight" debate is a hot topic and I don't think I'd buy a guitar based strictly on weight but with sites like Wildwood posting the weights of all of their Fenders I do think about it some.

I'm posting here due to a post Mike Eldred made awhile back. He said most pros prefer "medium" weight guitars. He even went on to say this was true for Clapton, Beck and Mayer. Don't get me wrong. I know what works for those guys might be different for me. But I do wonder what is this "medium" weight they prefer? By looking through recent postings at Wildwood I see most of the Custom Shop Claptons and Becks are in the 8lb range, where as most of the 56 Custom Shops are in the lower 7lbs. So I guess my question is what is "medium" weight and where do the lower 7lb and 8lb strats fall on that scale?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: A Matter of Weight
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:29 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:14 pm
Posts: 7
Here you go:
First, here is a quote from Mike Eldred:
Quote:
"We have a data base with 84 Stratocasters dating from 1954 to 1971. Both Alder and Ash. I thought it would be interesting to go through it and sort it, and get an average of the weight of the bodies.

We also have a data base for the weight of all the parts.

The average weight of an Alder Stratocaster (in our data base) is 7.9 lbs.
The average weight of an Ash Stratocaster (in our data base) is 7.3 lbs.

REMEMBER!!! That is the AVERAGE weight. Some were heavier, some were lighter."

So, here's the deal; the PARTS weight about 3.5 lbs. So the body would weigh about 4.4 lbs for a guitar to weigh 7.9 lbs. AVERAGE.

NOW, the parts WON'T vary in weight so much, so that 3.5 is a hard number for a Strat. BUT, the bodies DO vary in weight (remember, the data base number is an AVERAGE), so the completed guitar could weigh MORE than that. This is an Alder example. Ash is lighter.



Next, I put this together to get at this question. Based on Information about alder and ash strat bodies:

First, the volume of strat body is:

1.61 bf, which is 234.7 in3 and 0.1358 ft3

The weight of parts is 3.5 lbs

The density of alder is:
26-42 lbs/ft3
34 is average

Thus, an average alder bodied strat is:
4.62 lbs + 3.5 = 8.1 lbs

Lightest expected is: 7.0 lbs
Heaviest expected is: 9.2 lbs

You can get the same kind of numbers for various woods if you want, but as stated, this will give average numbers, and wood density varies, even within a single board/body.

hope this is what you were looking for!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: A Matter of Weight
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:32 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:14 pm
Posts: 7
Also, Wildwood specs mostly lightweight body woods. This is why a lot are in the lower 7 lbs. range.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: