The Dare Guitar Strap mentioned in the article is an alternative to the harness like “x-straps”. It’s relatively inexpensive and worth a try.

It may also possible to alter the guitar’s balance by shifting the front strap button but that will require some experimentation. Some guitarists have gone as far as adding weights to the opposite end of a guitar to improve balance. You might also look at light weight tuners to reduce the amount of mass at the headstock.

I have a futura custom explorer. The weight doesnt seem very well balanced (its a great guitar i mean!), but the neck just keeps diving towards the ground naturally, and makes playing hard for me. Do all explorers tend to have this problem?? and i dont prefer to get a x-shaped strap..any possible solutions?

Lu

Weight carried close to the torso is more easily carried and distributing the weight as evenly as possible helps to maintain a neutral posture. Hope that helps.

And check out what’s important in guitar ergonomics among several several guitar players and guitar makers. Food for thought.

If you’re really committed to the instrument, I’d recommend looking at ways to alleviate the strain. Take a look at Guitar Accessories for Ergonomics. You’ll find a few ideas including guitar straps to help distribute the weight more effectively as well as devices that can help position the instrument better while seated.

And Stretch….try yoga.

Good Luck

As far as balance and weight are concerned, you may want to look at some of the ergonomic guitar straps that exist. These help distribute weight across both shoulders reducing the impact of a heavy instrument. Take a look at the Dare Guitar Strap, for example. Also, check out some of my other articles in the Guitar Accessories category listed under Topics in the middle column.

As far as light weight off the shelf bass guitars, Parker Guitars makes basses that are under 7 lbs. You may want to check them out.

And, of course, there are any number of luthiers who can build you a custom instrument.

Let me know what you think and thanks for the comment!

I’m a bass player just recently developing bad wrist and forearm pain due to increased playing. Efforts towards improving my technique have not been going well, and I’ve always known my bass (a Schecter 4-string) is not well balanced, quite neck-heavy.

I’m considering buying a new bass. Can you recommend a kind that may be well balanced or generally lighter? Thank you,

Martin

The Sperzel soundlok w/plastic at 4.6 oz seems good to me! That’s even less thatn 8.0 oz. Now I have Grovers black ones on my recently acquired Babicz acoustic, which I am about to balance up a bit. I want a strap end pin button that are made of lead or cast iron as well!

I am sooo spoiled with my Klein balance! See what it does to me!

Update: I did a bit more digging around and came up with this Gearpage thread where one of the contributors listed the following weights:

Tuner weights
With associated bushings, washers, nuts and screws
Weighed using a Pelouze digital postal scale

Schaller Fender style locking, metal buttons 9.6 oz
Sperzel Trimlok locking w/ plastic button 7.0 oz
Sperzel Soundlok w/plastic button 4.6 oz
-these are the ones Jim is describing with the friction lock
Gibson Kluson Dlx, 10mm nut, plastic buttons 6.6 oz
Fender style Kluson Dlx, bushings, by Gotoh 5.0 oz
Grovers w/ metal tulips (90s ES 165) 9.0 oz

I wonder if you guys know of any guitar tuners (electric, not classical) that are made of some lightweight material, such as aluminium, or titan or similar. To reduce weight on headstock.

I know that HipShot makes a “hyperlite” series for bass, but they don’t have them for guitars.

Anyone?

I wonder if I should router out area’s in the back of the RD to lighten my load? What to you think?

Chris

If you go back and re-read the portion of my post referencing the Les Paul, you’ll see that I’m talking about dealing with the fact that weight reduction may not always be an option. Instead, I discuss a possible way to mitigate the weight problem because I recognize that certain guitars sound the way they do because of the way they’re built. That said, Gibson released a Les Paul Lite recognizing the original’s back breaking nature. And, the Les Paul’s sound and sustain is not solely a function of its weight. Scale length and choice of pickups are large contributors. Also, keep in mind that many guitarists play through some sort of effect and sound is often manipulated to such an extent that the original instrument is only a portion of the equation.

Thats what gives it sustain and beef … the weight is part of what makes it sound so great and unique ….

oh … and by the way , you have a great blog … interesting .