“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.”I happen to have one. But since I also have two German shorthair pointers who will devour any intruder for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (they are actually very sweet dogs, they simply don't suffer intruders gladly!), I have no need to use this beauty for any purpose other than playing the blues.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.
'56 Les Paul reissue in a one-off, limited-edition tobacco burst top. (They only made 150 of these in 2007.)
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.I had an MIM Strat once, when I needed a guitar and couldn't afford anything else. It was an okay guitar but not. even. close. to a Les Paul for playability and tonic depth. I've never played any other Fender guitar that gets anywhere near a Les Paul (I tried a couple of Telecasters once upon a time and they're not even worth using for canoe oars), and thank God I'm lucky enough to own a Les Paul now. Real friends don't let friends play Fender!
(On the other hand, I may despise their guitars but I love Fender amplifiers---I'll swear by them to the day I die!)