Telecaster Weight Question

rpr · December 2013

Ok , been looking for a used US Tele. Since a spinal fracture a few year back, I'm quite sensitive to guitar weight. I've been e-mailing a guy who's selling an ash bodied one that weighs 3.9 kg. It's a bit far to travel to try out,tho I will be picking it up.

Anyway is this an average Tele weight or on the heavy side. Any other suggestions what is considered a light weight would be appreciated.

ICBM · December 2013

That's a little over 8 1/2 pounds, so is on the heavy side but not ridiculously so for an ash bodied one. It's the sort of weight I find solid and powerful-sounding rather than overweight, for a Tele - but if you've got back problems I would be cautious.

'Light' would probably be under about 7 1/2 lbs. You can get Teles that sound good even at under 7lbs, so I would keep looking... although you might find it hard to get a US Standard/Series which is that light.

Have you considered a Thinline or a pine bodied one? Quite different-sounding but can be really nice in their own way.

octatonic · December 2013

I think in lbs and I go for light teles and strats.

7lbs is great- I have an Anderson strat that is 6.5lbs and it is great.

Bogwhoppit · December 2013

My USA tele is Ash and weighs in at 7 1/2 pounds (3.3 - 3.4 Kilo), which is average for all the tele's I've played.

impmann · December 2013

The Tele I just built is feather light. If you fancy a challenge, I'd recommend one of the bodies from GuitarBuild.co.uk - all the genuine Fender parts fitted 100% perfectly without any modding. They show the weights of each body and you can then build something light (in my experience, lighter Teles sound bigger) to your spec. Add in Oil City Pickups and you'll have a Tele that will sound better than ANY US built guitar, IMHO.

ThePrettyDamned · December 2013

I prefer the sound of heavier guitars in general as they have a dull thudding quality I like..

But teles can be lighter than that. Have you considered a thinline? Also, basswood is a great tone wood that's cheap and underrated. A partscaster with a basswood body and a thin poly, nitro or wudtone finish would be featherlight and sound great

Reckless1 · December 2013

I echo @ochtatonic.

Lightweight Andersons (and Fenders, if you can get them ) are great

GSPBASSES · December 2013

Have a look at the link below it shows how I built some very light T/C. One of the custom builders I make bodies for has been making very light T/C for people with bad backs using my bodies and necks. The last one I built for him came in at 2lb 2oz’s that was a bit lighter then normal 2lb 6oz’s is more the norm. If you want to have a go at a part caster I can supply a body under 2.5lb’s and a flame sycamore neck at about 1lb 2oz. A rock maple necks is about 1lb 5oz’s. Then with the right hardware and a oil finish or wudetone finish the weight should be under 6lb and still sound great.

http://simnettguitars.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3741.0

Sorry for sending you all of to UKGB but thats were all my post are.

ThePrettyDamned · December 2013

GSPBASSES;112152" said:
Have a look at the link below it shows how I built some very light T/C. One of the custom builders I make bodies for has been making very light T/C for people with bad backs using my bodies and necks. The last one I built for him came in at 2lb 2oz’s that was a bit lighter then normal 2lb 6oz’s is more the norm. If you want to have a go at a part caster I can supply a body under 2.5lb’s and a flame sycamore neck at about 1lb 2oz. A rock maple necks is about 1lb 5oz’s. Then with the right hardware and a oil finish or wudetone finish the weight should be under 6lb and still sound great.

http://simnettguitars.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3741.0

Sorry for sending you all of to UKGB but thats were all my post are.

Oh my god, I didn't realise a guitar could be so light!

dchwhite · December 2013

impmann;112085" said:
The Tele I just built is feather light. If you fancy a challenge, I'd recommend one of the bodies from GuitarBuild.co.uk - all the genuine Fender parts fitted 100% perfectly without any modding. They show the weights of each body and you can then build something light (in my experience, lighter Teles sound bigger) to your spec. Add in Oil City Pickups and you'll have a Tele that will sound better than ANY US built guitar, IMHO.

I built a Tele style guitar with a guitarbuild body too, and mine's very light also.

If you sign up to his email newsletter thing, you get a 25% off code (for website, not eBay) that's good til Xmas.

TheDarkLord · December 2013

Funny enough, I had my Road Word 72 Tele Custom weighed today and it was a smidge under 8 lbs.

Feels good to me.

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Telecaster Weight Question

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