What is the weight of an electric guitar in pounds (lbs.) and kilograms (kg)?
One of the instruments that make music appealing to the ears is the electric guitar. Electric guitars come in different weights. Even though electric guitars come in different forms, brands, and models, they have a range of weights they may fall in with a few falling below and above the range. So what is the weight of an electric guitar weight in pounds (lbs.) and kilograms (kg)? The weight of an electric guitar ranges from 6lbs (2.7kg) to 15lbs (6.8kg). Averagely an electric guitar weighs about 8.5lbs(3.9kg).
Electric guitars like a traveler guitar can weigh as low as 4lbs (1.8kg) and Gibson EDS-1275, which is a double-neck guitar with a large body weighing about 13lbs (5.9kg).
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing an electric guitar is the weight as it comes with some consequences when the wrong weight is bought. Just imagine being tired at a show you have been paid to perform because the electric guitar is heavy to carry around. Carrying it around will not be easy and it may affect your spinal cord which will be very detrimental to your health.
Electric guitars. How heavy are they? What influences an electric guitar’s weight?
As I mentioned earlier, the weight of an electric guitar ranges from 6lbs (2.7kg) to 15lbs (6.8kg). This may not seem heavy but it varies with everyone. But what goes into the manufacturing and production of guitars? It is of no surprise that the materials used in the manufacturing of the electric guitar are what is going to influence the weight. How the electric guitar is designed is also another factor that influences the weight of an electric guitar.
What influences an electric guitar’s weight? – Materials used in the manufacturing of an electric guitar.
The main material used in the manufacturing of an electrical guitar or even guitars, in general, is wood. The wood is used for the body and neck to give it that slender shape. Woods that are mostly used are mahogany, maple, and walnut. Extinct woods like rosewood and redwood are also used to design an electric guitar.
Woods used in the manufacturing of electric guitars influence their weight because the type of woods I have mentioned above all come in different densities. This means that the weight of an electric guitar will differ depending on the type of wood used.
| Type of wood | lb/ft3 | Kg/m3 |
| Walnut | 40-44 | 640-704 |
| Mahogany. African | 30-53 | 481-849 |
| Maple | 38-48 | 609-768 |
| Rosewood | 49-56 | 785-897 |
| Maple | 39-48 | 625-769 |
| Redwood. | 28-55 | 449-881 |
The vast difference in the weight of the different woods accounts for the difference in the weight of electric guitars.
Another material that can be used in the manufacturing of an electric guitar is aluminum. Aluminum is a metal that comes with high strength but low density. Since it has low density, the weight of the electric guitar will be low. Just like woods, it is also used to design the body and the neck of the electric guitar. The ideal aluminum used is Aluminum 6061. This is an alloy of aluminum consisting of metals like magnesium, copper, iron, tin, manganese, etc. Aluminum makes up 95% and the other metals make up the remaining 5%. This same aluminum alloy is used in the manufacturing of airplanes. This alone should tell you how strong Aluminum 6061 is. Using Aluminum 6601 can resist the tensions of the strings when it is being played. However, the electric guitar can go off-tune during thermal expansion since aluminum has a very high grade of thermal expansion.
Furthermore, manufacturers of electrical guitars have added an alternate material to wood and Aluminum 6061. Carbon fiber is the new way to go now. Unlike wood which cannot resist moisture and Aluminum 6061 which cannot withstand extreme temperatures, carbon fiber can withstand both moisture and extreme temperature making it the suitable material preferred by manufacturers like Rainsong. It is also used to design the body and neck. It also has a low density. This means that electric guitars manufactured from carbon fiber will have a low weight compared to electric guitars made from wood and Aluminum 6061.
What influences an electric guitar’s weight? – How the electric guitar is designed
How does the design of the electric guitar affect the weight? In designing an electric guitar, what comes to mind after choosing a suitable material is the body type, shape, and size.
The body involves the use of three methods to design and manufacture a design. These are the solid body, semi-hollow body, and hollow-body electric guitars.
Solid-body involves the use of blocks of wood or pieces of wood joined together with an adhesive. You cannot mention solid body electric guitars without mentioning Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster.
A semi-hollow body has a large portion of the body of the electric guitar being void. With a lot of air space on the guitar. A block of wood will be positioned at the center. it will be less heavy than the solid body electric guitar. Examples of a solid body electric guitar are the Fender Telecaster 72 Thinline, Rickenbacker 300 Series, etc.
With the hollow body electric guitar, the body of the guitar is empty. It has no block of wood at the center like the semi-hollow body. Examples are Godson ES-175, Ibanez Artcore AfV75, etc.
Now let us compare the weight of these two electric guitars by looking at their shapes and sizes. You will say that the bigger one is heavy. Is that correct? No. In the paragraph above I talked about body types. An electric guitar with a body made of a block of wood and one which is hollow will have a vast difference in weight. Since it is hollow, it will have a large volume and be less heavy although it is bigger than the one on the left. The one made with the body completely made with a block of wood with no air space will be heavier than the one on the right though it is smaller.
Why you must check the weight of an electric guitar before purchasing it?
When purchasing an electric guitar, you will not be happy when you are always repairing a fault or buying new ones. One of the things you have to put in mind is longevity. When woods like African mahogany is used to construct an electric guitar, the probability that the guitar will last for a long time is very high. Due to its high density, it will be able to withstand falls and other harsh conditions.
Although most woods are treated, imagine a wood with high density that has been treated.
How does the weight of an electric guitar affect the tone of the sound produced?
Again, most people think the weight of an electric guitar affects the tone but that is not entirely true. Electric guitars are made from different materials and it is the material that is made from that affects the tone of the electric guitar.
Two electric guitars can be made from maple but one can be heavier than the other. This will not make the heavier one produces a different tone since they are made from the same material-Maple. But two electric guitars one made from mahogany and the other made from rosewood is what will affect the tone because they are made from different materials.
With the explanation above, the tone of electric guitars made from heavy materials will have a lasting sound whiles the tone of electric guitars made of lightweight materials will have a bright sound and will not be able to last like the ones made from heavy materials.
How does the weight of an electric guitar affect performance?
You know you carry the electric guitar when performing so why do you go in for a heavy guitar? During a performance, you need to select an electric guitar that matches your weight. This will not make you feel tired and allow you to perform for a long time.
How to carry an electric guitar without feeling the effect of the weight?
Do not go round with the electric guitar hanging around your neck. You will get tired easily. Do not carry it with your hand too. The perfect way of carrying an electric guitar without feeling the effect of the weight is by carrying it on your back. You do not do this by hanging it at your back but by using an electric guitar gig bag. This bag comes with a backpack strap which makes it easy to carry like a backpack. With the bag, you carry walk with it for a long time without feeling the effect of the weight of the electric guitar because it has been made easy.
The electric guitar cannot be carried forever. Carrying the electric guitar whiles playing can be stressful. The weight of the electric guitar is spread across the shoulder with the help of a shoulder strap. Using a narrow shoulder strap will make the weight of the electric guitar fall deeply on the shoulder and you will get tired easily. A thick and broad shoulder strap will do the trick. It will spread the weight of the electric guitar on the shoulders and make it relaxed and calm when playing.
However, when traveling and it involves placing the electric guitar in a boot or a compartment for goods, it is safe to place it in the case as it comes with a hard case that can protect the electric guitar from damage.
Do you know how to weigh an electric guitar?
No one is perfect. Simple mistakes can be made during production and a wrong weight can be given to a particular electric guitar. To confirm the weight of the electric guitar you can use this simple method. You can also do this to avoid being cheated anytime you want to travel and it requires weighing.
- Stand on the scale and measure your weight without holding anything. Record the weight
- Stand on the scale and measure your weight again. This time around, hold your electric guitar. Record this weight too,
- Now subtract the first weight you recorded from the second one to obtain the measurement of your electric guitar.
For example, if the first weight you record is 180lbs (81.6kg) and the second weight you record is 188lbs (85kg). Then the weight of your electric guitar is 8lbs (3.6kg). Find out how to weigh an electric scooter.
Examples of electric guitar and how much they weigh in pounds and kilograms
| Guitar | Weight in pounds | Weight in kilograms |
| Gibson SG | 6.55 | 2.97 |
| Fender Telecaster | 8.05 | 3.65 |
| Yamaha Revstar | 8.90 | 4.04 |
| Epiphone ES | 6.00 | 2.72 |
| Washburn Parallaxe | 8.50 | 3.86 |
| Ibanez RG | 7.54 | 3.42 |
| Electric Sound Product- ESP Eclipse II | 7.82 | 3.55 |
| Rickenbacker 350V63 | 7.10 | 3.22 |
| Fender Mustang | 7.50 | 3.40 |
| Yamaha Pacifica | 7.45 | 3.38 |
Conclusion
Although the weight of an electric guitar is not the only factor to consider when buying an electric guitar, you must check if it is your desired weight as it comes with both benefits and consequences. For longevity go in for a heavy electric guitar made of heavy wood. If you know you travel a lot to perform you can go in for the traveler guitar. Find how to play electric guitar with headphones.