If you're buying a guitar for self-defense, I'd suggest an older Gibson Les Paul. Twelve-pounders are common and ones tipping the scales at slightly over thirteen pounds have been reported.
Those eight-and-half pound ash body Fender Stratocasters are for wimps. And don't get me started on the alder body Strats. May as well carry a ukulele.
I’ve got a Gibson SG, Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Telecaster. I’m going to go to the Tele for home defense. The bolt on neck of the Tele is more apt to stay in place after your initial whack to the intruder thus offering you additional opportunities to inflict more damage. The set neck Les Paul would more than likely not offer you a second chance as the body of the guitar would more than likely separate from the neck. My $.02
“If you’re buying a guitar for self-defense, I’d suggest an older Gibson Les Paul. Twelve-pounders are common and ones tipping the scales at slightly over thirteen pounds have been reported.”
The necks can break on a Les Paul, or any set neck guitar. A Fender Tele is the ultimate guitar weapon. Maple neck (bolt-on) Swamp ash. Speed could make up for mass. Townsend preferred Gibbys because he couldn’t break Fenders. Les Paul for tone, but Telecaster for skull cracking, IMO
“If you’re buying a guitar for self-defense, I’d suggest an older Gibson Les Paul. Twelve-pounders are common and ones tipping the scales at slightly over thirteen pounds have been reported.”
The reissue models will also work for this purpose (they have non-chambered bodies, just like the originals) without requiring a third mortgage on your house.
And don’t hate on Strats. I’m sure I could do plenty of damage with my poplar-bodied MIM Stratocaster if push came to shove.
Strats cut chords better, and they have more versatility with a tremolo and 5-way selector switch. Plus I’m a small guy so I’d prefer a lighter guitar.