Why are lighter bodies more expensive?

[Campari]

There are some Telecaster bodies - alder and ash - which are significantly lighter than other bodies of the same wood which are identical except for the weight.  Are the lighter bodies more desirable just because they're easier to be wearing than heavier ones, or are there other factors?
Thank you.

 

[bagman67]

You will hear a lot of reasoning, but there is very little empirical evidence regarding the tone of lighter bodies.  But many people find them preferable because they are indeed lighter and so more comfortable to play for extended periods.  And where there is a preference for something that is comparatively rare, a smart business will charge a premium price for it.

 

[Logrinn]

From what I’ve seen the lighter and heavier bodies have all had the same price. Factors such as different finishes and if the bodies are chambered or solid do seem to influence the prices though.

 

[Cagey]

That seems to me to be the case, too. Fancier finishes and/or chambering both add labor to the part, which has to be paid for, but otherwise I don't think I've seen any premium on lighter parts. There might be a surcharge if you ask them to shuffle through the blank stock to find a lighter piece when fabbing a custom part, but I'm not sure on that. I know I got a solid unfinished Alder Jazzmaster body out of the showcase a couple years ago that was only 3lbs, 11oz and it was only $160. That's pretty light for a solid body in that style, and at that price I don't think there was any premium on it.

 

[ghotiphry]

Well, I can say there is sometimes a slight upcharge fo "extra light" solid bodies, in the bass area. I won't say all the time, but I think there is.

 

[rgand]

I just did a search for Warmoth roasted swamp ash Strat bodies and ordered them by price. Excluding a 7/8 body and a rear route one, there was a difference in price for similarly lighter, unfinished ones. One at 3Lb 7oz for $295. a handful above that but under 4 lbs were $285 and those over 4 lbs were $245. So there is a difference but it isn't major.

Some wood vendors also charge a bit more for lighter body blanks.

It would seem that lighter is more valued in the marketplace.

 

[Campari]

I just did a search for Warmoth roasted swamp ash Strat bodies and ordered them by price. Excluding a 7/8 body and a rear route one, there was a difference in price for similarly lighter, unfinished ones. One at 3Lb 7oz for $295. a handful above that but under 4 lbs were $285 and those over 4 lbs were $245. So there is a difference but it isn't major.

Some wood vendors also charge a bit more for lighter body blanks.

It would seem that lighter is more valued in the marketplace[/i]


It lead me to wonder if it could have anything to do with resonance.

 

[Rick]

In my experience, weight has more to do with weight than resonance.  In fact, to my ear, at full volume, the heavier guitars sound better, so the pricing is not based on resonance.  A nice meaty LP at volume sounds great, but my shoulder kills me.

Of course, your milage may vary.

 

[aarontunes]

There is a small upcharge for light-weight bodies. It's due to basic supply and demand. There are fewer available, and more people want them.


Ditto one-piece bodies, one-piece Lam Tops, unusually/highly figured woods, pure black ebony, etc, etc, etc.

 

[rgand]

There is a small upcharge for light-weight bodies. It's due to basic supply and demand. There are fewer available, and more people want them.

And yet lite beer is the same cost as full boat beer of the same brand. Of course, in spite of the name it weighs the same...

 

[aarontunes]

And yet lite beer is the same cost as full boat beer of the same brand. Of course, in spite of the name it weighs the same...

Ya...but ya see....nobody wants lite beer.  ccasion14:

 

[rgand]

And yet lite beer is the same cost as full boat beer of the same brand. Of course, in spite of the name it weighs the same...

Ya...but ya see....nobody wants lite beer.  ccasion14:

Of course! I shoulda thought about that.  :icon_thumright:

 

[spe111]

The answer to why they're more expensive is easy and not debatable... there's more demand.


Why there's more demand is debatable, I guess. The most obvious benefit is it's easier to have a light guitar strapped to your back for three hours.
Some people say it's critical to tone, some people say it doesn't matter at all. I think it's somewhere in between. I will say that I have had great sounding guitars that are heavy and bad/dead sounding guitars that were heavy. Every very light guitar I've had has sounded great to me. Maybe that's just a coincidence, but the sample size is pretty decent. This is all playing unplugged, of course, which is in my opinion the best way to tell about how the physical construction of the guitar is contributing to the final tone.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Well, when you have the statistical data to substantiate demand for one item/feature, over another, it makes for a legitimized argument.

Being a proponent for seven string guitars, and having quite a number of friends at the sevenstring.org forum, I had dozens and dozens of folks hounding me a decade ago when I worked at Warmoth to come up with 7 string options, but then you look at the data, even the record of inquiries, and by comparison they were extremely low compared to other inquiries.  I mean, extremely low, like under 10 in an entire year.

Supply is there, as Warmoth can make to order, but the demand is not.