Lightweight telecaster bodies?

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Hi all. I recently got my hands on a project telecaster which weighs a tonne!
It’s in the style of a tele esquire but has a strat neck and a solid ash body. So just the one pickup.
I play it sitting down and can imagine it’ll be heavy in a live scenario.
If I were to strip it and replace the body with a lighter weight one, what would you recommend? 
It does sing when I play it and I guess that might be down to the heavy body.
Apart from a custom body, I’m guessing any MIM or Squier body would be suitable as they’d be light weight usually?
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Comments

  • gavin_axecastergavin_axecaster Frets: 526
    edited June 2019 tFB Trader
    It's not quit that easy really. The same wood varies in weight/density. There's a reason aftermarket body manufacturers charge a premium for light wood.
    I have 2 Esquires made with Mighty Mite swamp ash bodies. One weighs 9.5lbs and the other under 7.
    Swamp ash is generally lighter than alder. "Regular" ash is heavier than both.
    Pine can be light or heavy - some early CV Teles were around the 7lb mark and some later were up in the 9s.
    Assuming vintage style parts a neck and hardware will add 3lb so if looking for a 7lb or under guitar buy a 4lb max body. Modern bridge, tuners and double action truss rod will add considerably more.
    My light Esquire has a 3lb 13oz body and weighs in at 6lb 12oz.
    So look for a seller that lists the body weight and choose one that will give you a guitar of your desired weight.
    (Here's where all the Les Paul players laugh at us Tele-wimps derisively...)
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    edited June 2019
    @gavin_axecaster not sure why my post didn't populate when I typed with the phone. Thanks for the detailed response!!
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  • SteveRobinsonSteveRobinson Frets: 6914
    tFB Trader
    Guitar Build have a stock of light wood and will make a light weight body but at a premium of course.

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  • MLten80MLten80 Frets: 162
    edited June 2019
    ^if you do buy from guitarbuild it's worth paying the upcharge or you'll end up with a poorly matched boat anchor



    (in my experience obviously, others may have had better experiences)

     have you though of something lighter like poplar ( *awaits sniggles and/or corksniffage)

    the mim bodies are usually multi piece with top & bottom laminates so not sure thatd save any weight.. my 2009 was near 4kg :( 

    squiers can be anything.. I'd look for a natural higher quality one as the affinitys etc can vary greatly in weight (again. imo)
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  • GoldenEraGuitarsGoldenEraGuitars Frets: 8820
    tFB Trader
    This is all totally subjective.... 

    OP - what do you regard as “weighs a tonne”?  
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    edited June 2019
    This is all totally subjective.... 

    OP - what do you regard as “weighs a tonne”?  
    I haven't weighed it, but it feels as heavy as the Tokai LP Custom copy I had a few years back, if not a bit heavier. 

    Here she blows:

    https://imgur.com/z83agwg

    https://imgur.com/0fvvZA9 ;

    It definitely feels way heavier than any MIM tele I've played. I tried it now with a wide strap and it doesn't feel too bad, but I'll see if I get on with the weight over the next few months. It sounds great though!
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  • Jez6345789Jez6345789 Frets: 1756
    its a premium but I have seen and own 1kg 1.1 kg swamp ash from guitar build
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  • lovestrat74lovestrat74 Frets: 2489
    This is all totally subjective.... 

    OP - what do you regard as “weighs a tonne”?  
    I haven't weighed it, but it feels as heavy as the Tokai LP Custom copy I had a few years back, if not a bit heavier. 

    Here she blows:

    https://imgur.com/z83agwg

    https://imgur.com/0fvvZA9 ;

    It definitely feels way heavier than any MIM tele I've played. I tried it now with a wide strap and it doesn't feel too bad, but I'll see if I get on with the weight over the next few months. It sounds great though!
    If it will always be an Esquire you could take a large smugglers route out under that pickguard.

    Also if you are thinking of changing the body but keeping the neck then you will need a custom one made with a strat pocket route 
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  • GoldenEraGuitarsGoldenEraGuitars Frets: 8820
    tFB Trader
    This is all totally subjective.... 

    OP - what do you regard as “weighs a tonne”?  
    I haven't weighed it, but it feels as heavy as the Tokai LP Custom copy I had a few years back, if not a bit heavier. 

    Here she blows:

    https://imgur.com/z83agwg

    https://imgur.com/0fvvZA9 ;

    It definitely feels way heavier than any MIM tele I've played. I tried it now with a wide strap and it doesn't feel too bad, but I'll see if I get on with the weight over the next few months. It sounds great though!
    Weigh it first then you’ll have a reference for what you class as heavy. I get people calling me and telling me that 4lb is heavy for a telecaster body which is ridiculous. I’ve stripped US tele bodies that weigh nearly 6lbs. So, don’t worry about country of origin when it comes to weight. Mexican, American... doesn’t matter. Squier bodies may not accept the parts you have on that body. 

    If you’re replacing the body you will need to know what weight to go for then make sure your current parts will fit.

    Ps - Gavin knows the score on this stuff, wise advice.
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    edited June 2019
    This is all totally subjective.... 

    OP - what do you regard as “weighs a tonne”?  
    I haven't weighed it, but it feels as heavy as the Tokai LP Custom copy I had a few years back, if not a bit heavier. 

    Here she blows:

    https://imgur.com/z83agwg

    https://imgur.com/0fvvZA9 ;

    It definitely feels way heavier than any MIM tele I've played. I tried it now with a wide strap and it doesn't feel too bad, but I'll see if I get on with the weight over the next few months. It sounds great though!
    Weigh it first then you’ll have a reference for what you class as heavy. I get people calling me and telling me that 4lb is heavy for a telecaster body which is ridiculous. I’ve stripped US tele bodies that weigh nearly 6lbs. So, don’t worry about country of origin when it comes to weight. Mexican, American... doesn’t matter. Squier bodies may not accept the parts you have on that body. 

    If you’re replacing the body you will need to know what weight to go for then make sure your current parts will fit.

    Ps - Gavin knows the score on this stuff, wise advice.
    Weighed the guitar and it’s 4.5 kg /9.92lbs

    i think the body was around 2.9kgs if I recall 

    Actually, I wonder if I got a chunk of wood taken out behind the scratchplate? That might lighten the load. There is no neck pickup route or anything in it, so maybe hollowing out beneath the scratchplate could lighten things a little bit.
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    This is all totally subjective.... 

    OP - what do you regard as “weighs a tonne”?  
    I haven't weighed it, but it feels as heavy as the Tokai LP Custom copy I had a few years back, if not a bit heavier. 

    Here she blows:

    https://imgur.com/z83agwg

    https://imgur.com/0fvvZA9 ;

    It definitely feels way heavier than any MIM tele I've played. I tried it now with a wide strap and it doesn't feel too bad, but I'll see if I get on with the weight over the next few months. It sounds great though!
    If it will always be an Esquire you could take a large smugglers route out under that pickguard.

    Also if you are thinking of changing the body but keeping the neck then you will need a custom one made with a strat pocket route 
    The strat neck on mine fit the tele pocket no problem 
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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 14322
    Pine can be light or heavy - some early CV Teles were around the 7lb mark and some later were up in the 9s.
    How about ex-railroad bridge Redwood? 
    Be seeing you.
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    Had a good whack off it earlier. Funnily enough, it feels heavier when you pick it up, and not as bad when it's around you neck. I did spy a 2.1kg black alder body which has piqued my interest.... 2.9kg to 2.1kg.....
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  • GoldenEraGuitarsGoldenEraGuitars Frets: 8820
    tFB Trader
    Had a good whack off it earlier. Funnily enough, it feels heavier when you pick it up, and not as bad when it's around you neck. I did spy a 2.1kg black alder body which has piqued my interest.... 2.9kg to 2.1kg.....
    https://i.imgur.com/HyhhpzJ.jpg

    https://i.imgur.com/cgIBCXI.jpg
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    Had a good whack off it earlier. Funnily enough, it feels heavier when you pick it up, and not as bad when it's around you neck. I did spy a 2.1kg black alder body which has piqued my interest.... 2.9kg to 2.1kg.....
    https://i.imgur.com/HyhhpzJ.jpg

    https://i.imgur.com/cgIBCXI.jpg
    Oooo very nice 
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    Very nice. I’ll keep my eyes open for a black body over the next few months on used market. I should have gone black the first day !
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    I’m thinking I might look at getting some of the body hollowed out under the pickguard and I’ll get it stained black so will still see the grain :)
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