I see a lot of folks talking about lighter-weight thin skins - i.e. someone boasting about their strat being closer to 7 lbs. vs. 8 lbs. Why is this? Is it a comfort issue or a sound quality issue? Thanks for your input!

Hi crwmusic, welcome to the Forum.

Two issues mixed up here. Many like the idea of thin skin finishes based on real or imagined tonal advantages. Some like the way a thin finish falls off quicker too. Some others amongst us doubt these arguments - feelings occasionally run deep on both sides.

Regarding weight: there's old crocks amongst us with bad backs (me in particular) who are grateful for anything that reduces the pull on the shoulder strap. I even chatted with a well-respected tech who's lower spine is such that he adamantly favors vintage tuners over modern types because they are slightly lighter. That's how bad his back is!

There must be small tonal implications to weight - but there are arguments on both sides on that one too. Mike Eldred, of Fender's Custom Shop, once mentioned that the majority of their professional customers actually specify heavier timbers rather than lighter ones; which runs counter to the perceived premium that light swamp ash is normally associated with.

Argument and counter-argument...

Cheers - C

Thanks kindly. I figured it was highly subjective.