lightweight Jazz guitar recommendations

[alanfaber]

I am looking for a relatively lightweight electric guitar for jazz. I currently have a Heritage H555 (it's basically a copy of a Gibson ES-335). I have a weak back and my back aches after playing for half an hour. I also own a Strat. Any recommendations? I frequently play fingerstyle so the fingerboard can't be narrow. The guitar doesn't need to have the traditional jazz guitar appearance, but needs to be comfortable (although that is subjective).

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Alan

[Doctor Jeff]

The Godin Kingpin is an obvious choice - very lightweight and versatile guitar. This is the lightest guitar I have ever owned. It has a neck made for fingerpicking as well.

A classical A/E would also be lightweight. I have an Alvarez AC60SC which I use for jazz. I used to have an RC20SC, which is no longer made, but which had a fairly narrow fingerboard which was great for jazz but lousy for classical. It is very cheap, and I bet you could find one used for a song. If you want to spend more you can check out the Taylor nylon string A/E's, some of which have a relatively narrow radiused fingerboard which IMO is better suited for jazz.

My FrankenTele is lightweight because it has a Paulownia body - at least a pound lighter than regular swamp ash Teles.

I think a smaller body guitar like the Gibson or Epi 339 or a Gibson ES-135 would be an improvement as well, although in truth I do not know exactly how much they weigh, but when I have played them I note how much lighter and more compact they are compared to the 335 and 175.

[FatJeff]

The Godin Kingpin is an obvious choice - very lightweight and versatile guitar.

+1 The best thing about this guitar is its light weight. And the other best things are the workmanship, the neck, the finish, the look, and the sound.

[ruiner54]

I would agree that the Godin is extremely light...probably the lightest I have come across.

[Nuff Said]

Most pre 1950 archtops are lighter than the modern mass produced archtops.

Nuff

[pingu]

AR371CE Electric Archtop

These are light (5lbs) see thread above

[kris]

very light: Soloette or Frameworks.

[mambosun]

I am looking for a relatively lightweight electric guitar for jazz. I currently have a Heritage H555 (it's basically a copy of a Gibson ES-335). I have a weak back and my back aches after playing for half an hour. I also own a Strat. Any recommendations? I frequently play fingerstyle so the fingerboard can't be narrow. The guitar doesn't need to have the traditional jazz guitar appearance, but needs to be comfortable (although that is subjective).

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Alan

Epiphone Casino?

[Nuff Said]

very light: Soloette or Frameworks.

I agree, the Frameworks must be the lightest. Weight: app. 1850 gr. / 4.08 lb

Nuff

[marcwhy]

If you're needing light plus you have back concerns, I'd highly recommend a klein-style ergonomic guitar. Kleins are too expensive, IMO, so I'd go for Forshage, Canton, or Curtis Guitars. Forshage's website is WAY out of date (Chris -- are you reading this?!), but if you searched here or looked at http://buildingtheergonomicguitar.com , you'll see some beautiful examples of his work. You can play these for hours with no problem -- and they sound great!!

[Tom Karol]

AR371CE Electric Archtop

These are light (5lbs) see thread above

My new Eastman AR403 is also around 5 lbs. It's also 16" wide, but it's only 2 9/16" deep. I find it extremely comfortable.

[Patrick2]

I am looking for a relatively lightweight electric guitar for jazz. I currently have a Heritage H555 (it's basically a copy of a Gibson ES-335). I have a weak back and my back aches after playing for half an hour. I also own a Strat. Any recommendations? I frequently play fingerstyle so the fingerboard can't be narrow. The guitar doesn't need to have the traditional jazz guitar appearance, but needs to be comfortable (although that is subjective).

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Alan

Alan: Firstly, an H555 is actually a copy of the ES355, not the 335. But, the weight is the same so I understand your point.

I actually think you might be dealing with this problem in the wrong way. I'm not sure that a guitar which might be 2 or 3 pounds lighter is going to help that much if you have a weak back. Is your back actually weak? Or is it damaged/injured? If it's weak, the best course of action might be to strengthen it. If it's damaged/injured and you can't do the necessary excersises to strengthen it, (or you just don't care to) then you probably should consider playing while seated. Even with a lighter guitar, you risk further damage to your back and at the very least, the pain/discomfort will take you off your game in your performance with the guitar. You certainly wouldn't be the first jazz guitarist to play while seated.

Good luck with your dilemma. A bad back really sucks.

[thrush40]

Eastman El Ray. Great jazz tones, small bodied and light!

[Atticus]

I don't know how wide you need your fingerboard, but as far as weight is concerned, a Thinline Tele is about the lightest guitar I've ever played, and through a good amp they sound excellent for jazz.

[Flat]

I've got a Heritage 535 (semi-hollow) and a 1957 Gibson ES-225 (hollow). Huge difference in the weight, as you might expect. I would love to find a guitar that felt like the 225 but sounded like the 535.

The 535 weights 7.68 pounds; the 225 weighs 5.9. Even that small difference (1.78 pounds) feels pretty huge to me.

The only thoughts I could add:

1. Do you need a semi-hollow? Fully hollowbody guitars are going to be lighter, in general. Of course, feedback can become an issue. I'm sure you already know this, but I mention it just the case. An old 225 could fit the bill, if the tone was right for you.

2. If weight is the critical issue, something like this Yamaha Silent guitar might be worth a look, depending on your musical interests. I've never played one, but it's gotta be light, I would imagine.

3. Have you seen some of Jim Soloway's beautiful guitars? He's on the forum here. Some are apparently very light, very ergonomically comfortable to play. Beautiful sounds, too. Definitely on my lust list. If I had back problems, (knock maple) I'd probably sell my 535 and 225 and try to find one of his lovelies.

4. My Sadowsky Jim Hall weighs 6.04 lbs, almost as light as the 225.

[Frank67]

very light: Soloette or Frameworks.

+1 - have a JazzFrame with a Kent Armstrong and a piezo pickup and it is an absolutely amazing instrument. I bought it because i travel a lot and don't want to miss out on practice time. Overall I must say this is a crazy good instrument that sounds as good as a big Jazz box and plays like a dream. The slightly wider fingerboard takes some getting used to but I also like to play with my fingers and for that it is very comfortable. It feels so good to play this guitar. It weighs nothing and yet sits comfortably on your body. Disassembled it easily fits in an airplane overhead compartment - and, uhm, if you need something to talk to to a flight attendant during a boring flight :-) Can't say enough good things about this design!

[kris]

+1 - have a JazzFrame with a Kent Armstrong and a piezo pickup and it is an absolutely amazing instrument. I bought it because i travel a lot and don't want to miss out on practice time. Overall I must say this is a crazy good instrument that sounds as good as a big Jazz box and plays like a dream. The slightly wider fingerboard takes some getting used to but I also like to play with my fingers and for that it is very comfortable. It feels so good to play this guitar. It weighs nothing and yet sits comfortably on your body. Disassembled it easily fits in an airplane overhead compartment - and, uhm, if you need something to talk to to a flight attendant during a boring flight :-) Can't say enough good things about this design!

is it Frameworks jazz model?
http://www.frameworks-guitars.com/steel.html

[Frank67]

is it Frameworks jazz model?
STEEL-STRING

Yes and no. It is the Jazz model. But not the regular one because it has no midi option. It was a special run of the JazzFrame that Frank Krocker offered to me and i liked the idea of having a piezo and a magnetic pickup better than a synth output that i don't really need. I am actually impressed with the piezo. The first ever that does not sound harsh and thin. The magnetic pickup is just gorgeous in its sound (i guess it is a Kent Armstrong slimbucker). There is a knob to blend the two which can be used to give a bit more bite to the mellow tone of the magnetic pickup.

[Marcis]

I am looking for a relatively lightweight electric guitar for jazz. I currently have a Heritage H555 (it's basically a copy of a Gibson ES-335). I have a weak back and my back aches after playing for half an hour. I also own a Strat. Any recommendations? I frequently play fingerstyle so the fingerboard can't be narrow. The guitar doesn't need to have the traditional jazz guitar appearance, but needs to be comfortable (although that is subjective).

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Alan

Sadowsky semi-hollow the most light and very very good sounding guitar I ever had

[kris]

Yes and no. It is the Jazz model. But not the regular one because it has no midi option. It was a special run of the JazzFrame that Frank Krocker offered to me and i liked the idea of having a piezo and a magnetic pickup better than a synth output that i don't really need. I am actually impressed with the piezo. The first ever that does not sound harsh and thin. The magnetic pickup is just gorgeous in its sound (i guess it is a Kent Armstrong slimbucker). There is a knob to blend the two which can be used to give a bit more bite to the mellow tone of the magnetic pickup.

I use my modern classic Frameworks.This is one of the best nylon strings jazz guitar I ever had.Exelent work.
I am thinking about ordering new JazzFrame.

[Frank67]

I use my modern classic Frameworks.This is one of the best nylon strings jazz guitar I ever had.Exelent work.
I am thinking about ordering new JazzFrame.

I heard you playing it - You are a wonderful player. Lightyears ahead of me! I still appreciate a nice instrument. I bet you will not be disapointed with the Jazzframe. It is such a nice piece of work and although not cheap, it is worth every Euro in my opinion. I will never part with mine.

[kris]

I heard you playing it - You are a wonderful player. Lightyears ahead of me! I still appreciate a nice instrument. I bet you will not be disapointed with the Jazzframe. It is such a nice piece of work and although not cheap, it is worth every Euro in my opinion. I will never part with mine.

Thanks
Jazzingly
Kris

[Retroman1969]

I have a bad back and occasionally throw it completely out leading to a month or two of painful recovery time, so I can sympathize.
The two lightest and most comfortable guitars I've ever owned/played are the aforementioned Godin and my current (also aforementioned) Eastman AR371. I've had it weighed and it comes in a hair over 4.5 pounds and feels like air.

No matter what I'm playing, to play comfortably for hours and keep the pressure and strain off of my back, I sit in a firm chair with a lumbar support (those drummer's stools with the ergonomic short backrests are ideal and easy to take to gigs)... In addition to this, I always wear a strap (pulled fairly short) so that I can lean back into the backrest of the chair instead of hunching over the guitar.

These things take care of the guitar/back-problem issues for me quite effectively.
All the best.

[fumblefingers]

Benedetto Manhattan. Bob's guitars are light.

also, the nut width is a wide 1 3/4".

[Hammertone]

Lightweight AND comfortable jazz guitar = Hofner Jazzica.

I can do this all night....