How Much Does a Gibson Les Paul Weigh (All Models)

How much a guitar weighs is one of the main considerations that goes into buying a new one. The weight impacts on how comfortable it is to play and how it feels to pick up, stand with etc.

So how much does a Gibson Les Paul weigh? The average Gibson Les Paul weighs 9 – 12lbs, or 4 – 5.5kg. Gibson Les Paul’s are notorious for being weighty and heavy. This is due to the woods used and the thickness of the guitars body.

But there are many different Les Paul models and types. If you’re interested in the specific weight of a certain one then keep reading.

How Much Does a Gibson Les Paul Weigh?

It’s near impossible to get the exact weight for a guitar. That’s because the density of wood used will be slightly different for every guitar.

Each guitar and each model will have different characteristics that makes their weights different. That could be a few ounces all the way through to a few lbs.

But we can look at the averages to get a an idea of roughly where a specific guitar models weight will be. For example a Gibson Les Paul Standard will almost always be between 9-12lbs (4-5.5kg). A Les Paul Junior is much lighter at 7-8lbs (3.1-3.6kg).

Gibson Les Paul Weights by Model

The table below shows the different models of each Gibson Les Paul and the weight of them. These are rough averages rather than specific weights but they will give you a good idea of the whereabouts of each models weight.

Model	Weight
Standard	9-12lbs (4-5.5kg)
Custom	9-11lbs (4-5kg)
Junior	7-8lbs (3.1-3.6kg)
Special	7-8lbs (3.1-3.6kg)
Studio	8lbs (3.6kg)
Traditional	9-10lbs (4-4.5kg)
Tribute	8lbs (3.6kg)
Deluxe	9-10lbs (4-4.5kg)
Classic	9-11lbs (4.4-5kg)

Standard

The Gibson Les Paul Standard weighs from 9 to 12lbs (4-5.5kg).

Custom

The Gibson Les Paul Custom weighs from 9 to 11lbs (4-5kg).

Junior

The Gibson Les Paul Junior weighs from 7 to 8lbs (3.1-3.6kg).

Special

The Gibson Les Paul Special weighs from 7 to 8lbs (3.1-3.6kg).

Studio

The Gibson Les Paul Studio weighs from 8lbs (3.6kg).

Traditional

The Gibson Les Paul Traditional weighs from 9 to 10lbs (4-4.5kg).

Tribute

The Gibson Les Paul Tribute weighs 8lbs (3.6kg).

Deluxe

The Gibson Les Paul Deluxe weighs from 9 to 10lbs (4-4.5kg).

Classic

The Gibson Les Paul Classic weighs from 9 to 11lbs (4-5kg).

One thing worth noting about the Les Paul Classic – Gibson say it has weight relief but all my research says it’s virtually the same weight as Standard Les Paul’s. Something to keep in mind in case you were thinking of choosing the Classic due to it being lighter.

As you can see all the Les Paul models weigh around 7 – 12lbs. There is a fair amount of difference across those models due to the size of the body, wood used and hardware.

Gibson Les Paul Weight Vs Fender Stratocaster

Compared to Stratocasters most types of Gibson Les Paul’s will be heavier. Les Paul Junior’s and Special’s will be similar in weight to Strats – 7 to 8lbs. But the Les Paul Standard, Custom and Traditional will all be heavier than a regular Stratocaster.

Gibson Les Paul Weight Vs PRS

Gibson Les Paul’s and PRS’s are fairly similar weights. Most Les Paul’s will tend to be slightly heavier with a range of 9 to 12lbs whereas PRS’s are mainly around the 9lbs. But Les Paul Junior’s and Special’s will mostly be lighter than PRS’s.

What Affects the Weight of a Gibson Les Paul

Body

The body of Les Paul’s are made from mahogany. Mahogany is a very dense wood which makes the guitar heavier. It’s this heavier, denser wood that gives Les Paul’s their full sound and longer sustain.

It’s also what makes them known for being very heavy! So if you want a lighter guitar then choose one that doesn’t use mahogany.

Neck

The neck on Gibson Les Paul’s is also made from mahogany. Mahogany jacks tend to sound a bit darker than something like maple but are heavier.

Hardware

All the different parts of the guitar contribute to its weight. So the bridge, tuners, pickups etc.

If a guitar has licking tuners they tend to be heavier than regular ones. But for something like the Les Paul Junior it’s simplicity – one pickup, one volume and tone control etc. – helps to keep it lighter overall.

Does Weight Impact Tone?

The wood has a larger impact on tone than the overall weight. Adding weight to your guitar by using heavier parts isn’t going to improve or alter the tone.

But a denser and heavier wood, like Gibson uses mahogany for its guitars, creates a fuller sound and greater resonance and sustain.

Conclusion

So now you know that a Gibson Les Paul weighs between 9 to 12lbs. But it does depend on the model as the Junior’s and Special’s are noticeably lighter than the Custom’s and Standard’s. Overall though Gibson’s are known as heavier guitars especially when compared to the likes of Fender.