How much a guitar weighs is one of the main considerations when buying a new one
Weight affects playing comfort and the feel of picking up, lifting, etc
The average Gibson Les Paul weighs 9 – 12 pounds, or 4 – 55 kg
Gibson Les Pauls are notorious for being heavy and cumbersome
This is due to the woods used and the thickness of the guitars’ bodies
But there are many different models and types of Les Paul
If you are interested in the specific weight of a particular one, read on
Table of ContentsHow Much Does a Gibson Les Paul Weigh?
How much does a Gibson Les Paul weigh?
How much does a Gibson Les Paul weigh?
It’s almost impossible to get the exact weight of a guitar
This is because the density of wood used will be slightly different for each guitar
Each guitar and each model will have different characteristics that make their weights different
But we can look at the averages to get a rough idea of where the weight of a specific guitar model will be
For example, a Gibson Les Paul Standard will almost always be between 9-12 pounds (4-55 kg)
A Les Paul Junior is much lighter, weighing 31-36 kg (7-8 lbs)
Gibson Les Paul Weights by Model
The table below shows the different models of each Gibson Les Paul and their weight
These are approximate averages rather than specific weights, but will give you a good idea of where each model’s weight is going
Model
Weight
9-10 pounds (4-45 kg)
9-10 pounds (4-45 kg)
9-10 pounds (4-45 kg)
9-10 pounds (4-45 kg)
9-10 pounds (4-45 kg)
The Gibson Les Paul Standard weighs 9 to 12 pounds (4 to 55 kg)
The Gibson Les Paul Custom weighs 9 to 11 pounds (4 to 5 kg)
The Gibson Les Paul Junior weighs 31 to 36 kg (7 to 8 pounds)
The Gibson Les Paul Special weighs 31 to 36 kg (7 to 8 pounds)
The Gibson Les Paul Studio weighs 36 kg
The traditional Gibson Les Paul weighs 9 to 10 pounds (4-45 kg)
The Gibson Les Paul Tribute weighs 36 kg
The Gibson Les Paul Deluxe weighs 9 to 10 pounds (4 to 45 kg)
As you can see, all Les Paul models weigh around 7 to 12 pounds
There is a big difference between these models due to body size, wood used and hardware
Gibson Les Paul Weight Vs Fender Stratocaster
Compared to Stratocasters, most Gibson Les Paul types are heavier
Les Paul Junior’s and Special’s will be similar in weight to Strats – 7 to 8 pounds
But the Les Paul Standard, Custom and Traditional will all be heavier than a regular Stratocaster
Gibson Les Paul Peso Vs PRS
Gibson Les Paul’s and PRS’s are pretty similar weights
Most Les Pauls tend to be a bit heavier, with a range of 9-12 pounds, while PRS are mostly around 9 pounds
But Les Paul Junior’s and Special’s will be lighter than PRS’s
What Affects the Weight of a Gibson Les Paul
The body of the Les Paul is made from mahogany
Mahogany is a very dense wood, which makes the guitar heavier
It’s this heavier, denser wood that gives Les Pauls their full sound and longer sustain
It’s also what makes them known for being very heavy!
So if you want a lighter guitar, choose one that doesn’t use mahogany
The neck of the Gibson Les Paul is also made from mahogany
Mahogany jacks tend to sound a little darker than something like maple, but they are heavier
All the different parts of the guitar contribute to its weight
If a guitar has lick tuners, they tend to be heavier than normal ones
But for something like the Les Paul Junior it’s simplicity – a pickup, a volume and tone control, etc
Does weight affect tone?
Wood has a greater impact on tone than overall weight
Adding weight to your guitar using heavier parts will not improve or change the tone
But a denser, heavier wood, like Gibson uses mahogany for its guitars, creates a fuller sound and greater resonance and sustain
So now you know that a Gibson Les Paul weighs between 9 and 12 pounds
But it depends on the model, as the Junior and Special are noticeably lighter than the Custom and Standard
Overall though, the Gibsons are known as heavier guitars, especially when compared to the Fenders