archtop weight

[Greg Martin]

Is there a weight I should shoot for Mine came in at 1 once under 7 pounds.

[Dave Stewart]

Archtops tend toward the heavy side. When I was building, I used to track weights of everything (braced tops @ ass'y, backs, final box, final neck before finish, bridge etc.etc) to squeeze out the lowest weight I could. (Ken Parkers archtops are supposed to be on the 3 lb range, although I could never get close, be he had a lot of weight reducing tricks). Mine seemed to end up in the 2100+g range, which I was happy with.
I'd suggest keeping lots of stats on each so you can learn & make sense of variations in instruments.

[Greg Martin]

very interesting Dave 2100+-gr =about 4.6 pounds which Id be very happy with as well . mine at just under 7 pounds makes me start thinking about where the fat is and how to trim but Id have to shave 3 pounds to get to your weight, I dont know !!

Maybe by choosing tops and backs that are lighter to start with would be the biggest saver.

[Michael Lewis]

Much depends on what sort of dynamics you are looking for from your guitar. I think you can easily make your guitar too light to respond well acoustically. It's one thing to exercise your mind in pursuit of absolute minimal weight, and another to make the design you come up with work the way you want it to.

The neck is probably the heaviest part, and the blocks are pretty solid, but much weight can accumulate in the body. The thickness of the sides and the style and size of linings are an area that can be optimized. Regarding the top and back plates, there are ways to save some weight but I think these parts need some weight and physical size to function in the traditional manner.

Is anyone raving about the tone of the super light Parker guitars?

[Greg Martin]

Im not seeking the lightest guitar ever, but am afraid of over building and losing tone. I imagine it like an egg ,to much on either side ,to light or to heavy would not be good for max tone and player comfort.
My first one just completed came in fully loaded at just 1 once under 7 pounds. I could see the next one shaving a few onces off but not much more. I guess all things in moderation is good. Just wondered !

[Michael Imbler]

For better or worse, my 805ce eastman 16inch archtop is 5.75 pounds. It feels heavy to me, but all my other guitars are classicals,
Mike