ARE YOU PLAYING THE WRONG GUITAR BRAND? SMALL HANDS NEED THE RIGHT GUITAR IN THEM
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- @SchecterGuitarTV @IbanezOfficial #guitar
The neck on your guitar is the core of your playing having the wrong guitar neck in your hand can really slow you down especially if you have small hands.
0.00 Intro Why you need to choose the right guitar for your small hands
2.20 Nut Width
3.30 Fret Size
4.43 Neck Size Dimensions and shapes
5.15 Schecter Thin C Necks
5.52 Ibanez Wizard Necks
6.37 Fretboard Width
8.35 Conclusion Eveything that can make playing guitar easier for small hands
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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 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'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 RUclips 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😵💫
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.
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
My first electric was a mustang. I bought it for 75.00 in 1976. I still have it. I have small hands and it’s perfect for me.
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 have small hands, and the easiest guitar that I have found for me is my 1973 Gibson SG Standard.
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
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.
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
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.
Ibanez have the best necks for my hands ! The original wizard necks are absolutely speed machines !!!
I wish they were even wider.
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!!
Ibanez artist 1985. Constantly told by people it's the best tone they ever heard.
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.
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
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.
Great topic. Yep smaller girl hands here.
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.
Rolled fingerboard edges help also. If it’s not rolled it will cut into your handle and be uncomfortable.
Makes a huge difference
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.
Have 20 + guitars. 2 are Schecter. Schecter by far have the best playing necks!! Love them.
Not about the brand... ABOUT THE CONTOUR OF THE NECK...Pretty much the ONLY concern. Everything else can be changed.
@@fb8966 different brand’s have different neck contours in their line up don’t they 🧐
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.
+1 on Ibanez's Wizard II neck - I have meaty hands and stubby fingers, and I thoroughly enjoy playing my S520EX!
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 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.
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.
The Ernie Ball music man Steve lukather model is the perfect ax for players looking for a small, comfortable neck. . I own one and it is my favorite of my five guitars.
It took me 4 guitars to discover that the Schecter STS Elite neck was perfect for me. I no longer want other guitars. 😊
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.
A Marine being sent to Iraq in the first Desert Storm told me while I was a city bus driver to,”just play the hand you’re dealt “. I will never forget that!
Just play the hand you’re dealt!!!
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
I have played for many years, i am 5'4"-130lbs with small thin hands and struggled thru for years with necks not easy for me, later switching to strats or strat copies with thinner necks, i do a lot of string stretching and found Xtra light gauge strings made a huge difference, in the last few years i found the ideal guitar online- a hybrid strat made from various strat parts on a relic style body- it has the best maple neck i have ever played on and stays in tune better than any guitar i have ever used and thats many
Makes a video about guitars for small handed players, rattles on for 12 minutes and never once mentions SCALE LENGTH. The distance from the nut to the bridge. Tele, Strat & Jazzmaster are 25.5 inches. Jaguar, Mustang, modern Duosonics are all 24 inches. Most Gibsons are 24.75 inches. Scale length makes a MASSIVE difference for ease of forming chords, ease of fretting and ease of string bending. Even smaller guitars exist, like a vintage Fender Musicmaster or vintage Duosonic that were available in 22.5 inch scale lengths. The new Squier Mini has a 22.75 scale length, comes in both a strat shape or jazzmaster shape. They are light, compact, fun, super friendly to play. They even make a Mini P Bass. Or consider more expensive very short scale guitars like a Rickenbacker 325, like the one John Lennon played, super short scale guitar at only 21 inches. Also some alternative Fender models exist. Squier just issued (2024) an Affinity Stratocaster HSS Junior with a 24 inch scale. Last year (2023) Fender Japan came out with their "Junior Collection" guitars which are 24" scale Telecasters, Stratocasters, and Jazzmasters that also have slightly smaller & lighter bodies than their full-size counterparts. These are easy to find on Ebay and cost around 800-1200 dollars, depending on which model and color you want.
@@persistence_of_vision I’ve mentioned scale length loads before actually…… you seem to rattle on a bit yourself tbh 🤣
@@NinecoreNeil This was the first video I have seen from you. I liked it, but you did forget to mention scale length. I don't know the Persistence person, but he makes a valid point. You touched on so many good issues!! My favorite guitar for my small hands happens to be a rare one. The Gibson Midtown Kalamazoo!! Think of a Les Paul combined with a 335 and a Byrdland with a 23.5 scale and a 42mm nut. Another overlooked solid body electric that won't break the bank for us small handed guys is the Peavey T-15. Plentiful on the used market, it has a very nice 23.5 inch scale and frets that are low and fairly wide (I guess). It's a delight to play. Keep up the good work!!
@@Trial212 next video covers radius ….. for me personally playing up high on a shorter scale can be awkward but playing from the 1st to12th is much more comfortable,also string tension then becomes a factor as well,lots to discuss but this video was mainly about reducing the thickness of what’s in your hands
Cheers buddy
My go to: EVH standard (42 nut width); Charvel DK24; Telecaster Player’s series; Ibanez Genesis 550. All beasts….for smaller hands.
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 don't buy any guitar online anymore, i prefer to feel them before committing. Every guitar I've ever bought online I've sold ASAP, all the ones I've played before purchasing are still with me many years later.
I have a small hand but prefer the 1.75 inch nut because that keeps me from fat fingering. However, shorter scale lengths are best for span from little finger to index.
Ibanez Jem works fine for me. I forgot to mention that my hands are small. Stuff like the Bark at the moon main riff is hard, not sure I can play it exactly like Jake. But the solo works😊
I tried to learn on a Squire Strat, and it was agony after only playing a few cowboy chords.
A new neighbour heard me and said that guitar is not for you.
He came round with an Inbanez RG 550, ohh what a difference.
It was a well used one, but it was setup to make playing as easy as possible.
I bought my own RG350 and still have it, don't suffer with the wrong neck you will either stop
trying to learn or have hand pain.
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.
I have been playing 50 years. I also have very chubby short fingers. I’ve had a (late) 1959 Gibson ES-345 since 1981. It has the “60’s” Gibson thin neck. My favorite neck ever. For playing live I have several PRS guitars with 24.5” scale and “pattern thin” necks. These are the closest feel to my vintage ‘59 Gibson “60’s” neck although the scale is a bit shorter as well. You really notice it in the first 5 frets for sure. Playing a first position barre F chord is simple on my PRS 24.5” scale guitars. My favorite is my P245 single cut (violet 10 top). I can’t imagine ANY Les Paul playing and sounding better. I also have a 2004 R9 and it just doesn’t come close to playing as easy for me as my modern PRS short scales and my vintage Gibson.
While many PRS models have what I call a “compromised scale” (25”), you can still find some PRS 24.5” scale models such as the McCarty 594 which is a 24.594 scale instrument which also plays and sounds great. I recommend these modern “shorter” scale PRS guitars for smaller hands. They work for me. Always check the neck style on a PRS and look for “Pattern Thin” or on older models “wide/thin” (my preference).
Hopes this helps my fellow short fingered brothers and sisters!
@@brianloy7856 I love PRS guitars even the fat neck ones play well the fingerboards are great
I have the opposite problem and haven't found any solutions either. I resent the idea that I should be relegated to playing bass, simply because they make guitars for the average person.
The human hand can feel the difference of 1/32nd of an inch pretty easily. Thats much less tham 1 mm. Snall changes can make a big differemce.
Small hands here also . Kramer has been my go to guitars. Thin necks , easy to play , just all around comfortable for me
I have small hands and play any guitar, you develop tricks around it. I also play bass but got a short scale. I’m a multi-instrumentist in a band and switch from guitar to bass to banjo to mandolin more easily than a guy with big hands or fingers.
@@bsharporbflat8378 yeah I adapt to most guitars too the video is mainly about finding one that fits your preference 👍
key is drop your thumb down to the middle of the neck...your fingers now come up a half inch and curve properly
Also, keep your thumb lined up with your middle finger. Gives you more reach for your index and pinkie fingers.
And then how am I supposed to fret the low E with my pinky or ring finger? I have very short fingers - they don’t reach to the top of the fretboard when I do that. Not everyone has the same hand/finger size….
It's not about the size of the hands but the length of the fingers.
love when people with large hands say hand size doesn't really matter if you use the right technique. Easy to say that when they don't have small hands. Been playing for 50 yrs now and guess what? If you can't reach then you can't reach. It's like telling a dwarf if he jumps the right way he can dunk a basketball. Not going to happen. My favorite guitar is my Flying V which has a thin narrow neck and is a pleasure to play and has tone to die for. Thanks for saying us small handed players aren't crazy when we say baseball bat sized necks are torture for us to play
@@chiefline7084 totally agree it’s the same when you get guys saying they have small hands and can play anything and shred anywhere….. that’s probably because they are a very gifted individual at guitar playing,this video was purely made for people who are struggling with a short reach
51 with small hands here. If you can stand the aesthetic shock the easiest, most comfortable guitar to play BY FAR is the Strandberg Boden. If you've had a bunch of injuries and arthritis like me it can literally double your playing time, sitting or standing.
@@screwmerunnin strangely enough I played one a while ago briefly and it felt great like you say it also looked very weird the neck was a funny square shape on the back like a v shape but square I’m sure it was a strandberg defo headless 🤣
@@NinecoreNeil Yeah they call that the Endureneck trapezoidal and once you get used to it you realize everything else is just old-fashioned. It's definitely an acquired taste though visually.
@@screwmerunnin it’s a shame that neck isn’t on a normal guitar 🤣
Great vid! Never played a schecter but I will.. now lol 👍 just bought a fender player because I want to be able to wrap my hand around and use my thumb on the bottom string and it works.. (42mm nut) always had Gibson's or Ibanez I wish I'd tried this years ago.. would love it a bit thinner width wise but still way better to play and the resonance when the truss rods set right is heart warming! Thanks for the vid! 🙏🕊️
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.
For me, I love the ESP LTD extra thin U necks. They are my favorite, with the Ibanez Wizard necks a close second.
Squire 40th anniversary Strat has the best neck of any guitar I’ve owned. I believe they call it a modern C shape. It’s roasted maple with a satin finish. The satin finish allows me to move around much better with sweaty hands since they don’t get stopped up on the sticky finish like they do with nitro finished necks.
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.
I love the sounds of standard 25.5" scale guitars. But the fingers like shorter scale guitars. I have shorter scale guitars. With the standard scale guitars, i now play them in drop tuning (one or two semi tone down).
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.
Love EB/mm the necks are a joy to play.
I have short fingers but for some reason my five string bass with a flatter fingerboard radius seems more easier and comfortable to play than my 4 string bass that had a more vintage rounder fingerboard radius.
I have small hands and i only got comfortable with my washburn nuno n1 reissue. I've eversince looked for guitars with similar necks. But then again, i see 4 year old prodigies with much smaller hands and i have no excuse.
@@rhaxeedo …… but we all have different levels of ability,some people can write a killer song in 2 hrs but can’t sweep or shred,this is why it’s about making playing easier for yourself so you can play with ease and comfort.
Comparing yourself to a child prodigy is only going to make you feel worse about yourself.
If the Washburn works best then that’s great comfort is king
There’s a lot of guitarists with bad backs ,elbows and wrists
@@NinecoreNeil thank you for the words. That would make me go forth and just rock on!
It's the whole life I'm strugglin' about neck profile and dimensions, because though I'm 6 ft. tall I have really small hands and tapered fingers (while girls and women love it). I really love Fender Modern C neck but now I need a guitar with humbuckers. I hate Gibson, especially Vintage '59s profile (I had one and it slatentized me a focal distonya at the third finger of left hand). So I was looking for a 42 mm wide neck at nut and a slim profile, looked at hundreds of web sites, guitars, videos and in the end I was becoming oriented to a Schecter Solo Custom II... then I found this video... what else to say? You're great!
@@rockwillneverdie66 thanks buddy ,finding the best guitar for you is a massive difference in playing in my opinion it will not only make playing more comfortable but make you want to play more so a win win
No guitar is perfect though
Thanks for this, man 👍🏻 (small, but good thumb up!) you just earned a sub' 🙂
Awesome thanks
Hi jamie❤
I have small hands but wide finger tips,soooo It’s fender for me 😊
Throughout this video, you are referred to "small hands" as if all hands that might be considered small are small in the same ways.
I have short fingers, which means limited reach. Your first point about using a smaller nut width would seem to address this issue. However, my fingers are also fat (ring size 14), and a smaller nut means strings are closer together. Fat fingers and close strings doesn't work.
Sorry I didn’t have time to cover small hands long fingers,small hands fat fingers ,small hands thin fingers small hands long fat and long thin fingers 🤣
This is aimed at guys with small hands as in small in every way 👍
Not small long finger fat finger it’s small everywhere😊
@NinecoreNeil Well, do you have advice for fat fingers? Do I make finding the widest nut my main priority? 🤷♂️
I have small hands, and I’ve owned many Ibanez guitars over the years. I agree with you about the tone - or lack thereof - and so I have always, without fail, changed out the pickups. Most of the time I’ve swapped the OEMs for DiMarzio pickups, though I have also played a few Seymour Duncan pickups that are great. DiMarzio pickups seem to have more compression which translates to more fluid response.
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
And what about Chinese children playing fast complicated stuff on full scale classic guitar. ???
@@williammolina9792 well they wouldn’t watch this video as it’s not a problem for them is it 🤣,it’s like if you were the world’s fastest sprinter you wouldn’t watch a video that was to help guys struggling with sprinting.
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 💥💥
The Ernie Ball music man Steve lukather model is the perfect ax for small hand players. I own one and it is my favorite of my five guitars.
@@noself7889 lots of people are recommending Ernie Ball’s I need to re check them out it’s been a while
@@NinecoreNeil In my opinion Music Man have the best necks in the business not to mention the pristine quality of their guitars.
Everything said in this video is correct. I had to part with a lovely Les Paul, as the neck was not right and taxed my hand and wrist. It was a sweet guitar… just not be my hand. I shine with medium C… and the Ibanez 550 neck.
IF YOU GOT SMALL HANDS GET IBENEZ MIKRO 3/4 SIZE IT SHREDS.. GET IT SET UP CORRECT 11 GAUGE , DROP C# TUNING. NO PROBLEM ....
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.
Did I miss you talking about scale length? A shorter scale length can be super helpful fit many folks. Also, even with smaller hands, I find a full C, Soft V and 7.25” fretboard to be easiest for barre chords and thumb over technique.
I have short fingers, but thin necks make my hands cramp up when playing 1st and 2nd fret areas. I bought a $30 set of calipers on Amazon and after I've discovered that the ideal thicknesses for me range from at least .85 at the first fret to around .98 at the 12th fret. Ideally, .87-.97 are the best measurements for me. I tend to prefer Strats, so I'm mostly playing 25.5 inch scale lengths, but my next experiment will be a 24 inch neck.
JACKSON AND IBANEZ GOT THE BEST NECKS AROUND GREAT FOR SMALL HANDS
Yeah the Jackson speed necks are great the Schecter Ultras are much smaller to the hand imo
I believe Schecter uses the same small neck width for Floyd/TOM bridges for economical reasons. Also for example the radius 14“ is same on both, although TOM has 12“ and Floyd nut even only 10“. Still plays great.
I have small hands and have been playing over 60 years, off and on. I can play, what people call standard guitars because of practice, but playing an SG because of slim neck seems better to me. Years ago I bought a cheap acoustic, the Takamine EG561C. It has smaller features that make it a pleasure to play, even though I have more expensive acoustics to play.
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 small hands and short fingers. I appreciate the advice you have given in this video. One thing I do differ on is the thin necks. I am not contradicting you, it's a different issue. A few years ago, after playing for 40+ years, I discovered that very thin necks make my hand cramp.
For some reason, even beyond the thin neck, I don't get along with Ibanez. I had a Prestige series that I got in a trade that I did not like.
A couple of years ago I bought a Sterling by Music Man JP160 and it's the most comfortable neck I ever played. I just got a real Music Man JP, a 2002 JP6, and I'm homing to like it even more. There is something about the shape of the neck that is so comfortable.
The funny thing is that both the Sterling and the Ibanez had the same radius of 16" but they felt totally different.
@@CrownedWarriorBand interesting I was just about to ask if the radius was different,we are all different tbh it depends on style as well like you say if you are playing big chords a thin neck would cause fatigue I guess because the muscles in your hands would be contracted harder
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
Very good information . I’m a woman with small hands and fat fingers so I need the strings to be a little farther apart.
@@claudiajay8291 wide board thin neck and flat radius I’d say thanks hope it helped
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.
Small hands should be conga players. Aside from Mongo Santamaria, all the best congueros have small hands. It allows their slap to really pop
I hear what you're saying, but I don't buy it. I'm a woman with small hands, and I've played an ESP six string bass for over twenty years with no problems. For me, it has more to do with thumb placement, and elbow angle. Everyone's different.
@@OlettaLiano exactly everyone is different I can only share what works for me 👍
I have "smallish" hands and definitely prefer a PRS or Gibson scale to a Fender. Also on PRS really don't care all that much for wide/fat profile nor the wide/thin. I actually prefer what they call "Pattern".
I play a Yamaha silent only guitar i can play
Sometimes it's not about how fast you play. Also the tone is important it can sometimes control how good you play. For example, I have small hands so I got myself a '91 Gibson Les Paul classic with narrow neck thinking it'll be perfect for me. Even though I can move my hands faster and easier across the fretboard but tone wise it was a complete disaster and hated it as a result. Lately I got myself a Gibson Les Paul custom with thicker neck but the tone is to die for which helped me spend more time playing that thing and helped me improve more as a guitar player. My hands got adapted to it so well and ended up feeling more in control. Lesson learnt: ignore hand sizes etc, go out and play as many guitar as you can and see what feels and play right for you. It's like fragrances, we all have different personal tastes, can't tell someone this smells better than that.
@@jimjim7008 exactly but you have to then look at the specs to find out why it fitted better 👍
I figured out the perfect brand for me 20 years ago. I've played many brands in my early years, but the three that stood out the most that never felt right in my hands were Gibson, Epiphone and Ibanez. I owned a Jackson and ESP and those were not bad. It wasn't until 2003 when I first saw Schecter guitars and after picking one up, the neck felt perfect for my left hand. It's all I played ever since. Ibanez necks were too wide for my hands. A 6 string felt like a 7 string and the thin C shape neck just didn't do it for me. Gibson and Epiphone necks were just too fat. Too much of a D shape.
For years I thought that a smaller shorter scale would be better.
I spent a lot of money on guitars set up more or less for children and or women.
ie Les Paul Goddess.
I was wrong . . . I'm most comfortable and get more accurate fretting with a Les Paul "modern" style neck.
A good solid thumb placement on the back of the neck "for me" is the key.
What about those guy's that don't have arms and no hands and play wit dey feets? They musta didn't get the memo.
@@jimmyjennings4089 maybe they don’t stand up at the same time 😀
As I was learning to play I struggled with the wide neck and stretches on some with chords. Accidentally I picked up a Yamaha mid range priced guitar!
Narrow neck and since I stay with the brand for the reason as many have stated. The same with acoustic guitars.
@@user-mt3jq7vk5v not played one for years but probably the first ever super thin neck I played was on a Yamaha
I have an Ibanez Les Paul copy. I added Gibson humbuckers and changed machine heads.
Schecter thin C is great. I also swear by Charvel (San Dimas) and Yamaha (Revstar / Pacifica).
I am and old player and started playing about 2 1/2 years ago. I have small hands. The idea of being able to mute with my thumb is beyond me. I have so far mainly play fender strats and teles, medium jumbo frets and 9.5 radius. Maybe I need to look further at guitars with smaller necks like schecter. Thanks for the video
@@davegenske8973 no problem the radius has a lot to do with it too
Brilliant advice...Thanks, man!
No worries thanks
Having played both amateur and professionally for 60 odd years, on many types of guitar necks, I now have carpal tunnel problems in both hands. Old 80’s Kramer Stagemasters are best for me. Just saying.
I was playing my Schecter SG copy when I was watching this video. I have smaller hands, and short fingers too. I used to have a lot of Schecters, but had to sell many after a recent illness. For the Les Paul style guitar, and the boot problem ( thickness where neck goes into body) I have switched from Gibson and Epiphone to LTD guitars. The bodies are much thinner, the necks are also much thinner, and the boots are very accessable to small fingers. I have an Ibanez Joe Satriani model, dual double coils, that I love, except for the Fender Strat style boot. Being a luthier myself, I have considered epoxying the neck in, then shving down he body to s Schecter shape around the boot. ( I have also considered just building a through body neck copy of a Satriani guitar, but I don't have a woodshop warehouse anymore.) I probably will just epoxy the neck in on that guitar, since it's a budget model, not a $2000 one.
Schecters ands LTDs are my "go to" guitars these days !
Don't forget about ltd esp! I loved the f-10 they had for $200