Neck/Shoulder injury - which models should I be looking at for consistent light weight?

octatonic

Forshage Orion is that model.
They are terrific instruments if you don't object tot he style of guitar- headless.

Otherwise a hollow Anderson oddly be a good recommendation.

ToneControl

octatonic said:

Forshage Orion is that model.
They are terrific instruments if you don't object tot he style of guitar- headless.

Otherwise a hollow Anderson oddly be a good recommendation.

yes, I have a hollow Suhr that's very light too

rivercider

PRS Vela is very light and well balanced. I've owned two now but other people report this, too.

richman6100

I empathise with the OP having had upper and lower spinal surgery, plus a significant shoulder op. I don't always need a very light guitar these days, but when I do, I have that option covered. I have a Suhr Alt-T Pro (Thinline T-style) that I custom ordered with a belly cut to improve ergonomics. Although the rear contour obviously cuts into the hollow cavity somewhat, it's not affected the sound that much and the guitar is a dream to play. Two coil-split humbuckers that sound surprisingly good in single coil mode, it's a versatile, superb sounding guitar and is dead light. Not cheap, but looking after your health when you need to is worth forking out for.

chris78

SubsonicSimpleton said:

Was the 5lb 10oz Tele a thinline or just a very lightweight body blank?

A thinline with a solid rosewood neck

Kittyfrisk

Categorically not being facetious, but has the OP considered or tried a custom strap to better distribute the weight?

richman6100

Fair comment Kittyfrisk, that does help somewhat too. 

skullfunkerry

My Jackson Soloist is super light... I appreciate that it's on the pointy/metal- looking side of things, but the Charvel DK24 range all have smaller bodies and the 2-point trem models don't look particularly metal

SubsonicSimpleton

Kittyfrisk said:

Categorically not being facetious, but has the OP considered or tried a custom strap to better distribute the weight?

My favourite strap is 65mm wide leather, but I have experimented with a large neoprene pad that spreads the weight over a much larger area - ultimately it just extends the time before the discomfort kicks in with my heavier instruments.

JMP220478

smallest and lightest piece I've used has been a Steinberger copy ( mine is a Cort but theres a variety of different others inc Steinbergers own ) - pickups upgraded and in a band mix it works ...  I will confirm weight 

sgosden

Have you seen the strap that Matt heafy of trivium uses ? 
Might be worth a go as it looks to spreads the weight across both shoulders 

Philly_Q

sgosden said:

Have you seen the strap that Matt heafy of trivium uses ? 
Might be worth a go as it looks to spreads the weight across both shoulders 

I've just looked it up.  I wonder if there's a way of redesigning it so the second strap isn't wrapped around the body?  It looks like it would be a bit annoying...

Kittyfrisk

Just wondering, has anyone experimented with adapting a saxophone harness to take a guitar?






They do similar harnesses for outdoor cases.
https://www.flohr-industriebedarf.de/B-W---outdoor-case---VAR-S-B-W-Rucksack-System--BPS--fuer-Outdoor-Cases.html
Or outdoor tool rigs,  https://www.thegreenreaper.co.uk/ego-power-plus-afh1300-frame-and-harness-for-bax1300-56v-backpack-battery

Seems that with a bit of ingenuity & fiddling about, you could get something that would take the load off the shoulders almost completely.
You might feel a bit awkward, but if it helps, then sod that 

ICBM

Kittyfrisk said:

Just wondering, has anyone experimented with adapting a saxophone harness to take a guitar?

Rickenbacker in the 1950s.

http://www.ronsvintage.com/1957 Rickenbacker 950 Tulip in Jet Black.htm

Kittyfrisk

ICBM said:

Kittyfrisk said:

Just wondering, has anyone experimented with adapting a saxophone harness to take a guitar?

Rickenbacker in the 1950s.

http://www.ronsvintage.com/1957 Rickenbacker 950 Tulip in Jet Black.htm

Wow, well remembered. I meant anyone on tFB, but it's always good to learn something new 

ICBM

Kittyfrisk said:

Wow, well remembered.

I'm not old enough to remember the 50s . (Or the 60s really...)

I've seen a couple of old Ricks with the sax hook plate - usually they get normal strap buttons added as well, so it's rare to see an original one that hasn't.

It is probably also worth mentioning that the Rickenbacker 400 series are light guitars - around 6-7lb usually - and have the neck set in fairly deeply so they balance well - but you do have to like Rickenbackers...

Jalapeno

Tom Andersom Hollow Body Drop-Top super strat - mine is very light, 6lbs max

SubsonicSimpleton

Plenty of interesting suggestions, thanks to everyone who has contributed to the thread.

Trude

Check out the Guild M75 Aristocrat. It’s a LP shaped small hollowbody with single coils and 24.75 scale length. I absolutely love mine. I paid about £650 and it weighs 5lb exactly.

fandango

Ovation Breadwinner / Deacon? Designed to be light and comfortable.