@reylegacy619 mustang and Jaguar do. Jazz is 25.5, BUT, narrows better than strat does toward the nut so it feels different. Modern ones don't have any difference in necks really, but the vintage ones did.
I've always envied players who can wrap their thumb over the top of the fret board to avoid having to play barred chords. Thanks for the advice. I'm amazed I didn't think to check out TH-cam for advice years sooner.
I have brachydactyly type d - which is basically the 3rd thumb joint is short. I think Megan Fox made it mildly famous at one point as she has the same. It's the beginning and end of things I have in common with Megan Fox. It's a genetic thing and typically affects either one or both thumbs. No chance at all that I can play the low e with my thumb. Not even close. Oddly I wasn't aware that my thumbs were weird growing up nor when I read the idea that you can play the low E like that, tried and thought "No I can't" - and moved on. I didn't really have an explanation until it cropped up on the internet when I was mid 40s and I thought "Oh that's what my thumbs are like" I guess since most of the modern guitarists at the time I was a keen teenager were Vai et al the thumb over the neck wasn't a huge part of it anyway and I think now barred chords are even less of a thing in my playing. Now it does make me wonder how the neck thickness would affect it. I've not really had a ton of opportunities to play Ibanez - and they seem even more remote now that you more or less have to buy a guitar online without touching it. I've been planning to buy a new guitar for some time and I've switched from one series to another. Then I noticed that the AZ and Q series have thicker necks than the RG and I wondered if I'd be better with the thinner wizard neck.
I did exactly the same thing, except from a strat to a duo sonic. I love the 24 scale length. However I really like strat/tele tones, so I have compromised... I now play strats/teles with conversion necks 24.75" scale... good medium ground!
@@benpotter4905 I agree. I too am cursed with stubby fingers. I have lots of different guitars, I always seem to wind up back on a Fender Tele or Strat. I have a 50's CV Tele that is great... except for the giant table leg neck. I screwed up and impulse bought it when I caught it on sale, rather than trying on at Guitar Center first. Arthritis and poor health have really slowed down my playing. When I do play I will start on the CV and then switch to one of my others. The other seems easy to play after fighting the ball bat.
It’s a weird combination of these factors. I have small hands and play well, fast leads with stretches, think tornado of souls or Lucretia solos from Megadeth. I have found after only playing Gibson scales or jag 24in for many years, as I thought I needed a shorter scale to play my best, I discovered I play my best on 25.5 scale length but with narrow nut width and thinner neck with tall frets. Warmoth makes a standard thin neck with 1 5/8 nut width and tall 6115 frets and it’s the best neck for me after dozens of short scale guitars I’ve collected over the years, it almost doesn’t make sense to me😵💫
Thank you for talking about it. As a fellow 'small hand' guitarist - there was even a time I wanted to drop guitar playing completely, as comparing myself to players with large hands/long fingers made it look as if I am never going to play good. But, in the end - found, that there are ways to make even guys like me sound acceptable and have a road to progress. Just need to be aware of my limitations and play around them (pun intended)
No worries buddy, I know how you feel the playing on my summertime demos is way better and this is because I fractured my hand and broke my little finger,the room I film in is absolutely freezing so not only is it hard to play in the cold but also my hand is so damn painful. I can’t put a heater on because the heat from the heater makes heatwaves and the camera picks them up 🤣🤣 It’s a nightmare
Good video I have the same problem. I have been playing an LTD EC 1000s for 15 years and I find them very comfortable. Another suggestion I would make is don't wear your guitar real low, with small hands trying to do a Jimmy Page imitation will not be good for your playing. Great commentary Neil.
Yes ive been tryna add to the ec1000 401 fam but havent found one. I have an Ibanez S but you need a .42 low e strat style. I just got an Aria Pro Jet1 strat neck and radius but 24.75 so I can string a .46 low e w a trem i replaced w a steel Gotoh.
I love Ibanez....except for the three piece necks. I don't care much for those particular kind of necks. Three piece necks don't affect playability, but they sure do play tricks with the tone. Other than that all my axes would be Ibanz's.🙂
I have a Fender Strat with rolled fingerboard edges. What a nice neck that is. It feels so comfortable in my hands. It's like night and day compared to other necks.
I have small/medium length, chubby fingers. The best neck I’ve ever played is 25.5” scale length, with a ‘59 Les Paul carve, and insanely low action. It’s also de-tuned a half step so the strings are slinklier than normal.
I have a Fender Professional ll Strat that has a fatter than normal neck for a Stratocaster. I have small hands and at first I didn't think I liked it but I actually love it now as It seems less stressful on my hands. In contrast I have a Schecter Nick Johnston Strat(awesome) that has a super thin neck that feels fantastic but the fatter Fender neck allows me to play it comfortably for longer periods.
Im in the same boat, I’ve found that the fatter neck makes for less hand fatigue. When when I grip the neck it fills up my palm and my hand/wrist/forearm stays more relaxed.
Yup. There’s part of me that agrees with him about smaller hands doing better with a smaller guitar neck… but at the same time,,, guitars aren’t huge, and all 6 string regular guitars are going to be in a certain range… If you have smaller hands or bigger hands, I think a large part of it is just getting used to how the guitar is. You can adjust to a bigger/smaller neck. And like you’re saying, just because it’s a bigger neck doesn’t mean you won’t like it if you have smaller hands… it’s really a more individualistic thing… Plus there’s the factor of what actually are “small hands”. Some people think small means you wear small sized gloves, some people think small hands is anything smaller than large hands. Some people might not have actually small sized hands, but their hands are just small proportionally for their bodies. Some people may not have where their palm area is normal size or larger than normal, but their fingers are smaller in proportion to the palm area, which can give their hands the appearance of being “small” but their entire hand length may be average length… The point is, you gotta try out lots guitars. Just because you have big/small hands doesn’t mean you won’t like a big/small neck. You may also not really like the way a neck feels at first, then once you get used to it you love it. Hard to say
@@michaelheller8841 TRUE THAT! As the pick-ups make a big difference, they give me an array of sound choices. And because it's a semi-hollow body, I can kick back in my chair, kick my feet up and go 'unplugged'.
I'd love a 335 but their about $12,000 where I live. I have a Casino which is probably the closest thing although I'm not sure how the neck compares to a 335.
@@halloweenjack4482 I bought mine back in 1987, and I haven't even thought to look at it's worth. Ultimately, I just to sit back and play it unplugged...nothing like the rich tones of a semi-hollow body.
No it doesn't practice makes perfect if you make excuses you won't achieve anything I've seen children shred on a full size seven string! So if this video comforts your lack of effort then what ever I guess
You are *wrong! I have *small hands & there are some things I simply can not do. One thing is a pull off from the 7th to the 3rd fret on the lower E string. You can practice all day and night but it is just a physical impossibility for somebody with small hands! I've tried right hand tapping it but the effect is just not the same. By your comment I'm guessing you don't have to deal with this *problem. So believe what you want to believe. @@Yee-ole-benjaminbutton
@@Yee-ole-benjaminbuttonwhat a stupid rude comment. Horrible take. The person you replied to is sharing how finding the better hardware for their body and hands has worked out better for them and you’ve decided to try to undercut that effort. Good luck with with whatever is going wrong in your life loser.
why make playing hard its not a marathon there's no medal for who can play the thickest neck,im pretty sure you wouldn't saw a tree down with a hacksaw if you have a chainsaw
Fender Mustang. It should have never been passed off or relegated to "student guitar." Although the Japanese version feels almost that (still excellent). Point? With light weight, small neck and radius, the Mustang deserves to be built with the same conviction strats and teles are. I wish they had put more effort/intent into the P90 Mustangs. They deserve it. Comfortable is the future of practiced musicians..
Duo Sonic also. Offset Series, Player Series, and current Player II Duo Sonics not only have a 24" scale, but a thinner neck than same year Mustangs. So someone with genuinely small hands should check a Duo Sonic.
I’ve got a 1999 cij mustang and it’s one of the most comfortable necks I’ve ever played, the 90’s Japanese mustangs are real beauties, it’s subjective but imo they’re much better than the Mexican mustangs with the p90’s & the vintera’s, both of which I have owned
I have a Yamaha Pacifica that has an amazing neck, and it's my main player. I also have an Ibanez with a Wizard II neck that's my number 2 guitar. My third is a Les Paul Special. I keep that for sentimental reasons, but after playing the other 2, its neck feels fatter to me. It's interesting that the other 2 necks come from Japan, where people are generally small in stature to begin with. I jokingly tell other players that I have "Japan hands."
I play Hagstroms. I have 5, 2 triple O acoustics and 3 electrics. Two vintage electrics with a Viking and a Swede. I also have a Fender Acoustisonic with an outstanding neck profile for my itty bitty hands.
I’ve owned everything from Gibson, Fender, ESP, PRS etc.. 24.5 seems easier to play, but I feel it to be more of a preference related to string tension. I have small-medium hands. Huge palms, short fingers. I don’t struggle with 25.5, or nut width. Neck size does play a factor and action. I’ve always struggled with complex jazz chord shapes that stretch across the fret board, but speed and vibrato never a problem.
I have a 2018 LP Classic, 1989 Ibanez rg 550, an Epiphone Alley Cat (a great hollow body ) a 69 Mustang and I just recently acquired a 1966 vintage Jazzmaster! The jazz plays like your hands are gripping a stick of warm butter. It stays in tune, the intonation is practically perfect. It’s by far the best playing guitar in the house. I have small hands and medium length fingers. I highly recommend anyone to go find one and take it for a test drive 🎸
Man thats a nice collection. I have 2 guitars like that. One is a Delatera Tele by Dean Zelensky and the other was a guitar built by a guy who plays in a 2 hit wonder band. After my house flooded and lost 90% of my gear he gave me a GT-3 and this guitar. By looking at it, it wouldn't be the guitar you pick out but it's the best guitar I've ever played.
I measured my little finger. It's exactly 2 inches long. Now, go look at the "super" guitar players and notice how long their little finger is. Look at Van Halen, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Paige, Steve Vai ... you get the idea. I guarantee you their little fingers are at least 3 inches long if not more. A 25.5 scale length neck is going to be much easier for them to play than it is for me. That's why I ordered a Fender Stratocaster from Japan. The ONLY PLACE you can buy a Stratocaster with a 24 inch scale neck. They don't even sell them in the United States. It's a Japanese exclusive.
Would you say scale length is a factor in helping players with smaller hands? I have both a strat with a 25.5" and an SG with a 24.75" scale length which does seem a bit easier than the strat to stretch further.
@@koolkutz7 24" scale would be easier than a Strat. Just bought a Vintera Jaguar. Nut to 3rd fret on a Strat is 103mm. Jaguar is 96mm. So a 7mm difference. So not a lot, but everything helps .
I'm a guy with US Size S Men hands. Another guitar to look at are the Squier Strats from the late 1990s and early 2000s. I had an 2001 Affinity with a 40.5mm nut and what had to be the slimmest neck Ive ever grabbed. It was skinny all the way down to the heel. And of course as an Affinity, it had a thinner body so the heel area was easier to grab around because the neck pocket floor is thinner by about a quarter inch (6mm). Regarding Ibanez (I never had Schecters so can't say anything about them), I think their guitars, especially the MIJ guitars were made to the Japanese player dimensions. As ye may be aware, a typical Japanese person is smaller than a typical Caucasian size. That's why the necks are slimmer and thinner and the bodies are cut with longer, wider and deeper contour cuts. I very much like Ibanez. And yeah, their pups are IMO generally rather weak, so they're often swapped out. All but two of my Ibanez had their pups swapped out. The two exceptions are left in because one is a 1986 vintage all-original Roadstar II Deluxe (RG450). Not everyday ye see an unmolested 1980s SuperStrat. The other is a vintage relic 1989 RG565R which is a rare guitar that had seen professional gigging action for 30 years and EARNED it's battle scars. It too is all-original and the electronics needed a bit of TLC (switch and pots are worn out). I opted to leave the OE stacked single neck and humbucker bridge pups in since these pups are part of this guitar's history. It helps that these pups actually sounds pretty good. I was told these particular stockers are overwound a bit more than normal.
Well you're completely right. My first and only guitar I bought new is a Squier strat made in the republic of China (= Taiwan) in 97 or 98, 99, don't remember exactly. Later on I got a second hand fender USA strat. I often say, I prefer the Squier to the Fender, because the neck feels completely different in my hand, besides I put 9 strings on the Squier, wheras on the fender I have 10s. A nice neck is also on my Yamaha pac 612, a pretty nice guitar with more features than Fender has. And finally my Gibson tribute 2017 is my favorite guitar, when it comes to neck size and scale length. I don't have extremely small hands or fingers, but I guess too short ones for my fender neck of 1998.
I have a Squier Affinity Strat from the same period as yours, I also have amongst other guitars, a Fender Strat. Nine times out of ten I will pick up the Squier. Doesn't have the tone of the Fender, but the playability to me, with small chunky fingers, is just light years ahead!!
Brilliant and well put together information, thank you. For anyone with small hands and fingers interest, I've just picked up a well used Gordon Smith GS-2, and it's perfect. Try one if you can find one.....
Epiphone Special II As long as you tape off the fretboard and polish the scratchiness out of the frets with steel wool when you first buy it, it remains one of the most comfortable necks and fretboards for smaller hands. It is an absolute rock machine for the money. I find them used on Marketplace for around $125 -$150, because it is so many people's first guitar, but I have all manners of Gibsons and Epiphones and these are some off my favorite guitars to rip into. Easy to play and a lot of fun. Great tone to boot! Anyone can easily but comfortably, get their hands around the board.
They can be great players but they most all need a level and crown to get low action. The tuners need replacing too. Some have very playable necks for smaller hands… some are chunky. You have to try them to find one that’s thinner.
My first guitar as a beginner was an Ibanez Azes40. I was an absolute noob but boy now I realize how that guitar had the absolute wrong fretboard radius and neck shape for my hands. I now found my "red" and "blue" pill :) A Gibson Les Paul 60s standard (tapered neck, love it) and a Fender American Performer Telecaster (modern C neck shape).
Almost all LTDs have 42mm nut they are also primarily made a World Music in SK. Also all the EVH Wolfgang models have a 42mm (R2) nut and the US and JP models have vintage stainless steel frets (the EBMM Axis has the same and the Peavey HP2 are smaller but not vintage). I have medium hands but not super long fingers, the Wolfgang and new Peavey HP2 are literally perfect. I've also got an Ibanez J Custom 8750Z and it's got tone for days as does my Genesis 570 but Ibanez uses a 43mm (R3) nut. Also many older Strats had a more narrow nut as well. Very good points that many people don't think about.
I'll be damned if I'm going to switch to Schecter. I have sanded down Fender necks to make them more playable. The sandpaper in *my* hand leads to the perfect shape in the end.
I’m 5’4” with smaller hands than most. Been playing 60 years and tried them all. For me, the neck has to be thin in thickness and narrow in width, but most importantly, has to have the appropriate nut width for your hand. I demand great sound, which comes through quality craftsmanship and electronics; therefore, all of my electrics are G&L, which I buy ‘made to order’ (not custom) with a Slim C neck and a 1 5/8” (41mm) nut. My acoustic guitars are Takamine. If you don’t have the kind of money for these guitars, I’d recommend you look into Vola over Schecter, Ibenez or Jackson. If you can afford a second mortgage, a vintage Fender or Gibson can be had with a smaller neck.
Your right about Ibanez having a small neck like my 1983 Roadstar 530 but the pickups didn't sound that great. I have small hands an learned on a 1976 Stratocaster. Loved that guitar also. The 7.25 inch radius helped with bends. My 2000 Les Paul Standard felt like playing a landscaping tember even if it was beautiful.
I have rather small hands and have been playing a Seagull Acoustic with a 45mm nut width for years now. I chose this specific guitar - with a larger nut width - as I like to play fingerstyle and bang out cowboy chords around the campfire. I originally come from a classical background, thus I am used to playing a nylon string guitar with the larger 52mm nut width. However, my musical tastes have evolved over the years. I now play more bluegrass, rock and blues lead guitar. Recently, I picked up an old vintage Ovation acoustic at my local music shop and it felt perfect, thus, I bought it on the spot. The nut width is 43mm and the neck is nice and round, fitting my hand just right - a wonderful find to be sure! As a result, I have experienced a positive uptick in not only comfort but more importantly my lead playing ability and fretting dexterity when on an acoustic instrument....mind you, I do switch back to my Seagull when playing a fingerstyle tune and I do use my electric 335 when jamming with friends.....I've owned many guitars over the last 45 years and I don't think there is one guitar that can do it all....especially if your playing style is eclectic in nature. The Ovation "Balladeer" is the closest multi - dimensional guitar I have owned to date. It also comes with a built in pick up thus you can plug in when necessary. Ovation was all the rage when I was a teenager back in the early 80s - though they were super expensive at the time and thus out of reach for most of us mere mortals - I've often wondered what happened to the company as they were so popular for some time - everyone from Jimmy Page, Steve Howe to Paul Simon and even Eddie Van Halen played an Ovation at one point in their careers - anyway, that's my long-winded two cents worth - If you happen to stumble across an old Ovation and have smallish hands, give it a spin. I am quite sure you will find it to be a good fit - cheers folks!!
I have a solid body D’Angelico Premier (my wife picked it out) that has a narrow fretboard and fairly wide frets. The combination seems to work very well. I don’t think my hands are particularly small but I’ve got carpal tunnel in both hands (and a bad back from five years in the infantry) so I prefer to “try on” a guitar live in a music store.
I have smaller hands, yet the guitars I find the most comfortable to play have thick neck profiles (i.e. 70's strats & most telecasters) and a rounder fretboard radius (9-10"). Thinner necks like the Ibanez Wizard necks often caused my fretting hand to cramp.
I bought myself a Squier Mini to take it on trips and I'm loving it! Why not just consider 2/3 scale guitars. If you have small hands I would say that the only donwside is that you have a couple frets less.
For shorter but thick fingers, Epiphone or Gibson ‘61 style heel SG. Flat, wide, and thin. Great upper fret access that you don’t have on guitars with big heels like LP’s, Strats & Teles, and most others.
I play a Les Paul Standard, but tried some Fender 51 vintage and classic-feel guitars at the shop a few days ago. All had u-shaped necks (think baseball bats!). I am still suffering from the resulting hand pain (I have arthritis in both hands, and - like you - have chunky hands with shortish fingers). The chap in the shop said to me “Have you ever tried a metal or shredder guitar?”. What a shock! They are a joy to play. Ok, it’s not my type of music (I play classic rock and blues- badly), but what an eye opener those guitars were in terms of keeping my guitar playing days going with their super slim necks etc.
I injured my hands. I had no choice but to lower the gauge and tune do. Think Billy Gibbons. It’s either that or nothing for me. Billy has no hand issues as far as I know and he’s been playing decades. I think we all start at 14 yrs old though. Average age where we don’t think about these issues.
🎯 Key points for quick navigation: 00:00:00 *🎸 Introduction to choosing the right guitar brand and neck size for your hands.* 00:12:00 *🖐️ Guitar playing should be effortless; choose a guitar that suits your hand size to avoid injury and enhance enjoyment.* 01:32:00 *🎶 For small hands, consider factors like nut width, fret size, and neck dimensions to find a comfortable guitar.* 02:15:00 *🎚️ Opt for guitars with narrower nut widths (42mm or below) for easier string traversing and less strain on small hands.* 03:34:00 *🎸 Choose guitars with medium frets and thinner neck profiles (like the Schecter Thin C) for faster, more comfortable playability with small hands.* Made with HARPA AI
Tried them all but the one that fit the best every time I tried one was the EBMM Luke 3. I finally bit the bullet(not cheap) and bought one. Incredible instrument!
Fender is 9 1/2 " neck radius to " 14 Neck Radius 25 1/2" scale length like most guitars I mentioned. Jackson/Charvel 12"-16" compound radius in either 24 3/4" scale length or 25 1/2 " scale length.... keep in mind Gibson's, fenders have medium jumbo frets
I’m guilty of only ever trying one once ,I’m not a fan of the way they look which I know shouldn’t matter but I think it stops me picking one up I should try and get one in the channel tbh
I have shorter fingers, and learned on a Strat copy, so when I first came across a Fender Lead 1 (this was back in the early 80's), I was in heaven... It was supposedly a 'starter guitar' as far as Fender's marketing at the time, but was made comparatively well and I began seeing touring musician's using them. The drawback was sound limitations as it only had a bridge Humbucker... you could split the coils, but no matter what, you only had options that offered a brighter sound. It was in the early 90's when I came across a Musicman Silhouette, which was the answer to my prayers... the neck was a dream come true for my shorter fingers, and the HSH configuration with a coil tap gave me pretty much every option under the sun. I was touring at the time, and picked up two of them, and bought a third when they introduced the Silhouette special with a a trem. I still have all three to this day, and have never had an issue aside from replacing the frets.
Around 23 years ago, I bought a Hamer Slammer. Felt great in my hands and I’ve been playing it ever since. Perfect for jamming with friends and have taken it on stage a few times. Has excellent tone. Great guitar! Effortless to play.
I recently tore my rotator cuff, had it repaired and in my down time built me a 24” scale smaller OM with cutaway, 12th fret body join. It really turned out very easy to play. Flamed Koa b and s with sitka spruce top, 5 ply neck mahogany, cherry and persimmon. I used 2 ,1/2 x1/8 graphite truss rods, very light guitar.
@@MikeFerguson-yq2jh this is interesting I’ve had a few minor tears in each shoulder now and playing explore type guitars as much as I love them can be quite painful unless I’m stood up,recently I tried a PRS 594 and it’s like heaven being a 594 scale length for my shoulders
@I have built most of my own guitars, so I was able to turn this out in about three weeks, it is new so there are some set up problems. I have a high fret on the 11thfret that I am still working. For right now I just don’t play past the 10 fret. I will get it right when the weather warms up a bit
I have very small hands but I’m a great guitar player semi professional. I like all Wolfgang’s evh guitars and Ernie ball anything. I have them all but these 2 brands feel best in my hands !
One thing I would add is that if you have small hands, get the flattest fretboard you can. Because the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, a flatter board creates the shortest distance between the E strings. Furthermore, the more curved the fretboard, the steeper the angle your fingers need to fret the E A and D strings cleanly because they are on the far side of the radius. Great video for all of us who are tired of people with giant hands telling us to just suck it up and practice more. If they were forced to play baritone scaled guitars with 48mm nuts and baseball bat necks, they'd have a better understanding of what some of us go through. It's not impossible but makes practice and playing harder and more painful than it needs to be.
Totally agree with this I’ve recently played a couples of 16” radius all the way up and it was so easy for me to play Hoping to do a part 2 to this soon
My story’s a bit different. My first electric guitar was a Gibson L6S Deluxe. The neck is almost the thickness of a broomstick. A pleasure to play. I fitted it with Dirty Fingers pickups and played it for about 30 years, before semi retiring it. Now every guitar I play, I press chords between the strings, even an Ibanez with Wizard III neck. I don’t have small hands, just became so used to the narrow neck.
Scale length has to be taken into consideration as well. Some will benefit from a shorter scale length. Les Paul 60’s neck is super comfortable for small hands.
Totally agree the only reason I didn’t mention it is because when you first switch from 25.5 to 24.75 is because you can take some adapting to the scale so on first play because it’s alien you can feel it’s not a help ,then eventually realising it just needs getting used to
Worth a mention for people who are looking into starting guitar and put off by bigger necks. A very good topic to raise though. I feel there is a market for smaller neck guitars. Smaller locking nuts etc like the original Nightswan I had back in the day. Probably the perfect shredder for smaller hands. Kramer missed a trick on the re-issues. Great channel, keep up the good work Neil.
Interesting video. Very small hand with fat fingers here. I’ve spent years studying to find necks I like. I’m also a PAF, Classic Rock guy. No high gain. No shredding. I have several early 90’s Gibson Les Paul Classic’s. Extra thin neck. .76” 1st, .84” 12th. A 90’s Fender ‘62 reissue. Super thin, small neck. If you dig deep enough, study hard enough, jewels for small hands can be found without resorting to brands known for wafer thin flat shred necks. Specific models made only certain years.
I’ve got small hands and have been playing for 40-years. I’ve learned the most important factor when it comes to guitar necks is the neck profile, It has to ‘fit’ your playing style. I play a lot with my thumb over the top’ of the neck so Schecter, Ibanez ‘wizard’, Charvel ‘speed’ necks while suiting a lot of shredders are a nightmare for my ‘thumb over the top’ playing style. The profile of these necks is too flat for me and digs in to the base of my thumb causing pain. I convinced myself years ago that smaller and / or thinner necks would suit my small hands so I bought a Music Man Luke and it was my main guitar for 15-years. Initially, I loved the Luke but as my playing style developed I found nut width and neck too small and eventually sold it. There are a lot of different neck profiles that really suit my playing style and small hands including Fender’s D, soft V, medium C, and modern C, Suhr Classic S, Harley Benton Fusion Pro. One of my absolute favourite necks is the ‘SRV’ made by Warmoth. Most players with small hands wouldn’t even consider this neck because Stevie Ray Vaughan was touted as loving big necks to suit his big hands, however Warmoth’s SRV neck is asymmetrical ( like some of the EVH necks) and is perfect for my small hands and playing style. Try before you buy or buy online from a retailer that offers free or low cost returns.
I play ibanez 6 and 7 string, and an ibanez 4 string bass specifically for this reason. I agree with you on the hardware, its the first thing i do even before replacing strings on them, and round off their frets, they have a qc problem with fret bloom.
I did not know this for years. I bought my first ESP EC-256 and it was just more comfortable to me. To make a long story short, my hands prefer a guitar with a 42mm or smaller nut, super thin neck, and 24.75 or shorter scale. Knowing what I need in a guitar has had a far better effect on my playing than almost 30 years of stretching exercises.
@@BenjaminRoethig Awesome. The Reverse Sunburnt has a thin quick neck.. Check out the Slinger when you get a chance......... Now located in Silver City NM
@@DGWShortScaleGuitar ill definitely check that out too. I'm really liking what I'm seeing from you guys. Especially the prices. Not a whole lot of good guitars out there with a Mustang scale length.
I own several guitars. I noticed years ago that I gravitated to playing the Ibanez with the Wizard II neck. I also have small hands. Coincidence? Probably not. Good video. Thanks.
Thank you for all the time and work you put into making videos. I have small hands and was struggling to find the right guitar. Thanks to this video and some of your others, I ended up with Schecter C-1 FR-S SLS Evil Twin and absolutely love it! I really enjoy your videos and all the tips and tricks. Thank you so much!
Great video. My switch in 2000 to Ibanez resolved early stages of carpal tunnel after 25 years of playing a ‘74 Tele Custom . Missed having a Tele after 20 years so opted to buy a Squier as a partscaster and had the neck customized to emulate my Ibanez. Worth every penny. Also have a Hagstrom Ultra Swede which has a very comfortable neck suited for small hands.
I have just a little bit below average hand size, and found that 98 percent of what I want to play does not matter if it is a 24" or a 25.5" scale length. However, there are a few key chords or riffs that I just can't play on 25.5" scale length but can easily play on a 24" scale, and can definitely manage on a 24.75" scale. Yes, I can find workarounds on the larger scale length, but to play the phrase the way it was intended, I definteily need a shorter scale. I love playing my Duo Sonic 24" scale, but really like strat/teles so I have compromised with using a 24.75" scale conversion neck on them... makes a big difference! Saying hand size and scale length don't matter is neglecting a significant aspect of the instrument!
TY so much! I got an Enya Go mini from Amazon yesterday. Needless to say the neck is skinny. I was blazing around the thing. I am no where near as bad at guitar as I thought. I happen to see this video and today is a new day...Looking at Schecters.
I've owned strat copies with a rather vintage-y neck and several Ibanez guitars with the wizard neck but something always felt wrong so after watching this video I sold all my guitars and today my Schecter C-6 Pro arrived and oh boy was that a revelation. It has a really thin and also maybe 1 mm narrower neck than the Ibanez models but it makes all the difference. It's an instant level up in ergonomics and feel and the fingers just fly around the fretboard.
Check out the Fender Telecaster FMT HH. I too have small hands and this neck is absolutely fantastic. Not to mention it’s a great guitar. Very non-traditional for a Tele. Has 2 Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a set neck. It seems there’s many options for small hands players (which is great) but don’t overlook this guitar. The neck is pure magic.
So I have short fingers and small hands as well as a bit of RA in my fretting hand. Over the years I have tried and played many brands and models and my favorite is the ESP EC 1000. It has a 350 mm radius with a thin U shape. The neck is small, fast and very comfortable. So easy and effortless to play. I also like the new Epiphone Inspired By Les Paul with the 60's Slim Taper neck. Any neck larger than that I would have to have shaved. Cheers!
@@Randy-ul5hy yes the EC aren’t as thin as some but they are comfortable for me too ,I quite like u shapes the Schecter ultra thin U is insane if you like the LTD then maybe worth trying
I have short fingers and have been playing guitar for the last 39 years. I have a Gibson LP Studio with a 60’s neck and a couple of Gretsch guitars which are all pretty comfy to play but my go to is my BC Rich Legacy B that I just bought a few months ago. The neck is super comfortable and it has a flatter profile than my other guitars. Although I’m quite a good guitar player and can adapt to most any guitar I can tell the difference when I play something with a thinner or flatter neck profile.
I have short fingers. Would not call them chubby, but they definitely are not slim. I make guitars for myself and I designed the guitar around my hand. Scale length is 23.5 inches, Neck is carved to a thin V shape (less stuff like the video says). I have a partial scallop on the fretboard frets 1-9 that makes barre chords easier. These modifications when taken together make a difference for me. Maybe they will work for you.
The finger tips on my left hand are slightly longer than on my right but I'm right handed. I didn't even notice this until a couple of years ago (I'm now 62). This from endless hrs of playing guitar in my teen yrs - my finger tips grew slightly longer. The measurement from the tip of my middle finger to my wrist is 7 1/2" exactly. I own Gibson and Fender guitars but mostly play strats. For soloing high up on the neck, longer scale is better but I love Gibson's scale for stretchy chords
I have a Schecter with a 41.3mm nut width. As a petite female, I have small palms and short fingers. The (even smaller) nut width does help with finger stretch, but it can result in me muting strings sometimes. So, its a blessing and a curse. Where I struggle is bending the wrist with trying to get fingers perpendicular to the fret board in order to press down with the fingertips.
I must have small tips on my fingers ,the nut width seems to suit me quite well on Schecters I guess I’m not playing too elaborate chords though tbh Congratulations on being the first ever female to leave a comment on the channel 👏
@@NinecoreNeil good point- I'm in the first couple of years of playing, so I'm still doing a lot of chords. Maybe once I get palm muting perfected and doing more advanced techniques, I won't be worrying about the same things. Haha, nice! Hi all you dudes! I'm a beginner, so be nice. 😀
@@artax9683 Ah you could be right there actually it might just be a case of time and tightening things up a bit you will get there.. It’s quite a nice channel actually you only get odd fools on here and I usually strip them down a peg 👍 🤣
Same as the guy above--try a shorter scale length with 12 inch radius. It may be a cheapy guitar but the parts can be altered. Ive made guitars over 30 years but I have the same issue. Found a cheapy in Guitar Center for like 70 bucks new. Its 7/8 scale ( 23 1/8 ). Changed the pickup & had to add a pot & cap. It became my favorite.
I am doomed with small hands too. I have two ESP LTD EC-1's(And not the traveler EC-1's). My EC-1's just have the bridge pickup and a volume knob just simple stupid. And I also have a ESP LTD Viper 100. I got what works for me.
I play left-handed, and it turns out that, not only are my hands relatively small, but the pinky on my right (fretting) hand is 1/8" (3mm, I think) shorter than on my left, making radical stretches impossible. Scale length is crucial. I've also always lived in the vicinity of a music shop (typically Guitar Center) where I could try what they had in person. And I almost always buy used.
Thanks for the vid. Not sure why you didn't mention the Musicman range that Eddie played. As far as I am aware, they have the narrowest neck from nut to the end of the fret board. When I first played one, it was like going from an acoustic to an electric for the first time... major difference. For anyone who thinks Gibsons are out of reach for small hands, I would check out the Classic series with the 60's slim taper neck. Once I added one to my collection, my LP Standard (the 50's neck) rarely left the rack. Both the Musicman and Lp's have shorter scale lengths which makes a big difference in my case. I have an ESP KH. It probably has the thinnest neck, but it has a 25.5 scale length. In store, it felt comfortable, but I found that over time the long scale length just made for too many long stretches at the top of the neck. And, the neck feels really wide at the upper registers. Anyway, it will be leaving the collection soon as it collects dust alongside the LP standard now. Have to agree with you as well in regards to Ibanez tone. Have played a lot in the store that look cool, feel great, but just never can find a tone that grabs me.
I have super small hands and always looked for thin necks (think Gibson Slim Tapers and Fender Modern Cs). Until one day I fell in love with a Strat with a chunky neck (AVRI 62 Hot Rod). Next I purchased a 58 Reissue Gibson Les Paul with another substantially thick neck. Got used to them and never looked back. I can't stand neither Slim Tapers nor Modern C profiles anymore. And yes, I play with my thumb over the low E string A LOT (took some practice to get used to it though, but now it's essential in my playing). Whenever I try to play a guitar with a thin neck, my left hand hurts after a while. And I'm just not comfortable and struggle to play things that are a piece of cake in thick necks. Of course, when I did the move from thin to thick neck guitars, it took a while to adjust and my playing position varied substantially. For the better. And I ended up selling most of my thin neck guitars. BTW, more on the thumb over the low E string... I just can't do that with very thin necks, the edge of the fretboard feels like a knife... In thick necks it's much more comfortable to me (especially in those with rolled edges), even if I have to stretch my super short thumb like crazy...
Exactly...I just got a hot rod 62 as well and feel the same. It's great! I have other, thinner necks that play great too, but generally I dislike thin necks. I think it matters what type of playing your doing too. It's all so subjective.
@trbr1799 Yes, it's all totally a matter of taste. I not only play better but also feel way more comfortable with thick necks despite my utterly small hands. Go figure! It took me many years to realize this, since I always assumed that big necks would be a no go for me...
@spadearcher5178 I've read, over the years, a large number of people who, counter intuitively, have smaller hands but play and love thicker necks. All depending on what I'm playing, the thicker neck prevents hand and thumb pain. Problem solved! Love it. Vroom vroom... hot rod!
There are some chords I simply cannot play if they span 4 frets in the lower register. We don’t all have freakishly long fingers like Paul Gilbert! With that said, I have all types of guitars but the Ernie Ball Cutlass is pretty easy to play if you have smaller hands.
Right on cue man, I just got that Schecter John Browne Tao 6 and it made me realize that some of my other guitars don’t fit my hands well and now I’m in the process of getting more 42mm nut width guitars instead of 43mm (my ESP LTD M1000 has a giant 1.692” and is more uncomfortable for me vs the Schecters 1.643”). It’s funny cause I’ve been playing for quite a long time and never even gave this a second thought until recently.
After trying Jackson, Strandberg, PRS and LTD, I finally got a Schecter Solo Evil Twin recently and that is magic 24.75 scale, 42mm and super thin neck. Great video. I never tried an Ibanez as I assumed the longer scale width is a no no
@@jamiedavies1305 I get on quite well with Floyd’s I’m eventually going to do a video on Schecters across the brand I just need a bit more experience with a few more shapes first
Nice video! As a player with small hands, I’ve found that MusicMan makes a great neck for me. I’ve got 2 Axis (1 w/ MM90’s), Mariposa, Valentine and Valentine semi hollow by Sterling and a MusicMan bass and all feel really good up and down the neck. Admittedly, the neck width at the nut is a bit narrow and you have to be careful fretting the high E at 1st and 2nd frets but that just means better technique is advised. That’s a trade off I can live with to have the rest of the neck feel free and ‘easy’. I used to work for GC as their Ntl Promotions Mgr. and while down at the Hollywood store I put my hands in EVH’s hand print and his was only maybe 1/16 bigger. He was still using EB/MM Axis at the time and I thought I’d give them a try. One of the best decisions I’ve made for my playing enjoyment.
I'm in the same boat. I own Gibson's, fenders, Jackson's. Epiphones. It wasn't until I bought a low end Donner strat that I found my perfect neck. As a Lutheran guitar technician, I made a new bone nut, fret level, set the guitar up for 9's , new tunners. Set up the first fret action and neck action. Neck action is .005. this guitar feels and outperforms everything I currently own with all the same setups. It plays and feels like butter
I have small hands and play a Martin OOO Junior 24" scale neck. For bass I prefer 30" short-scale but it's difficult finding a nut width wider than 1.5", which is way too narrow. If you want to spend $1500 you can get a short scale with a 1.625" nut width. There are some $299 options but you sacrifice a lot of quality in that range.
About time someone address's the problem I have about hands like ours! That you ever so much. Mine I blame on an aggressive nail-biting I had when I was growing as my sister's both have long slender fingers. I don't think I allowed my bones to grow out like theirs did because they never once bit a nail. I am subbed, liked alarmed and commented as you can see because you are just the teacher I need. I am a beginner of shorts, as I used to know simple chords when I was young.
Converted my Squier Strat to 24.75 Gibson length and it's been great! Big difference. Had to get rid of tremolo bar and make it a hardtail. Just ordered 24.75 conversion neck for my 3 pickup Nashville Tele. Should be easier than the strat. Neck is $50, wish they made it in roasted maple but can't find that. Fender sells short scale guitars in Japan, but they are ridiculously expensive.
By chance, my first “adult” guitar was an ibanez rga42fm which uses that wizard neck that I can confirm feels great. My second guitar was a yamaha pacifica 611 which has very similar dimensions and also feels good. Both guitars designed in Japan so maybe that’s relevant. Anyway will keep schecter in mind for the future and thanks for this video!
I never put 2 & 2 together but many years ago I was trying a silver face champ out at a resell shop and the kid gave me a Schecter to try the amp I was always a Fender guy but I immediately made an offer for BOTH Amp & Guitar and he accepted Still own it and love it. The kid was pissed that was the guitar he always reached for to play lol
Good video man. Small hands with arthritis at 71 years old. I have been playing guitar for 66 years. In the past 6 years I have had to adapt my playing style a couple times already. Now I have to stop playing the 25.5" scale and drop down to 24" to 24.75" scale guitars with a very thin neck. The other problem is my back won't the heavy weights. I have to have guitars under 6 pounds as well. So my thinline Telecaster gets a 24.75" conversion neck. Also I plan to build a thin hollow body with 24.5" scale neck. There is always a way to have a comfortable, playable, and awesome tone from a guitar no matter what condition your hands are in. Everyone keep playing and don't ever put it down. ENJOY!!!
@@NinecoreNeil I had a PRS Custom 24. Sold it after it became to u comfortable to play. My arthritis is a downfall. I play a modern thin C and still shave the neck .18" at the nut & .24" at the 12th fret on a taper of course. But the scale length has to be 24.75" or shorter as my hands refuse to stretch. That's why I'm ordering a conversion neck for my Tele.
nice vid.. i have medium hands with thin longer fingers, i have good stretch, but chucky necks dont feel good in the palm.. I have played Ibanez necks but i prefer tighter nut widths.. The Schecters are very comfortable (I have a 2008 C-1 Hellraiser).. and the SLS necks are very nice.. I have multiple SG's as i love ACDC.. and until i bought a rehabbed 1976 SG with the 1 9/16" nut (39.7mm) with a C shaped full neck.. "broom stick as you say".. it feels just right.. amazing that that era of Gibson in the late 60's and up to the late 70's had such a narrow nut.. but the extra beef in the profile really makes bends effortless as the thumb hooks easily around it.. the only other neck which is my fav is the Peavey Wolfgang standard.. AMAZING NECK.. my fav.. 41.3mm nut (Fender 1 5/8") with asymmetric neck profile.. amazing.. fills the thumb well and falls away on the treble side.. even EVH with his large hands loved this neck.. good stuff.. I owned a EBMM EVH model which to me felt like a strat neck.. any asymmetric profile was not evident.. I would say the current EVH Stadard import version is the closest to the old Peavey Standard neck i have felt.. Frankly.. the NECK is EVERYTHING for a guitar to feel right..Cheers..!
I have a '67 Gibson SG, and it has a 1& 5/8" nut width - just a hair too narrow to feel good to my hands. I need that extra 1/16th" you get with a 1 &11/16" nut width. So, it works both ways.
Great video, liked and subbed! I guess I have medium sized hands but shorter fingers and I found that what works best for me are Fender C shaped necks. Something that's neither thin nor too chubby, with medium to jumbo frets and most importantly: not a lot of shoulder and narrower fretboards. Right now my favourite player is my Highway One Telecaster. It's all about experimenting and finding what works for you. 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
My original 1965 Fender Mustang has a 38mm, 1 1/2 inch nut width. Mom and Dad gave it to me for Christmas in 1965 and I still have it.
I went from a Fender Strat and Tele to a Mustang, and now I can play all the stuff I couldnt manage. Its a game changer.
Does Mustang, Jaguar and Jazzmaster have the same neck?
I sometimes find them difficult in the upper register due to the little space between frets. Lol. I can’t win 😂
@@reylegacy619 Jazzmaster is 25.5
I had a mustang, crazy bends as well as stretch.
@reylegacy619 mustang and Jaguar do. Jazz is 25.5, BUT, narrows better than strat does toward the nut so it feels different. Modern ones don't have any difference in necks really, but the vintage ones did.
I've always envied players who can wrap their thumb over the top of the fret board to avoid having to play barred chords. Thanks for the advice. I'm amazed I didn't think to check out TH-cam for advice years sooner.
No worries buddy
I have brachydactyly type d - which is basically the 3rd thumb joint is short. I think Megan Fox made it mildly famous at one point as she has the same. It's the beginning and end of things I have in common with Megan Fox. It's a genetic thing and typically affects either one or both thumbs. No chance at all that I can play the low e with my thumb. Not even close.
Oddly I wasn't aware that my thumbs were weird growing up nor when I read the idea that you can play the low E like that, tried and thought "No I can't" - and moved on. I didn't really have an explanation until it cropped up on the internet when I was mid 40s and I thought "Oh that's what my thumbs are like"
I guess since most of the modern guitarists at the time I was a keen teenager were Vai et al the thumb over the neck wasn't a huge part of it anyway and I think now barred chords are even less of a thing in my playing.
Now it does make me wonder how the neck thickness would affect it. I've not really had a ton of opportunities to play Ibanez - and they seem even more remote now that you more or less have to buy a guitar online without touching it. I've been planning to buy a new guitar for some time and I've switched from one series to another. Then I noticed that the AZ and Q series have thicker necks than the RG and I wondered if I'd be better with the thinner wizard neck.
I did exactly the same thing, except from a strat to a duo sonic. I love the 24 scale length. However I really like strat/tele tones, so I have compromised... I now play strats/teles with conversion necks 24.75" scale... good medium ground!
@@bulldogstrut1 you can if ya get a ibenez mikro 3/4 scale it SHREADS LITTLE METAL GUITAR SET IT UP CORRECT AND ROKK, YOUR ASS OFF
@@NinecoreNeil9222222
I think scale length is one of the most important factors.
Neck shape as well .
@@benpotter4905 I agree.
I too am cursed with stubby fingers.
I have lots of different guitars, I always seem to wind up back on a Fender Tele or Strat.
I have a 50's CV Tele that is great...
except for the giant table leg neck.
I screwed up and impulse bought it when I caught it on sale, rather than trying on at Guitar Center first.
Arthritis and poor health have really slowed down my playing.
When I do play I will start on the CV and then switch to one of my others.
The other seems easy to play after fighting the ball bat.
@@1978garfield when I play I pick up one of my Schecter guitars. I don’t fight those. It’s just my prs se245 I fight.
its neck shape, its thickness and width at nut
It’s a weird combination of these factors. I have small hands and play well, fast leads with stretches, think tornado of souls or Lucretia solos from Megadeth. I have found after only playing Gibson scales or jag 24in for many years, as I thought I needed a shorter scale to play my best, I discovered I play my best on 25.5 scale length but with narrow nut width and thinner neck with tall frets. Warmoth makes a standard thin neck with 1 5/8 nut width and tall 6115 frets and it’s the best neck for me after dozens of short scale guitars I’ve collected over the years, it almost doesn’t make sense to me😵💫
Thank you for talking about it. As a fellow 'small hand' guitarist - there was even a time I wanted to drop guitar playing completely, as comparing myself to players with large hands/long fingers made it look as if I am never going to play good. But, in the end - found, that there are ways to make even guys like me sound acceptable and have a road to progress. Just need to be aware of my limitations and play around them (pun intended)
No worries buddy,
I know how you feel the playing on my summertime demos is way better and this is because I fractured my hand and broke my little finger,the room I film in is absolutely freezing so not only is it hard to play in the cold but also my hand is so damn painful.
I can’t put a heater on because the heat from the heater makes heatwaves and the camera picks them up 🤣🤣
It’s a nightmare
Good video I have the same problem. I have been playing an LTD EC 1000s for 15 years and I find them very comfortable. Another suggestion I would make is don't wear your guitar real low, with small hands trying to do a Jimmy Page imitation will not be good for your playing. Great commentary Neil.
Yes the thin U profile is very comfy I got a H-1007 as well and it plays very good. Also the thin C from Schecter is wonderful.
Yes ive been tryna add to the ec1000 401 fam but havent found one. I have an Ibanez S but you need a .42 low e strat style. I just got an Aria Pro Jet1 strat neck and radius but 24.75 so I can string a .46 low e w a trem i replaced w a steel Gotoh.
Ibanez have the best necks for my hands ! The original wizard necks are absolutely speed machines !!!
I wish they were even wider.
I have an Ibanez also & it's an easy player
I love Ibanez....except for the three piece necks. I don't care much for those particular kind of necks. Three piece necks don't affect playability, but they sure do play tricks with the tone. Other than that all my axes would be Ibanz's.🙂
Yeh I have smaller hands, have lp standard, strats, tele but my ibanez with the wizzard neck feel the best by far
I have a bunch of Harley Benton the necks are mostly the same
My hands are small and I've found the Godin Stadium and Godin Passion Custom necks feel best. They help eliminate the need to think ahead - just play.
PRS pattern thin is very comfortable neck for small hands. Just got an SE 24-08 and it’s so playable. Love it.
Rolled fingerboard edges help also. If it’s not rolled it will cut into your handle and be uncomfortable.
Makes a huge difference
Sure makes a big difference
I have a Fender Strat with rolled fingerboard edges. What a nice neck that is. It feels so comfortable in my hands. It's like night and day compared to other necks.
I have small/medium length, chubby fingers. The best neck I’ve ever played is 25.5” scale length, with a ‘59 Les Paul carve, and insanely low action. It’s also de-tuned a half step so the strings are slinklier than normal.
E flat is best on fenders
I have a Fender Professional ll Strat that has a fatter than normal neck for a Stratocaster. I have small hands and at first I didn't think I liked it but I actually love it now as It seems less stressful on my hands. In contrast I have a Schecter Nick Johnston Strat(awesome) that has a super thin neck that feels fantastic but the fatter Fender neck allows me to play it comfortably for longer periods.
Im in the same boat, I’ve found that the fatter neck makes for less hand fatigue.
When when I grip the neck it fills up my palm and my hand/wrist/forearm stays more relaxed.
Yup. There’s part of me that agrees with him about smaller hands doing better with a smaller guitar neck… but at the same time,,, guitars aren’t huge, and all 6 string regular guitars are going to be in a certain range…
If you have smaller hands or bigger hands, I think a large part of it is just getting used to how the guitar is. You can adjust to a bigger/smaller neck.
And like you’re saying, just because it’s a bigger neck doesn’t mean you won’t like it if you have smaller hands… it’s really a more individualistic thing…
Plus there’s the factor of what actually are “small hands”. Some people think small means you wear small sized gloves, some people think small hands is anything smaller than large hands. Some people might not have actually small sized hands, but their hands are just small proportionally for their bodies.
Some people may not have where their palm area is normal size or larger than normal, but their fingers are smaller in proportion to the palm area, which can give their hands the appearance of being “small” but their entire hand length may be average length…
The point is, you gotta try out lots guitars. Just because you have big/small hands doesn’t mean you won’t like a big/small neck. You may also not really like the way a neck feels at first, then once you get used to it you love it.
Hard to say
I went from a Fender Strat to a Gibson ES-335, and that was the best decision I ever made. The neck size is so much better for my small hands.
I own a Gibson ES-345 and I know exactly what you’re talking about. The ES line over all are some of the best guitars ever in my opinion.
@@michaelheller8841 TRUE THAT!
As the pick-ups make a big difference, they give me an array of sound choices. And because it's a semi-hollow body, I can kick back in my chair, kick my feet up and go 'unplugged'.
I'd love a 335 but their about $12,000 where I live. I have a Casino which is probably the closest thing although I'm not sure how the neck compares to a 335.
Make sure you get a 60s, not 50s neck on 335 Dot.
@@halloweenjack4482 I bought mine back in 1987, and I haven't even thought to look at it's worth. Ultimately, I just to sit back and play it unplugged...nothing like the rich tones of a semi-hollow body.
Thin "C" from Schecter is awesome. I sold my Fender when I got the Schecter
Thank you for addressing this subject! Hand size definitely makes a difference when it comes to playing guitar!
No it doesn't practice makes perfect if you make excuses you won't achieve anything I've seen children shred on a full size seven string! So if this video comforts your lack of effort then what ever I guess
You are *wrong! I have *small hands & there are some things I simply can not do. One thing is a pull off from the 7th to the 3rd fret on the lower E string. You can practice all day and night but it is just a physical impossibility for somebody with small hands! I've tried right hand tapping it but the effect is just not the same. By your comment I'm guessing you don't have to deal with this *problem. So believe what you want to believe. @@Yee-ole-benjaminbutton
@@Yee-ole-benjaminbuttonwhat a stupid rude comment. Horrible take. The person you replied to is sharing how finding the better hardware for their body and hands has worked out better for them and you’ve decided to try to undercut that effort. Good luck with with whatever is going wrong in your life loser.
why make playing hard its not a marathon there's no medal for who can play the thickest neck,im pretty sure you wouldn't saw a tree down with a hacksaw if you have a chainsaw
It makes no difference.
Have 20 + guitars. 2 are Schecter. Schecter by far have the best playing necks!! Love them.
Fender Mustang. It should have never been passed off or relegated to "student guitar." Although the Japanese version feels almost that (still excellent). Point? With light weight, small neck and radius, the Mustang deserves to be built with the same conviction strats and teles are. I wish they had put more effort/intent into the P90 Mustangs. They deserve it. Comfortable is the future of practiced musicians..
@@Natch67 agreed
Agree with you 110%!!
Duo Sonic also. Offset Series, Player Series, and current Player II Duo Sonics not only have a 24" scale, but a thinner neck than same year Mustangs. So someone with genuinely small hands should check a Duo Sonic.
I Bought a HH Mustang, Dropped P90's into it... it's a KEEPER
I’ve got a 1999 cij mustang and it’s one of the most comfortable necks I’ve ever played, the 90’s Japanese mustangs are real beauties, it’s subjective but imo they’re much better than the Mexican mustangs with the p90’s & the vintera’s, both of which I have owned
I have a Yamaha Pacifica that has an amazing neck, and it's my main player. I also have an Ibanez with a Wizard II neck that's my number 2 guitar. My third is a Les Paul Special. I keep that for sentimental reasons, but after playing the other 2, its neck feels fatter to me. It's interesting that the other 2 necks come from Japan, where people are generally small in stature to begin with. I jokingly tell other players that I have "Japan hands."
Yamaha RGX and RGZ have great thin fast necks
Brilliant advice...Thanks, man!
No worries thanks
I play Hagstroms. I have 5, 2 triple O acoustics and 3 electrics. Two vintage electrics with a Viking and a Swede. I also have a Fender Acoustisonic with an outstanding neck profile for my itty bitty hands.
I’ve owned everything from Gibson, Fender, ESP, PRS etc.. 24.5 seems easier to play, but I feel it to be more of a preference related to string tension. I have small-medium hands. Huge palms, short fingers. I don’t struggle with 25.5, or nut width. Neck size does play a factor and action. I’ve always struggled with complex jazz chord shapes that stretch across the fret board, but speed and vibrato never a problem.
Always played Fenders / Gibson type. Never comfortable till I found a Godin that fits my hand perfectly. Only took 40 years!
@@simonpoole6955 😂😂
I love my Godin! it was 800$ CAD out of my price range last time I went guitar shopping, but 800$ well worth it lol
I have a 2018 LP Classic, 1989 Ibanez rg 550, an Epiphone Alley Cat (a great hollow body ) a 69 Mustang and I just recently acquired a 1966 vintage Jazzmaster! The jazz plays like your hands are gripping a stick of warm butter. It stays in tune, the intonation is practically perfect. It’s by far the best playing guitar in the house. I have small hands and medium length fingers. I highly recommend anyone to go find one and take it for a test drive 🎸
Man thats a nice collection. I have 2 guitars like that. One is a Delatera Tele by Dean Zelensky and the other was a guitar built by a guy who plays in a 2 hit wonder band. After my house flooded and lost 90% of my gear he gave me a GT-3 and this guitar. By looking at it, it wouldn't be the guitar you pick out but it's the best guitar I've ever played.
I measured my little finger. It's exactly 2 inches long. Now, go look at the "super" guitar players and notice how long their little finger is. Look at Van Halen, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Paige, Steve Vai ... you get the idea. I guarantee you their little fingers are at least 3 inches long if not more. A 25.5 scale length neck is going to be much easier for them to play than it is for me. That's why I ordered a Fender Stratocaster from Japan. The ONLY PLACE you can buy a Stratocaster with a 24 inch scale neck. They don't even sell them in the United States. It's a Japanese exclusive.
From what website did you place your order? I'm very interested. Thanks
My little finger is 2.5". That with arthritis and hardly any stretch it's actually getting painful to play a 25/¼
Would you say scale length is a factor in helping players with smaller hands? I have both a strat with a 25.5" and an SG with a 24.75" scale length which does seem a bit easier than the strat to stretch further.
@@koolkutz7 24" scale would be easier than a Strat. Just bought a Vintera Jaguar. Nut to 3rd fret on a Strat is 103mm. Jaguar is 96mm. So a 7mm difference. So not a lot, but everything helps .
@@soulsoul67 Appreciate the info. The Fender Player Duo-Sonic appears to have a 24" scale length-I am going to check them out :-)
I'm a guy with US Size S Men hands. Another guitar to look at are the Squier Strats from the late 1990s and early 2000s. I had an 2001 Affinity with a 40.5mm nut and what had to be the slimmest neck Ive ever grabbed. It was skinny all the way down to the heel. And of course as an Affinity, it had a thinner body so the heel area was easier to grab around because the neck pocket floor is thinner by about a quarter inch (6mm).
Regarding Ibanez (I never had Schecters so can't say anything about them), I think their guitars, especially the MIJ guitars were made to the Japanese player dimensions. As ye may be aware, a typical Japanese person is smaller than a typical Caucasian size. That's why the necks are slimmer and thinner and the bodies are cut with longer, wider and deeper contour cuts. I very much like Ibanez.
And yeah, their pups are IMO generally rather weak, so they're often swapped out. All but two of my Ibanez had their pups swapped out. The two exceptions are left in because one is a 1986 vintage all-original Roadstar II Deluxe (RG450). Not everyday ye see an unmolested 1980s SuperStrat. The other is a vintage relic 1989 RG565R which is a rare guitar that had seen professional gigging action for 30 years and EARNED it's battle scars. It too is all-original and the electronics needed a bit of TLC (switch and pots are worn out). I opted to leave the OE stacked single neck and humbucker bridge pups in since these pups are part of this guitar's history. It helps that these pups actually sounds pretty good. I was told these particular stockers are overwound a bit more than normal.
Wow that’s a blast from the past affinity’s,I had one of those bad boys
Well you're completely right. My first and only guitar I bought new is a Squier strat made in the republic of China (= Taiwan) in 97 or 98, 99, don't remember exactly. Later on I got a second hand fender USA strat. I often say, I prefer the Squier to the Fender, because the neck feels completely different in my hand, besides I put 9 strings on the Squier, wheras on the fender I have 10s. A nice neck is also on my Yamaha pac 612, a pretty nice guitar with more features than Fender has. And finally my Gibson tribute 2017 is my favorite guitar, when it comes to neck size and scale length. I don't have extremely small hands or fingers, but I guess too short ones for my fender neck of 1998.
I have a Squier Affinity Strat from the same period as yours, I also have amongst other guitars, a Fender Strat. Nine times out of ten I will pick up the Squier. Doesn't have the tone of the Fender, but the playability to me, with small chunky fingers, is just light years ahead!!
Brilliant and well put together information, thank you. For anyone with small hands and fingers interest, I've just picked up a well used Gordon Smith GS-2, and it's perfect. Try one if you can find one.....
@@JonAllison-x5r thanks ,I’m just getting into PRS not skinny necks but shorter scale 👍🏻
Epiphone Special II As long as you tape off the fretboard and polish the scratchiness out of the frets with steel wool when you first buy it, it remains one of the most comfortable necks and fretboards for smaller hands. It is an absolute rock machine for the money. I find them used on Marketplace for around $125 -$150, because it is so many people's first guitar, but I have all manners of Gibsons and Epiphones and these are some off my favorite guitars to rip into. Easy to play and a lot of fun. Great tone to boot! Anyone can easily but comfortably, get their hands around the board.
They can be great players but they most all need a level and crown to get low action. The tuners need replacing too.
Some have very playable necks for smaller hands… some are chunky. You have to try them to find one that’s thinner.
Order a neck from Tonebomb in Alberta,Canada...get the rolled edges,slim profile 24.75" scale and bolt it onto a Tele body.
Thanks for this, man 👍🏻 (small, but good thumb up!) you just earned a sub' 🙂
Awesome thanks
Hi jamie❤
My first guitar as a beginner was an Ibanez Azes40. I was an absolute noob but boy now I realize how that guitar had the absolute wrong fretboard radius and neck shape for my hands. I now found my "red" and "blue" pill :) A Gibson Les Paul 60s standard (tapered neck, love it) and a Fender American Performer Telecaster (modern C neck shape).
Almost all LTDs have 42mm nut they are also primarily made a World Music in SK. Also all the EVH Wolfgang models have a 42mm (R2) nut and the US and JP models have vintage stainless steel frets (the EBMM Axis has the same and the Peavey HP2 are smaller but not vintage). I have medium hands but not super long fingers, the Wolfgang and new Peavey HP2 are literally perfect. I've also got an Ibanez J Custom 8750Z and it's got tone for days as does my Genesis 570 but Ibanez uses a 43mm (R3) nut. Also many older Strats had a more narrow nut as well. Very good points that many people don't think about.
Loving LTD's Thin U neck 💥💥
I'll be damned if I'm going to switch to Schecter. I have sanded down Fender necks to make them more playable. The sandpaper in *my* hand leads to the perfect shape in the end.
I’m 5’4” with smaller hands than most. Been playing 60 years and tried them all. For me, the neck has to be thin in thickness and narrow in width, but most importantly, has to have the appropriate nut width for your hand. I demand great sound, which comes through quality craftsmanship and electronics; therefore, all of my electrics are G&L, which I buy ‘made to order’ (not custom) with a Slim C neck and a 1 5/8” (41mm) nut. My acoustic guitars are Takamine. If you don’t have the kind of money for these guitars, I’d recommend you look into Vola over Schecter, Ibenez or Jackson. If you can afford a second mortgage, a vintage Fender or Gibson can be had with a smaller neck.
Just buy an Ibanez Mikro. Problem solved.
Your right about Ibanez having a small neck like my 1983 Roadstar 530 but the pickups didn't sound that great. I have small hands an learned on a 1976 Stratocaster. Loved that guitar also. The 7.25 inch radius helped with bends. My 2000 Les Paul Standard felt like playing a landscaping tember even if it was beautiful.
I have rather small hands and have been playing a Seagull Acoustic with a 45mm nut width for years now. I chose this specific guitar - with a larger nut width - as I like to play fingerstyle and bang out cowboy chords around the campfire. I originally come from a classical background, thus I am used to playing a nylon string guitar with the larger 52mm nut width. However, my musical tastes have evolved over the years. I now play more bluegrass, rock and blues lead guitar. Recently, I picked up an old vintage Ovation acoustic at my local music shop and it felt perfect, thus, I bought it on the spot. The nut width is 43mm and the neck is nice and round, fitting my hand just right - a wonderful find to be sure! As a result, I have experienced a positive uptick in not only comfort but more importantly my lead playing ability and fretting dexterity when on an acoustic instrument....mind you, I do switch back to my Seagull when playing a fingerstyle tune and I do use my electric 335 when jamming with friends.....I've owned many guitars over the last 45 years and I don't think there is one guitar that can do it all....especially if your playing style is eclectic in nature. The Ovation "Balladeer" is the closest multi - dimensional guitar I have owned to date. It also comes with a built in pick up thus you can plug in when necessary. Ovation was all the rage when I was a teenager back in the early 80s - though they were super expensive at the time and thus out of reach for most of us mere mortals - I've often wondered what happened to the company as they were so popular for some time - everyone from Jimmy Page, Steve Howe to Paul Simon and even Eddie Van Halen played an Ovation at one point in their careers - anyway, that's my long-winded two cents worth - If you happen to stumble across an old Ovation and have smallish hands, give it a spin. I am quite sure you will find it to be a good fit - cheers folks!!
I have a solid body D’Angelico Premier (my wife picked it out) that has a narrow fretboard and fairly wide frets. The combination seems to work very well. I don’t think my hands are particularly small but I’ve got carpal tunnel in both hands (and a bad back from five years in the infantry) so I prefer to “try on” a guitar live in a music store.
I have smaller hands, yet the guitars I find the most comfortable to play have thick neck profiles (i.e. 70's strats & most telecasters) and a rounder fretboard radius (9-10"). Thinner necks like the Ibanez Wizard necks often caused my fretting hand to cramp.
I bought myself a Squier Mini to take it on trips and I'm loving it! Why not just consider 2/3 scale guitars. If you have small hands I would say that the only donwside is that you have a couple frets less.
short scale guitars wont give you the range of sounds you get with a 25.5 or 25" scale.
@@vincentl.9469 Thanks!
@@vincentl.9469 In terms of notes? You only have a couple frets less
I think standard guitar size is made for people 5'8" and above.. If you're as tall as Paul Gilbert.. it's basically CHEAT MODE.
For shorter but thick fingers, Epiphone or Gibson ‘61 style heel SG. Flat, wide, and thin.
Great upper fret access that you don’t have on guitars with big heels like LP’s, Strats & Teles, and most others.
I have small hands, and the easiest guitar that I have found for me is my 1973 Gibson SG Standard.
Is it a reissue or a real 73 vintage SG?
@@NikolaGenov-j8h vintage. I don't think they have reissued the 70's ones.
I play a Les Paul Standard, but tried some Fender 51 vintage and classic-feel guitars at the shop a few days ago. All had u-shaped necks (think baseball bats!). I am still suffering from the resulting hand pain (I have arthritis in both hands, and - like you - have chunky hands with shortish fingers). The chap in the shop said to me “Have you ever tried a metal or shredder guitar?”. What a shock! They are a joy to play. Ok, it’s not my type of music (I play classic rock and blues- badly), but what an eye opener those guitars were in terms of keeping my guitar playing days going with their super slim necks etc.
I injured my hands. I had no choice but to lower the gauge and tune do. Think Billy Gibbons. It’s either that or nothing for me. Billy has no hand issues as far as I know and he’s been playing decades. I think we all start at 14 yrs old though. Average age where we don’t think about these issues.
🎯 Key points for quick navigation:
00:00:00 *🎸 Introduction to choosing the right guitar brand and neck size for your hands.*
00:12:00 *🖐️ Guitar playing should be effortless; choose a guitar that suits your hand size to avoid injury and enhance enjoyment.*
01:32:00 *🎶 For small hands, consider factors like nut width, fret size, and neck dimensions to find a comfortable guitar.*
02:15:00 *🎚️ Opt for guitars with narrower nut widths (42mm or below) for easier string traversing and less strain on small hands.*
03:34:00 *🎸 Choose guitars with medium frets and thinner neck profiles (like the Schecter Thin C) for faster, more comfortable playability with small hands.*
Made with HARPA AI
Squier Duo Sonic, Epiphone Casino. Couple of guitars I’ve had and worked well with my smaller hands. I need to re-buy a Casino sometime
Tried them all but the one that fit the best every time I tried one was the EBMM Luke 3. I finally bit the bullet(not cheap) and bought one. Incredible instrument!
Fender is 9 1/2 " neck radius to " 14 Neck Radius 25 1/2" scale length like most guitars I mentioned. Jackson/Charvel 12"-16" compound radius in either 24 3/4" scale length or 25 1/2 " scale length.... keep in mind Gibson's, fenders have medium jumbo frets
I’m guilty of only ever trying one once ,I’m not a fan of the way they look which I know shouldn’t matter but I think it stops me picking one up
I should try and get one in the channel tbh
Yeah, I understand but every time I picked up one I was blown away with how it just fit.@@NinecoreNeil
I have shorter fingers, and learned on a Strat copy, so when I first came across a Fender Lead 1 (this was back in the early 80's), I was in heaven... It was supposedly a 'starter guitar' as far as Fender's marketing at the time, but was made comparatively well and I began seeing touring musician's using them. The drawback was sound limitations as it only had a bridge Humbucker... you could split the coils, but no matter what, you only had options that offered a brighter sound. It was in the early 90's when I came across a Musicman Silhouette, which was the answer to my prayers... the neck was a dream come true for my shorter fingers, and the HSH configuration with a coil tap gave me pretty much every option under the sun. I was touring at the time, and picked up two of them, and bought a third when they introduced the Silhouette special with a a trem. I still have all three to this day, and have never had an issue aside from replacing the frets.
thank you for the video!
Around 23 years ago, I bought a Hamer Slammer. Felt great in my hands and I’ve been playing it ever since. Perfect for jamming with friends and have taken it on stage a few times. Has excellent tone. Great guitar! Effortless to play.
@@johngiles5771 yes I once played a Hamer Diablo great guitar it was a bit noisy for some reason but felt nice
Very Useful. Thanks man.
@@shanaqbaimuru you’re welcome mate
I recently tore my rotator cuff, had it repaired and in my down time built me a 24” scale smaller OM with cutaway, 12th fret body join. It really turned out very easy to play. Flamed Koa b and s with sitka spruce top, 5 ply neck mahogany, cherry and persimmon. I used 2 ,1/2 x1/8 graphite truss rods, very light guitar.
@@MikeFerguson-yq2jh this is interesting I’ve had a few minor tears in each shoulder now and playing explore type guitars as much as I love them can be quite painful unless I’m stood up,recently I tried a PRS 594 and it’s like heaven being a 594 scale length for my shoulders
@I have built most of my own guitars, so I was able to turn this out in about three weeks, it is new so there are some set up problems. I have a high fret on the 11thfret that I am still working. For right now I just don’t play past the 10 fret. I will get it right when the weather warms up a bit
@ sounds great hope you can sort it out
I have very small hands but I’m a great guitar player semi professional. I like all Wolfgang’s evh guitars and Ernie ball anything. I have them all but these 2 brands feel best in my hands !
Agreed. I'm not a fan of 25 1/2" scale lengths, due to hand size and disability, but those EVH Wolfgang necks are amazing.
Interesting!! I've not tried a Wolfgang. Sounds like I should!!
Playing a 3/4 Ibanez and a 3/4 fender acoustic. Have arthritis and Dupentryn’s contracture so it helps immensely play more comfortably.
Esp has alot of comfortable necks too
They do the reason I’ve not mentioned them is because they are all spec’d as thin U but I find the thin U varies from model to model
+1 on Ibanez's Wizard II neck - I have meaty hands and stubby fingers, and I thoroughly enjoy playing my S520EX!
Great topic. Yep smaller girl hands here.
Love my Taylor but, very wide neck.
Bought a Guild D-40 and much narrower with amazing sound quality
One thing I would add is that if you have small hands, get the flattest fretboard you can. Because the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, a flatter board creates the shortest distance between the E strings.
Furthermore, the more curved the fretboard, the steeper the angle your fingers need to fret the E A and D strings cleanly because they are on the far side of the radius.
Great video for all of us who are tired of people with giant hands telling us to just suck it up and practice more. If they were forced to play baritone scaled guitars with 48mm nuts and baseball bat necks, they'd have a better understanding of what some of us go through. It's not impossible but makes practice and playing harder and more painful than it needs to be.
Totally agree with this I’ve recently played a couples of 16” radius all the way up and it was so easy for me to play
Hoping to do a part 2 to this soon
My story’s a bit different. My first electric guitar was a Gibson L6S Deluxe. The neck is almost the thickness of a broomstick. A pleasure to play.
I fitted it with Dirty Fingers pickups and played it for about 30 years, before semi retiring it. Now every guitar I play, I press chords between the strings, even an Ibanez with Wizard III neck. I don’t have small hands, just became so used to the narrow neck.
Scale length has to be taken into consideration as well. Some will benefit from a shorter scale length. Les Paul 60’s neck is super comfortable for small hands.
Totally agree the only reason I didn’t mention it is because when you first switch from 25.5 to 24.75 is because you can take some adapting to the scale so on first play because it’s alien you can feel it’s not a help ,then eventually realising it just needs getting used to
Worth a mention for people who are looking into starting guitar and put off by bigger necks. A very good topic to raise though. I feel there is a market for smaller neck guitars. Smaller locking nuts etc like the original Nightswan I had back in the day. Probably the perfect shredder for smaller hands. Kramer missed a trick on the re-issues.
Great channel, keep up the good work Neil.
@@timsharratt1106 i remember those old Kramers I had a friend with one it was so easy to play compared to my strat copy
DGW Slinger fits that bill...
Interesting video. Very small hand with fat fingers here. I’ve spent years studying to find necks I like. I’m also a PAF, Classic Rock guy. No high gain. No shredding. I have several early 90’s Gibson Les Paul Classic’s. Extra thin neck. .76” 1st, .84” 12th. A 90’s Fender ‘62 reissue. Super thin, small neck. If you dig deep enough, study hard enough, jewels for small hands can be found without resorting to brands known for wafer thin flat shred necks. Specific models made only certain years.
I’ve got small hands and have been playing for 40-years. I’ve learned the most important factor when it comes to guitar necks is the neck profile, It has to ‘fit’ your playing style. I play a lot with my thumb over the top’ of the neck so Schecter, Ibanez ‘wizard’, Charvel ‘speed’ necks while suiting a lot of shredders are a nightmare for my ‘thumb over the top’ playing style. The profile of these necks is too flat for me and digs in to the base of my thumb causing pain. I convinced myself years ago that smaller and / or thinner necks would suit my small hands so I bought a Music Man Luke and it was my main guitar for 15-years. Initially, I loved the Luke but as my playing style developed I found nut width and neck too small and eventually sold it. There are a lot of different neck profiles that really suit my playing style and small hands including Fender’s D, soft V, medium C, and modern C, Suhr Classic S, Harley Benton Fusion Pro. One of my absolute favourite necks is the ‘SRV’ made by Warmoth. Most players with small hands wouldn’t even consider this neck because Stevie Ray Vaughan was touted as loving big necks to suit his big hands, however Warmoth’s SRV neck is asymmetrical ( like some of the EVH necks) and is perfect for my small hands and playing style. Try before you buy or buy online from a retailer that offers free or low cost returns.
Sounds like a slim D would be a good for you
I used to do the same with my thumb when I was younger
Have you tried the Jackson USA select soloist? How do you like that neck profile and thickness? Thx
@@Shootingstar1203 No ,I’ve never tried any Jackson guitars, thanks for the suggestion.
I play ibanez 6 and 7 string, and an ibanez 4 string bass specifically for this reason. I agree with you on the hardware, its the first thing i do even before replacing strings on them, and round off their frets, they have a qc problem with fret bloom.
I did not know this for years. I bought my first ESP EC-256 and it was just more comfortable to me.
To make a long story short, my hands prefer a guitar with a 42mm or smaller nut, super thin neck, and 24.75 or shorter scale. Knowing what I need in a guitar has had a far better effect on my playing than almost 30 years of stretching exercises.
Absolutely 👏
Check out Durango Guitar Works 😁
@@DGWShortScaleGuitar your Iron Horse is now on my list. Funny story, but my aunt and uncle own a wedding venue just East of Durango.
@@BenjaminRoethig Awesome.
The Reverse Sunburnt has a thin quick neck.. Check out the Slinger when you get a chance......... Now located in Silver City NM
@@DGWShortScaleGuitar ill definitely check that out too. I'm really liking what I'm seeing from you guys. Especially the prices. Not a whole lot of good guitars out there with a Mustang scale length.
I own several guitars. I noticed years ago that I gravitated to playing the Ibanez with the Wizard II neck. I also have small hands. Coincidence? Probably not. Good video. Thanks.
It's not about the size of the hands but the length of the fingers.
Thank you for all the time and work you put into making videos. I have small hands and was struggling to find the right guitar. Thanks to this video and some of your others, I ended up with Schecter C-1 FR-S SLS Evil Twin and absolutely love it! I really enjoy your videos and all the tips and tricks. Thank you so much!
Wow such kind words glad my videos help people it means a lot I’m actually considering that guitar myself
You know what they say about guys with small hands..........
"Schecters 👍🏻" 😜
love this
@@NinecoreNeil 😄
Great video. My switch in 2000 to Ibanez resolved early stages of carpal tunnel after 25 years of playing a ‘74 Tele Custom . Missed having a Tele after 20 years so opted to buy a Squier as a partscaster and had the neck customized to emulate my Ibanez. Worth every penny. Also have a Hagstrom Ultra Swede which has a very comfortable neck suited for small hands.
I have just a little bit below average hand size, and found that 98 percent of what I want to play does not matter if it is a 24" or a 25.5" scale length. However, there are a few key chords or riffs that I just can't play on 25.5" scale length but can easily play on a 24" scale, and can definitely manage on a 24.75" scale. Yes, I can find workarounds on the larger scale length, but to play the phrase the way it was intended, I definteily need a shorter scale. I love playing my Duo Sonic 24" scale, but really like strat/teles so I have compromised with using a 24.75" scale conversion neck on them... makes a big difference! Saying hand size and scale length don't matter is neglecting a significant aspect of the instrument!
@@learningguitar7948 totally agree
TY so much! I got an Enya Go mini from Amazon yesterday. Needless to say the neck is skinny. I was blazing around the thing. I am no where near as bad at guitar as I thought. I happen to see this video and today is a new day...Looking at Schecters.
I've owned strat copies with a rather vintage-y neck and several Ibanez guitars with the wizard neck but something always felt wrong so after watching this video I sold all my guitars and today my Schecter C-6 Pro arrived and oh boy was that a revelation. It has a really thin and also maybe 1 mm narrower neck than the Ibanez models but it makes all the difference. It's an instant level up in ergonomics and feel and the fingers just fly around the fretboard.
@@pr0toncat yes the ultra thin c is hard to live without once you get used to it
Check out the Fender Telecaster FMT HH. I too have small hands and this neck is absolutely fantastic. Not to mention it’s a great guitar. Very non-traditional for a Tele. Has 2 Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a set neck. It seems there’s many options for small hands players (which is great) but don’t overlook this guitar. The neck is pure magic.
So I have short fingers and small hands as well as a bit of RA in my fretting hand. Over the years I have tried and played many brands and models and my favorite is the ESP EC 1000. It has a 350 mm radius with a thin U shape. The neck is small, fast and very comfortable. So easy and effortless to play. I also like the new Epiphone Inspired By Les Paul with the 60's Slim Taper neck. Any neck larger than that I would have to have shaved. Cheers!
@@Randy-ul5hy yes the EC aren’t as thin as some but they are comfortable for me too ,I quite like u shapes the Schecter ultra thin U is insane if you like the LTD then maybe worth trying
I have short fingers and have been playing guitar for the last 39 years. I have a Gibson LP Studio with a 60’s neck and a couple of Gretsch guitars which are all pretty comfy to play but my go to is my BC Rich Legacy B that I just bought a few months ago. The neck is super comfortable and it has a flatter profile than my other guitars. Although I’m quite a good guitar player and can adapt to most any guitar I can tell the difference when I play something with a thinner or flatter neck profile.
@@danthegreaser71 got a lot of guys showing love for BC rich necks
@@NinecoreNeil Yes!The legacy stuff they are making lately is especially nice.
I have short fingers. Would not call them chubby, but they definitely are not slim. I make guitars for myself and I designed the guitar around my hand. Scale length is 23.5 inches, Neck is carved to a thin V shape (less stuff like the video says). I have a partial scallop on the fretboard frets 1-9 that makes barre chords easier. These modifications when taken together make a difference for me. Maybe they will work for you.
The finger tips on my left hand are slightly longer than on my right but I'm right handed. I didn't even notice this until a couple of years ago (I'm now 62). This from endless hrs of playing guitar in my teen yrs - my finger tips grew slightly longer. The measurement from the tip of my middle finger to my wrist is 7 1/2" exactly. I own Gibson and Fender guitars but mostly play strats. For soloing high up on the neck, longer scale is better but I love Gibson's scale for stretchy chords
Thank you for making this video, this is something i had never considered.
@@j-day consider all the specs mate also check out my radius video as well,it’s not got many views but I think it’s very important
Thanks
I have a Schecter with a 41.3mm nut width. As a petite female, I have small palms and short fingers. The (even smaller) nut width does help with finger stretch, but it can result in me muting strings sometimes. So, its a blessing and a curse. Where I struggle is bending the wrist with trying to get fingers perpendicular to the fret board in order to press down with the fingertips.
I must have small tips on my fingers ,the nut width seems to suit me quite well on Schecters
I guess I’m not playing too elaborate chords though tbh
Congratulations on being the first ever female to leave a comment on the channel 👏
@@NinecoreNeil good point- I'm in the first couple of years of playing, so I'm still doing a lot of chords. Maybe once I get palm muting perfected and doing more advanced techniques, I won't be worrying about the same things.
Haha, nice! Hi all you dudes! I'm a beginner, so be nice. 😀
@@artax9683 Ah you could be right there actually it might just be a case of time and tightening things up a bit you will get there..
It’s quite a nice channel actually you only get odd fools on here and I usually strip them down a peg 👍
🤣
Same as the guy above--try a shorter scale length with 12 inch radius. It may be a cheapy guitar but the parts can be altered. Ive made guitars over 30 years but I have the same issue. Found a cheapy in Guitar Center for like 70 bucks new. Its 7/8 scale ( 23 1/8 ). Changed the pickup & had to add a pot & cap. It became my favorite.
Also try a light string guage.
I am doomed with small hands too. I have two ESP LTD EC-1's(And not the traveler EC-1's). My EC-1's just have the bridge pickup and a volume knob just simple stupid. And I also have a ESP LTD Viper 100. I got what works for me.
Quite right. Jackson necks are slim and wide. Pretty comfortable even with my small hands
Love my Jackson's, 5-7 and won't go back. Got the tones I like too
I play left-handed, and it turns out that, not only are my hands relatively small, but the pinky on my right (fretting) hand is 1/8" (3mm, I think) shorter than on my left, making radical stretches impossible. Scale length is crucial. I've also always lived in the vicinity of a music shop (typically Guitar Center) where I could try what they had in person. And I almost always buy used.
Thanks for the vid. Not sure why you didn't mention the Musicman range that Eddie played. As far as I am aware, they have the narrowest neck from nut to the end of the fret board. When I first played one, it was like going from an acoustic to an electric for the first time... major difference. For anyone who thinks Gibsons are out of reach for small hands, I would check out the Classic series with the 60's slim taper neck. Once I added one to my collection, my LP Standard (the 50's neck) rarely left the rack. Both the Musicman and Lp's have shorter scale lengths which makes a big difference in my case. I have an ESP KH. It probably has the thinnest neck, but it has a 25.5 scale length. In store, it felt comfortable, but I found that over time the long scale length just made for too many long stretches at the top of the neck. And, the neck feels really wide at the upper registers. Anyway, it will be leaving the collection soon as it collects dust alongside the LP standard now. Have to agree with you as well in regards to Ibanez tone. Have played a lot in the store that look cool, feel great, but just never can find a tone that grabs me.
@@shawnbogstie2827 I’ve not played one for years so that’s why I didn’t mention them also they are very expensive from the ones I’ve seen mate
I have super small hands and always looked for thin necks (think Gibson Slim Tapers and Fender Modern Cs). Until one day I fell in love with a Strat with a chunky neck (AVRI 62 Hot Rod). Next I purchased a 58 Reissue Gibson Les Paul with another substantially thick neck. Got used to them and never looked back. I can't stand neither Slim Tapers nor Modern C profiles anymore. And yes, I play with my thumb over the low E string A LOT (took some practice to get used to it though, but now it's essential in my playing).
Whenever I try to play a guitar with a thin neck, my left hand hurts after a while. And I'm just not comfortable and struggle to play things that are a piece of cake in thick necks.
Of course, when I did the move from thin to thick neck guitars, it took a while to adjust and my playing position varied substantially. For the better. And I ended up selling most of my thin neck guitars.
BTW, more on the thumb over the low E string... I just can't do that with very thin necks, the edge of the fretboard feels like a knife... In thick necks it's much more comfortable to me (especially in those with rolled edges), even if I have to stretch my super short thumb like crazy...
Exactly...I just got a hot rod 62 as well and feel the same. It's great! I have other, thinner necks that play great too, but generally I dislike thin necks. I think it matters what type of playing your doing too. It's all so subjective.
@trbr1799 Yes, it's all totally a matter of taste. I not only play better but also feel way more comfortable with thick necks despite my utterly small hands. Go figure! It took me many years to realize this, since I always assumed that big necks would be a no go for me...
@spadearcher5178 I've read, over the years, a large number of people who, counter intuitively, have smaller hands but play and love thicker necks. All depending on what I'm playing, the thicker neck prevents hand and thumb pain. Problem solved! Love it. Vroom vroom... hot rod!
If you can fret the low e of a 58 Les Paul neck with your thumb, then your hands are not small.
There are some chords I simply cannot play if they span 4 frets in the lower register. We don’t all have freakishly long fingers like Paul Gilbert! With that said, I have all types of guitars but the Ernie Ball Cutlass is pretty easy to play if you have smaller hands.
Right on cue man, I just got that Schecter John Browne Tao 6 and it made me realize that some of my other guitars don’t fit my hands well and now I’m in the process of getting more 42mm nut width guitars instead of 43mm (my ESP LTD M1000 has a giant 1.692” and is more uncomfortable for me vs the Schecters 1.643”). It’s funny cause I’ve been playing for quite a long time and never even gave this a second thought until recently.
Check the radius as well it’s another big factor I need to cover
After trying Jackson, Strandberg, PRS and LTD, I finally got a Schecter Solo Evil Twin recently and that is magic 24.75 scale, 42mm and super thin neck. Great video. I never tried an Ibanez as I assumed the longer scale width is a no no
Awesome glad you found the guitar for you
Thanks for the comment
@@NinecoreNeil would be interested which schecter Floyd rose model you found still worked for smaller hands because of the bigger scale length?
@@jamiedavies1305 I get on quite well with Floyd’s I’m eventually going to do a video on Schecters across the brand I just need a bit more experience with a few more shapes first
My favorite neck size and profile so far is my Jackson minion 3/4 scale guitar 💪
Nice video! As a player with small hands, I’ve found that MusicMan makes a great neck for me. I’ve got 2 Axis (1 w/ MM90’s), Mariposa, Valentine and Valentine semi hollow by Sterling and a MusicMan bass and all feel really good up and down the neck. Admittedly, the neck width at the nut is a bit narrow and you have to be careful fretting the high E at 1st and 2nd frets but that just means better technique is advised. That’s a trade off I can live with to have the rest of the neck feel free and ‘easy’. I used to work for GC as their Ntl Promotions Mgr. and while down at the Hollywood store I put my hands in EVH’s hand print and his was only maybe 1/16 bigger. He was still using EB/MM Axis at the time and I thought I’d give them a try. One of the best decisions I’ve made for my playing enjoyment.
@@craigg7636 musicman have come up so much in the comments so totally understand,I may have to try one it’s been a while
I'm in the same boat. I own Gibson's, fenders, Jackson's. Epiphones. It wasn't until I bought a low end Donner strat that I found my perfect neck. As a Lutheran guitar technician, I made a new bone nut, fret level, set the guitar up for 9's , new tunners. Set up the first fret action and neck action. Neck action is .005. this guitar feels and outperforms everything I currently own with all the same setups. It plays and feels like butter
@@tacomaken15 that’s pretty cool 👌
I have small hands and play a Martin OOO Junior 24" scale neck. For bass I prefer 30" short-scale but it's difficult finding a nut width wider than 1.5", which is way too narrow. If you want to spend $1500 you can get a short scale with a 1.625" nut width. There are some $299 options but you sacrifice a lot of quality in that range.
My Schecter Omen Elite FR has a thin C neck with 14" radius and a 41mm nut. It's the best feeling neck I've ever had. Especially considering the FR.
About time someone address's the problem I have about hands like ours! That you ever so much. Mine I blame on an aggressive nail-biting I had when I was growing as my sister's both have long slender fingers. I don't think I allowed my bones to grow out like theirs did because they never once bit a nail. I am subbed, liked alarmed and commented as you can see because you are just the teacher I need. I am a beginner of shorts, as I used to know simple chords when I was young.
@@geminidream4347 thank you buddy
Converted my Squier Strat to 24.75 Gibson length and it's been great! Big difference. Had to get rid of tremolo bar and make it a hardtail.
Just ordered 24.75 conversion neck for my 3 pickup Nashville Tele. Should be easier than the strat. Neck is $50, wish they made it in roasted maple but can't find that.
Fender sells short scale guitars in Japan, but they are ridiculously expensive.
@@rw8785 sounds great
Great talk! I used go have 90s Japan Charvel and loved the small neck. Now it is hard to find something similar
@@jacksonc2737 very I had one too
By chance, my first “adult” guitar was an ibanez rga42fm which uses that wizard neck that I can confirm feels great. My second guitar was a yamaha pacifica 611 which has very similar dimensions and also feels good. Both guitars designed in Japan so maybe that’s relevant. Anyway will keep schecter in mind for the future and thanks for this video!
@@eternal7941 yes there is a Yammy neck that has a similar wafer style feel to it
I never put 2 & 2 together but many years ago I was trying a silver face champ out at a resell shop and the kid gave me a Schecter to try the amp I was always a Fender guy but I immediately made an offer for BOTH Amp & Guitar and he accepted Still own it and love it. The kid was pissed that was the guitar he always reached for to play lol
I can’t get enough of my schecter hellraiser soloist. My palm is small however I have long fingers. Fender telecaster is great also.
Good video man. Small hands with arthritis at 71 years old. I have been playing guitar for 66 years. In the past 6 years I have had to adapt my playing style a couple times already. Now I have to stop playing the 25.5" scale and drop down to 24" to 24.75" scale guitars with a very thin neck. The other problem is my back won't the heavy weights. I have to have guitars under 6 pounds as well. So my thinline Telecaster gets a 24.75" conversion neck. Also I plan to build a thin hollow body with 24.5" scale neck. There is always a way to have a comfortable, playable, and awesome tone from a guitar no matter what condition your hands are in. Everyone keep playing and don't ever put it down. ENJOY!!!
@@LRHutch I’ve just got sent a PRS 25” it feels pretty good
@@NinecoreNeil I had a PRS Custom 24. Sold it after it became to u comfortable to play. My arthritis is a downfall. I play a modern thin C and still shave the neck .18" at the nut & .24" at the 12th fret on a taper of course. But the scale length has to be 24.75" or shorter as my hands refuse to stretch. That's why I'm ordering a conversion neck for my Tele.
nice vid.. i have medium hands with thin longer fingers, i have good stretch, but chucky necks dont feel good in the palm.. I have played Ibanez necks but i prefer tighter nut widths.. The Schecters are very comfortable (I have a 2008 C-1 Hellraiser).. and the SLS necks are very nice.. I have multiple SG's as i love ACDC.. and until i bought a rehabbed 1976 SG with the 1 9/16" nut (39.7mm) with a C shaped full neck.. "broom stick as you say".. it feels just right.. amazing that that era of Gibson in the late 60's and up to the late 70's had such a narrow nut.. but the extra beef in the profile really makes bends effortless as the thumb hooks easily around it.. the only other neck which is my fav is the Peavey Wolfgang standard.. AMAZING NECK.. my fav.. 41.3mm nut (Fender 1 5/8") with asymmetric neck profile.. amazing.. fills the thumb well and falls away on the treble side.. even EVH with his large hands loved this neck.. good stuff.. I owned a EBMM EVH model which to me felt like a strat neck.. any asymmetric profile was not evident.. I would say the current EVH Stadard import version is the closest to the old Peavey Standard neck i have felt.. Frankly.. the NECK is EVERYTHING for a guitar to feel right..Cheers..!
Totally agree
The Elite Schecters usually have the Ultra thin c which is just about perfect
I have a '67 Gibson SG, and it has a 1& 5/8" nut width - just a hair too narrow to feel good to my hands. I need that extra 1/16th" you get with a 1 &11/16" nut width. So, it works both ways.
Great video, liked and subbed! I guess I have medium sized hands but shorter fingers and I found that what works best for me are Fender C shaped necks.
Something that's neither thin nor too chubby, with medium to jumbo frets and most importantly: not a lot of shoulder and narrower fretboards.
Right now my favourite player is my Highway One Telecaster. It's all about experimenting and finding what works for you. 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻