Ideal Strat Weight?

I know that the "ideal" Tele weight is somewhere around 7lbs, but is there such a thing for Strats? I mean should it be around 7 or a bit more considering some of the x-tra material (trem block, springs, 3rd pickup)?

....heavy Teles and Strats that were great guitars, I'd say GENERALLY I'd prefer them in the 7-1/2 - 8 pound range.

Just a generalization...

Average weight is around 7.75 pounds for a vibrato Strat, plus or minus. Anything under 7.5 pounds starts to feel light, and anything under 7.25 is a bit unusual for a non-hardtail.

Anything over 7.75 pounds starts to feel heavy, which is a bit ironic since even light LP's weight considerably more.

There's absolutely no consensus on weight versus tone or sustain.

A lot of the guitars that are advertised as 'light' on the 'net are in reality hardtails of average weight that are only 'light' because they lack the vibrato assembly.

The Fender Custom Shop aim for building guitars of 'average period weights' when making the Time Machine series. So you won't find freaky light ones, nor boat anchor heavy ones, just 'average'. So the wood is chosen not just for grain and tone, but the weight it will bring the overall guitar out at. Obviously there has to be some leeway, so a CS Tele will usually be in the 7lb to 7.5lb bracket, while a Strat will hover amid 7.75lb to 8.25lb.

The Time Machine series are some of the best sounding, and playing, guitars Fender produce. So I guess 'average' is best in this case. But they can choose the very best 'non-average' wood to do the job with.

My main Strat is a '87 MIA Strat. I weighed it the other day and remembered this post. It weighs in at 6.5 pounds. I was surprised coz that's quite light.

I like light Strats and Teles. I have a USACG T-STyle and a Hwy1 Strat that both weigh about 6.5 pounds. My Am. Std. Tele feels almost heavy at 7.5 pounds.

I have played a lot of heavy, shrill sounding '70s Strats and Teles and am biased against heavy guitars.

6.5lb is pretty light for a Strat. If 3lb12oz is taken off for the average Strat hardware and neck, that means the body is only 2lb 12oz!!!

6.5lb is pretty light for a Strat. If 3lb12oz is taken off for the average Strat hardware and neck, that means the body is only 2lb 12oz!!!

The hardware and neck don't weigh that much and I've got a heavy 14 oz Callaham bridge on this one.

The hardware and neck don't weigh that much and I've got a heavy 14 oz Callaham bridge on this one

You must have really light hardware!! Have you ever weighed the neck, tuners, bridge, pickguard assembly, jack, strings, springs and various screws of an average Strat?

After going trough a lot of em, My ideal weight is 6 lbs even *(i have 2 Hard Tails at this weight) very resonant,
feel balanced, and I also have two 5 1/2 lbers.
The 5 1/2 lb Hard tails sound awesome and both have Van Zandt Fullertone Strat neck pups (6.4K ohms)
and Jason Lollar P90s. These last 2 give me a great Strat neck pup sound as well as a Gold Top Gibson P90 tones. I use VZ neck Pups and Voodoo 59 PAFs in the bridge. I only use 2 pup Guitars.
Before you say a 5.8 or 6 lb Strats don't sound good, don't bet on that.
I use only USACG bodies/Warmoth BIG necks, 6100's.

One's touch, is super important, and the Amp, tubes, speakers, etc. all factor in alot, as well.
I use those Fatback Warmoth necks now, 2 Rswd board 2 all maple and Swamp Ash bodies. I love Hard tails, and they really stay in tune the best, and have a great tone.
I stay away from 3 strat pickup guitars, but when borrowing one, immediately go into Buddy Guy 1968 licks and tones.

This is my opinion, y'all may dig an 8 lb Tele or 10 lb LP, or even a 7 1/2 Strat, but after owning over 500 of em, I know what sounds best to my Bluesy ears, I use only a tremolo pedal, and either An Allen Old Flame or My Fender Blackface and Tweed amps. I like Fender reverb units.
:twisted: 8) :twisted:
KBR

I'm gonna have to weigh my Strat and chime in with the results. My Strat is by FAR my heaviest guitar. I have a 72 Tele Custom RI, a 99 Epiphone Les Paul and a 2000 American Strat and the Strat is a tank. I'm going to guess 9 pounds for it. Most people can't believe it when they pick it up.

If you like it, no worrries, OTH/I say sell it!
Fender types need not be LP weight...
Maybe Co. got a deal on Heavy wood.

If you stand 2,3,4 sets and plan on playin a long time, sell it.
imho
:twisted: 8) :twisted:

Funny, but I always found lighter strats to be more resonant, and sound better.
I never really like the Ash body 70's strats, until I played a light one, and that thing smoked!!!!
I have a '98 USA, and it weighs in at 8lb 1 oz.. Too heavey.. My '76 LP Custom weighs 13lbs 1 oz, but I like my Lesters heavey....
mojohen 8)

I just ordered a thin skin '57 RI Strat today weighing in at 6.8 lbs. I think I going to love it. :wink:

I've had featherweights and boat anchors, one of the best sounding Strats I ever owned was a 73 natural finish that weighed more than the 69 Les Paul I have now.
On the other hand I've had really light Strats that I just didn't bond with.

As long as you can comfortably wear and play it,( if it's heavy a good strap can make all the difference)
I say don't sweat the weight thing.