How to find the lightest possible wood

[bugsbunny]

Hello All,

I am looking to build one Les Paul style guitar and one Jazzmaster/Jaguar style guitar from Warmoth. The chambered Gibson Es-Les Paul has a weight about 6.2 to 6.5lb while a typical Jazzmaster/Jaguar goes for 7.2 to 7.8lb.

I want to match the Es-Les Paul weight and build a Warmoth LP style for about 6.2lb while try to build a Jazzmaster/Jaguar style under 6.5lb.

Question, based on the weight of other component, the body wood needs to weight below 3.5lb, but when I browser through the current available instock body woods, all the LP/Jazzmaster/Jaguar style body weigh above 4lb.

Anyone has any recommendation?

 

[AirCap]

Balsa.

 

[Cagey]

Jazzmasters and Les Pauls are two of the heaviest electrics out there. Lotta wood in those things. If weight is an issue for you, then the lightest wood used to build electric guitars is typically Basswood. Get something made of that, and get it chambered as well, and you should have body that'll range in the 3+ lb range. As for necks, oddly enough Maple usually makes the lightest parts. Roasted Maple even more so, by maybe another ounce or two. A Maple neck with some decent locking tuners should weigh in the 1lb. range. Add another 3 lbs or so for hardware and electronics, and you should be in the 6 1/2 to 7 lb range.

 

[Logrinn]

Also remember that you can get the Jazzmaster as a chambered body thus saving a lot of weight. But the Jaguar, although slightly smaller, is only available as a solid body.

 

[Cagey]

Jaguars are slightly smaller than Jazzmasters? I didn't know that. I've always been under the impression that they were nearly identical, but with jaguars having different electronics and a shorter scale neck. You're right, though. No chambering option on the jags.

 

[Logrinn]

I could be wrong about the size thing. It could be the different scale lengths that fools me when I see a Jaguar next to a Jazzmaster. Warmoth states that it is the little brother to the Jazzmaster and "only some minor proportion changes in the neck pocket area".

But it could be fun/interesting to do some measurements to the two bodies to find out what gives.

 

[Fat Pete]

Jags are kinda smaller

 

[Cagey]

Explains why the necks aren't interchangeable.

 

[AirCap]

Since the two necks are different scales they wouldn't interchange anyway even if the bodies were the same size....

 

[Cagey]

Sure they would. That's one of the charms of Warmoth - the "conversion" necks. Same body, different neck/different scale. But, I think there's a limit, and the 24" scale of the Jag is past it.

 

[AirCap]

True Jazzmaster and Jaguar necks ARE different scales. I'm not wrong. I am not referring to conversion necks by Warmoth.

 

[swarfrat]

I'm a fan of lightweight bodies and lightweight woods. BUT...

I think  I wouldn't go much lighter than basswood, but rather focus on removing wood. I wouldn't expect balsa or cottonwood to hold screws well, will dent easily, etc..

 

[BroccoliRob]

Chambered basswood, baby. Or just wait for a 'tardedly light ash body to appear in the showcase one day. could be a long time for a jazz master

 

[Fat Pete]

Couple of 3.5lb Jazzmasters in the showcase now.

 

[Logrinn]

Probably won't get lighter than that!

 

[swarfrat]

I've seen a couple 2 lb 10 oz soloists, but that's a smaller body. That's the lightest of anything currently in the showcase. 3.5lb for a jazzmaster seems pretty good

 

[musicispeace]

I've contemplated a basswood Regal body as a LP type guitar under 8 pounds would be pretty nice indeed. Like Cagey suggested, I'd go with a roasted maple neck with it, although I'm a rosewood man in my case and I believe he is partial to ebony on the front.