I may have mentioned once or twice ( :roll: ) that I'm putting together a Strat. I've decided on "swamp" ash for the body, because I like the looks and it'll make a change from the many alder Strats I've owned in the past. The big question is how heavy a body should I go for?
I dismantled my hardtail Strat and found that the body weighs 4lbs, 8oz and the guitar weighs a few ounces under 8 pounds in total (it has heavier modern style hardware). I'd ideally like to knock a little off that total weight, especially since a trem system is a lot heavier than a hardtail bridge, so I've been looking at bodies around the 3.5lbs to 4.0lbs range - preferably at the lower end of that range.
However, I've read a few comments in various places (including the Warmoth site) saying that lightweight bodies can sound more resonant acoustically, but if they're "too light" they can lack midrange or sound indistinct and muddy. I don't want to fall into that trap, but how light is "too light"? You see people talking about great Strats and Teles which weigh less than 7lbs, but even with vintage hardware that means the bodies must be well under 4lbs.
I'm confused, basically. :? Any thoughts?
(I haven't totally ruled out getting a Warmoth hollow body ("these bodies remain stiff but light weight for that fat, rich tone with great sustain"), but I'm afraid it'll end up sounding like a Thinline which really isn't what I want.)
