9 lbs. is a lot. My solid body bass doesn’t even weigh that much.
For electric, I play a Guild T50. Mine is an original from the 60s rather than the reissue shown there. I bet it doesn’t weigh more than 5 or 6 lbs. Very versatile, good for rock, jazz, rockabilly, blues.
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If you’re looking for light, an ES-335/Epi Dot works, or a Telecaster Thinline.
Also ask yourself if switching to acoustic might be a good thing.
I broke 2 lumbar vertebrae, which mostly bothers me when I walk, but also when I sit too long. The main problem I’m having with playing is the 2 thoracic vertebrae I broke. That’s the area that’s hurting.
OK, I have three bulging thoracic discs, where if I do something like try to hold up a clothes hanger and put a shirt on it, it hurts like hell right between my shoulder blades. Is that what we’re talking, or is it the lumbar injury hitting you right above your butt when you play, or?
Cool! Folks love their classic guitars, and that one’s closing on 60! I’m afraid I’m more in the, “Isn’t it amazing, the quality you can get for about $100 these days?” club.
Also, I buy things over the computer. I know everyone says, “It’s important to hold it in your hand and try it out.” but I don’t have a car. When I bought it, I expected my strat-alike to weigh about 6-7 lbs, but clearly my expectations were off.
I was looking at something from Glarry guitars. If the Fireflys were ever in stock, I might consider one, but one of the things reviewers always talk about with Glarry guitars is how light they are - that, and how good they seem to be for the money.
No, it’s the thoracic thing. The lumbar thing, when it hurts, it doesn’t matter if I’m holding a guitar or not, it just hurts.
I thought about that.
So far, one of my main practice methods is playing Rocksmith, and that’s an electrical interface, so I really don’t want to switch to acoustic. Also, I don’t really want to switch, aside from the Rocksmith thing.
A Telecaster Thinline weighs about 6 1/2 pounds. You’d def feel a difference, but it’s not clear to me that weight itself is what’s giving you pain. It may be that just assuming the guitar position - leaning forward, arms in a wide circle - may pain you whatever the instrument specs.
It’s worth borrowing or something an acoustic, so you have a guitar that almost floats compared to your electric, to see if the weight itself is the issue.
Well, you have problems in your thoracic area. What do you think would happen if you started playing a 9 lb guitar - or do you already? I don’t know what you’re playing.
Your point is taken, WRT the positioning, and borrowing an acoustic.
Back pain is a bespoke issue, different from person to person. I don’t suffer pain playing guitar if I play in a chair at the correct height and sit up straight when I play and probably several other small adjustments I’m consciously not aware of. My thoracic pain is mostly about walking distances especially carrying anything at all, like a small backback with a water bottle inside - ouch.
So I take it you’re playing sitting down with a strap? I’m trying to picture what you’re doing here.
Have you considered adjusting your position so the guitar rests on your opposite leg, and using a footrest to elevate the leg? This changes the dynamic a bit and is quite comfortable.
No matter what I do, the guitar seems to slip off my leg. I suppose I’m making heavy use of the strap to support it.
I’ll try the classical hold the next time I practice. Thanks for the suggestion.
I also have the issue of heavier guitars slipping off my leg while playing, particularly my electric bass. I’ve solved this by using a piece of shelf liner between my leg and the guitar. Yeah, it’s dorkier than hell but I’m getting old enough I don’t give a shit and the only person that sees me is my wife and she already knows how dorky I am.
This sort of stuff:
You know, I thought about using that as well, but I don’t have any on-hand in the new place. Maybe I’ll pick some up. Thanks for the suggestion.
Maybe look at a hollowbody as well? Something like an Epiphone Wildkat, although it’ll be a bit more than a Glarry… A used one in good shape can be found for about $400. Great little guitar though!
When Mom wants to see your progress of your guitar lessons:
Ha, Awesome!
(but wow, that guy’s tone is so brittle-bright, ouch to listen to)
The one weird secret that will unlock your guitar hero potential:
What’s Chet playing here? Looks like a thinline something.