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seeking a Strat, only lighter

mtairydude
mtairydude
115

I'm looking for suggestions for another guitar. My main ax is a 2005/2006 MIM Strat. I've had a fair amount of work done on it by a luthier (complete fret replacement and leveling, new bone nut, Callaham bridge and setup) and also added locking tuners. So I've basically upgraded everything except for the electronics at this point. I'm pretty happy with the way it feels, plays and sounds. The only fly in the ointment is that when I play it standing up it gets to feel a bit heavy after a while, sometimes leading to back pain.

A few years ago I got an Epiphone SG (G-400 Pro). I wanted something as thin and light as possible, and the humbuckers were an added draw. After having the luthier add a strap button to the tip of the upper horn, it no longer suffers from neck dive. It plays well and sounds good. But it has also made me realize just how much I really like the feel and contours of the Strat.

I do a lot of practicing on a bottom of the barrel (and very lightweight) used Squier Bullet Strat that came with an amplifier I bought, and even that lowly instrument feels good in my hands, and even sounds good when all the knobs are set just so. But I don't think it makes sense to put any money into upgrading it.

So basically what I'm looking for is another guitar that as much as possible feels and plays like a Strat but with a few pounds shaved off the weight. I play mostly classic rock and blues-based stuff. I've been considering the Squier Classic Vibe series, the PRS SE series, and several of the many Ibanez models (in particular the S670QM and RG450DX). I'd appreciate any suggestions anyone may have, either about these models or others that might fit the bill. Thanks in advance.

pkennethk
pkennethk
3580
In reply to mtairydude:

Strat-style guitars have a big range in weight, as you've pointed out. Do you know what your current MIM Strat weighs, as a starting point?

If you've already invested a lot of time/money in getting the neck and hardware just right on this current strat, what about just buying a lighter strat body and swapping neck and all current hardware to that new, lighter platform?

eyeseeofficial
eyeseeofficial
Moderator
43945

I haven't tried this myself, but some people drill shallow holes under the pickguard. The change in density might affect tone, though, plus you risk putting a hole through the body.

Another thing to consider, if applicable, is how you are wearing your guitar. Wearing it higher can help relieve back pain. It's free, too!

jimmarchi1
jimmarchi1
Moderator
2633
In reply to eyeseeofficial:

I haven't tried this myself, but some people drill shallow holes under the pickguard. The change in density might affect tone, though, plus you risk putting a hole through the body.

to start a 'bathtub' or universal pickup route will be lighter, alder is a pretty light wood, tends to be a bit lighter than poplar in my experience but it varies.... swamp ash tends to be quite light. and yes, you can route out weight relief under the pickguard, there are spots....

pkennethk
pkennethk
3580
In reply to jimmarchi1:

.... swamp ash tends to be quite light. and yes, you can route out weight relief under the pickguard, there are spots....

Swamp ash was what came to mind. There's gotta be someone out there who got a nice custom strat body for a frankenstrat they never got around to building. For example, I have a gorgeous alder strat body from MJT sitting in a drawer that I swear I will one day find a neck for (it's light AF... not for sale, sorry).

Any decent parts seller on Reverb or Ebay will list the exact weight of the body they are selling.

mtairydude
mtairydude
115
In reply to eyeseeofficial:

Thanks, eyeseeofficial. I will definitely try shortening the strap before doing anything else.

clifford_bao_777
clifford_bao_777
756
In reply to mtairydude:

I would suggest something made of Basswood, I belive it's one of the lightest Body woods, maybe route out under the pickguard as eyeseeofficial suggested. Squier has one model called the Cyclone, it's basicly a Mustang body with Strat pickups and Jaguar switches, I know its not a Strat, but to my experince with Mustangs they have a thin, lightweight body. This guitar has the Strat pickups with a thin body and a tremolo which would relive more weight so... something to think of I guess.

clifford_bao_777
clifford_bao_777
756
In reply to mtairydude:

So I've basically upgraded everything except for the electronics at this point.

I would also like to suggest somthing I posted on another forum topic:

Another idea I've had in my head is to modify a Strat with these Stacked Potentiometers. Basicly it's two pots stacked on top of each other and its got these split knobs so you could have a Volume and a Tone on top of each other, so you take three of these pots, do a bit of fancy wireing and then you have a Volume and Tone for each Pickup, add a 5-Way selecter switch and you have basicly the ultimate control Strat.

I got the idea from the new Paranormal Jazz Basses Squier relesed this year as it has the same kind of pots (look at it from a side angle).

pkennethk
pkennethk
3580
In reply to clifford_bao_777:

I would suggest something made of Basswood, I belive it's one of the lightest Body woods, maybe route out under the pickguard as eyeseeofficial suggested. Squier has one model called the Cyclone, it's basicly a Mustang body with Strat pickups and Jaguar switches, I know its not a Strat, but to my experince with Mustangs they have a thin, lightweight body. This guitar has the Strat pickups with a thin body and a tremolo which would relive more weight so... something to think of I guess.

My personal experience with basswood is that, while it is indeed light, it is also soft AF. I had to take my pick guard off my basswood MIJ Strat a few times for various reasons, and by like the third time little chips/chunks of wood were coming off around the screw holes... and threads were shot on a few holes already... even though I was as careful as a brain surgeon in unscrewing/re-screwing by hand... and even the thick poly finish wasn't enough to protect it. It will ding just by looking at it funny.

clifford_bao_777
clifford_bao_777
756
In reply to pkennethk:

Yeah, I think I have a finish chip by one of the screw holes on my Squier Mustang HH, but I've had it for a year come Christmas and I've taken the pickguard off maybe 5 times? and even put a new pearl one on and it seems fine.

clifford_bao_777
clifford_bao_777
756
In reply to mtairydude:

Another thing: Have you ever tried a scalloped fretboard? Scalloping is where you carve the wood out from between the frets so that only the fret touches the strings and you're not catching any wood with your fingers. It makes vibrato and bending easier to do and when you're done scalloping you'll notice you've shave quite a lot of weight off the neck (depending on how deep your scallops are) which will also reduce neck-dive if you have any.

seedystrums
seedystrums
341

Maybe try something like the La Baye 2x4 guitars that DEVO used. It's about as light as a guitar with a wood body can get.

clifford_bao_777
clifford_bao_777
756
In reply to mtairydude:

Fender also makes a Kenny Wayne Shepherd Siganture Stratocaster that I think has a weight-releved Ash body.

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