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Post subject: stratocaster weights
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:37 am
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Is there much variation in Strat weights? I currently have an American DeLuxe which weighs in at just over 8 pounds. I'm thinking of upgrading to one of the new Elite Strats, but can't find any information on weights. I have developed a back / shoulder problem over the years, and I could do with something a little lighter (6 pounds maybe?), but I want to stick to Stratocasters.
Can anyone help on this? Should I perhaps be looking at an Ash body rather than Alder?
Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:11 am
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I'd opine that 8½ lbs seems to be the aggregate average for the majority of Strats. Of my eleven Strats, the lightest weighs in at 6 lbs 10 oz (a custom made hardtail of fifty year-old swamp ash) while the heaviest tips the scales at just under ten pounds (an alder-bodied MIJ Stratocaster 12-string). The others fall within the 8½ lb range. As an aside, I once owned a 25th Anniversary Strat that weighed nearly fifteen pounds -- a real behemoth of northern ash.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:43 am
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Quote:
I once owned a 25th Anniversary Strat that weighed nearly fifteen pounds -- a real behemoth of northern ash.
:shock: We really need a "jaw dropping" 'Smilies' (Emoticon) for statements like this. :shock: 15 pounds? I thought my 1985 Harmony Strat Copy was heavy at 11 lbs.


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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 10:21 am
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White Dog wrote:
Quote:
I once owned a 25th Anniversary Strat that weighed nearly fifteen pounds -- a real behemoth of northern ash.
:shock: We really need a "jaw dropping" 'Smilies' (Emoticon) for statements like this. :shock: 15 pounds? I thought my 1985 Harmony Strat Copy was heavy at 11 lbs.

I'm not sure that 15 isn't an exaggeration, but I had a '78 Antigua and a '79 Anniversary. The '78 was definitely heavier... not by much... but they were both easily 10+. Those guitars were heavy beasts. A friend who played a Norlin-era Les (Log) Paul commented on how heavy the '78 was.

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 7:43 am
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I had a 2011 Amn Dlx Strat for awhile and traded it for an identically built 2012 Amn Dlx Strat.

The 2011 was lighter, but definitely not by much, Rich (I had the opportunity to hold them together). I didn’t weigh the 2011, but my 2012 weighs in at 8 Ibs. which I know to be on the lighter side of Strats. (certainly with an exception for the lightest I’ve heard of at 6 lbs. 10 oz.) as Arjay pointed out.

We do know that northern hard ash as with alder might be, but seldom is, light per se. Swamp ash tends to be more consistently lighter, but still not certain. Basswood can be the lighter of the three. However, different schools of thought sometimes give basswood a bad rap for durability and tone. It actually proves to be better than often spoken of. It has been reported though that, generally speaking, the better basswood pickings go to Japan. As with everything, exceptions take place.

It took a little while for me to get used to both Strats’ weight, but I bought a wide bass like strap that helped with comfort, although I’m now better with a standard strap need be.

I guess the only way to find a lighter typical Strat is to try them out, and hope for the best at or under 8 lbs. Rich. I think most of us would like that. :wink:
FSB

Tip: Some single coil Strats are routed to take humbuckers. I was told the American Deluxes were and I’m guessing the Elites and others for sure. That would make sense, and the unused routing would reduce the weight a smidge. You might look to any of those to find a weight advantage small as it may be. .

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 10:46 am
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Ya, Arjay mentioned that the new Strat-XII may be expected to be head-heavy... then I looked at the specs and, being MiJ, it is a basswood body! That'll double-down on the balance issue.

But I still want one :D

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 11:08 am
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CB91710 wrote:
Ya, Arjay mentioned that the new Strat-XII may be expected to be head-heavy... then I looked at the specs and, being MiJ, it is a basswood body! That'll double-down on the balance issue.


Odd......the previous issues were all alder.

I never cease to be amazed at how FMIC continues to suck the value out of their products. Probably why I haven't bought anything from them in over ten years.

:evil:
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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 11:55 am
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Arjay's rundown on of typical Strat weights is good. There are dealers that include the weights of their Fender Strats (and other brands). Sweetwater is one that carries many Strat models and posts the weights of each guitar on their website.


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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:45 am
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HW1 (MkII) 3.5 Kg 7.7 lbs
Odee '62 RW 3.3 Kg 7.28 lbs Includes steel trem block
CW MiM FSR 3.8 Kg 8.38 lbs
Black N3 Deluxe 3.4 Kg 7.5 lbs Swimming pool rout

I cant weigh my 10 for 15 MiA Hardtail at the moment but that is certainly sub 7.5 lbs

And as a further matter of interest my HW1 Tele 3.6 Kg 7.9 lbs. An outstandingly sweet guitar.

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 7:00 am
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This link might prove useful:-

https://www.guitarbuild.co.uk/collections/guitar-bodies/sc-body?sort_by=

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 8:40 am
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Thanks for your help guys. I will investigate further, based on your various suggestions.

Rich


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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 1:38 pm
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I noticed this when I was shopping and I don't understand how one Strat could weigh over a full pound heavier than another one that is supposed to be identical. This example compares only 4 guitars:
Image
Does anyone have any thoughts about this difference?

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Last edited by Marky Forrest on Thu Oct 04, 2018 3:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 3:11 pm
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Marky Forrest wrote:
I noticed this when I was shopping and I don't understand how one Strat could weigh a full pound heavier than another one that is supposed to be identical. This example compares only 4 guitars:
Image
Does anyone have any thoughts about this difference?
That’s a good comparison, Marky. It could be the wood providers and the conditions are different. Perhaps, (this is a shot in the dark) maybe, the tree that was used is older and more dense? Or maybe there’s 10 extra layers of paint on the heavier one? :lol:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 3:55 pm
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Marky Forrest wrote:
I noticed this when I was shopping and I don't understand how one Strat could weigh over a full pound heavier than another one that is supposed to be identical. This example compares only 4 guitars:
Image
Does anyone have any thoughts about this difference?


If you follow my link as above you will see several examples of the same body type, same species of timber and yet significantly different weights.

Wiring up Fish Faces pick guard tonight I was quite surprised at the weight of just the loaded pick guard.

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Post subject: Re: stratocaster weights
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 4:15 pm
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Marky Forrest wrote:
Does anyone have any thoughts about this difference?


It's part of the Stratocaster mystique and likely a contributory factor as to why no two Strats ever sound alike.

Arjay

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