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.

@reylegacy619

3 күн бұрын

Does Mustang, Jaguar and Jazzmaster have the same neck?

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.

@Sabres-og9xu

2 ай бұрын

From what website did you place your order? I'm very interested. Thanks

@soulsoul67

23 күн бұрын

My little finger is 2.5". That with arthritis and hardly any stretch it's actually getting painful to play a 25/¼

@koolkutz7

3 күн бұрын

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.

@soulsoul67

2 күн бұрын

@@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 .

@koolkutz7

Күн бұрын

@@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 KZread for advice years sooner.

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

No worries buddy

@michael1

2 ай бұрын

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.

@learningguitar7948

Ай бұрын

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!

I think scale length is one of the most important factors.

@benpotter4905

9 ай бұрын

Neck shape as well .

@1978garfield

7 ай бұрын

@@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.

@benpotter4905

7 ай бұрын

@@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.

@Fikser11

6 ай бұрын

its neck shape, its thickness and width at nut

@G-NutZ

5 ай бұрын

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 the video!

Brilliant advice...Thanks, man!

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

No worries 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!

@NinecoreNeil

4 ай бұрын

Wow such kind words glad my videos help people it means a lot I’m actually considering that guitar myself

Thanks for this, man 👍🏻 (small, but good thumb up!) you just earned a sub' 🙂

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Awesome thanks

@usoda6974

2 ай бұрын

Hi jamie❤

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)

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

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.

Great video, Neil! Would you come closer to recommending a slimmer neck versus shorter scale length for smaller hands?

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.

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.

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.

Great video, I’m kind of surprised you didn’t review fretboard radius

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

Yeah it’s kind of personal taste to how quick different radius feel I found recently that flat all the way up suits me

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.

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.

@alegutierrezmusic

9 ай бұрын

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.

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..!

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Totally agree The Elite Schecters usually have the Ultra thin c which is just about perfect

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!

@mikeseadorf4952

9 ай бұрын

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

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

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

@bernielalonde1898

9 ай бұрын

Yeah, I understand but every time I picked up one I was blown away with how it just fit.@@NinecoreNeil

Excellent video good sir. My fingers are long and skinny, but they aren’t flexible, especially at the fingertips. Take care👍🏻💯

@NinecoreNeil

7 ай бұрын

Thanks

Great video

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

Thanks hoping to do a part 2

@hiteshchand

3 ай бұрын

You discussed about electric guitar brands, can you please cover acoustic guitars too ? And how are necks and feel of budget guitars like cort, orangewood ?

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

@@hiteshchand hi I don’t really play acoustic unfortunately mate,I wouldn’t be able to give a very accurate opinion I’m afraid

I really needed this video I’m a recently retired vet and never thought of learning but only a week in and I’m hooked but my teacher said you have short sausage fingers and maybe I should look into a different guitar - didn’t like the looks of the one she had a what Ibanez so after this umm off to Schecter

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.

@maxwellblakely7952

9 ай бұрын

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.

What about Charvel speed necks? Do you think that they can be a good option for small hands? I'm a metal guitarist with really small hands and until now Jackson necks felt the best for me. Also tried Ibanez wizard but didnt quite like it, might try a Schecter after watching your video.

@NinecoreNeil

6 ай бұрын

Worth trying The Korean Charvel are great for me the Mexican ones a touch big

Ltd feel great play great necks usually in the midrange. My ibanez axion label with bareknuckle aftermath is the best guitar i ever played in my entire life...

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.

@stephanpetersen8386

9 ай бұрын

Loving LTD's Thin U neck 💥💥

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.

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Sounds like a slim D would be a good for you I used to do the same with my thumb when I was younger

@Shootingstar1203

8 ай бұрын

Have you tried the Jackson USA select soloist? How do you like that neck profile and thickness? Thx

@steviesynapse

8 ай бұрын

@@Shootingstar1203 No ,I’ve never tried any Jackson guitars, thanks for the suggestion.

I have 4×4 Inch palms and 2 3/4 pinkie reach. I have a strat which has nice feet span but too flat of a neck. My Epiphone Les Paul is only good for open chording. Any help would be great. Short finders wide palms

Thanks for this video!👍 I‘m just considering to buy an Ibanez with a wizard neck because I have problems with my Ibanez AZ. Maybe I should have a look at Schecter, too? PS: For whatever reason I can play solos on the higher frets better on my Fender Acoustasonic than on my AZ Premium.🤘

@NinecoreNeil

6 ай бұрын

Could be action or the truss Rod Always important to get a pro set up before you write off a guitar bud Ibanez wizards are different I can’t remember the super flat wafer model so checkout a few different wizards

@FrankW1988

4 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil Update: I bought an Ibanez RG421 but didn’t like the 43mm nut and 16“ radius. So I returned it and had a luthier change the neck profile of my AZ47P1QM. Fretboard is still 42mm nut and 12“ radius. But the back is almost as flat as Wizard neck. This was a real game changer! I should have done this years ago.🤘

I agree with you Neil using Schecter and Ibanez guitars as far as thin necks. Schecter are 14"neck Radius for the exception of a few with 16" neck radius. Ibanez is 15 3/4 " neck radius to 17" neck radius. Ibanez XJ frets, Schecter med--XJ frets. Gibson's 12"-14" 243/4 scale length, my Kiesel has 20" neck radius XJ frets, it's a night & day difference

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Absolutely 12-16 inch is the Jackson Speed neck but the slimmer not widths of the ultra thin c Schecter neck make it feel less in the hand to me ,I have a new Schecter here today that is a 16” very nice to play

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."

@whaguitars

Ай бұрын

Yamaha RGX and RGZ have great thin fast necks

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

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Awesome glad you found the guitar for you Thanks for the comment

@jamiedavies1305

9 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil would be interested which schecter Floyd rose model you found still worked for smaller hands because of the bigger scale length?

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

@@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

I have smallish hands. Love my Schecters. The "thin C" of the Apocalypse I think is the best all purpose of the two I have, and attempting to play bluesier slurred Adrian Smith leads on the Banshee's "ultra thin C" I feel like I need more leverage that is missing. I also have a Jackson USA SL1 and due to the width some things just feel weird up high like you covered. I think so much depends on what you are playing...I have a Fernandes Revolver with the weirdest mix of neck: 16 inch radius and a very full shouldered chunk of C shaped maple and it is my all round best player I think. So much I think depends on what you are playing...I def feel the need for a bit more heft on bends.

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

Definitely yes great point there ,radius is a huge factor as well

Thank you for addressing this subject! Hand size definitely makes a difference when it comes to playing guitar!

@Yee-ole-benjaminbutton

9 ай бұрын

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

@megablasterboc7474

9 ай бұрын

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

@whiteNnerdyINC

8 ай бұрын

@@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.

@NinecoreNeil

4 ай бұрын

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

@childrenoftheabzu

4 ай бұрын

It makes no difference.

I have problems with ‘lateral’ stretches - I have to play shuffles across the neck instead of along it - so I had a go with a friend’s Casino - because of its shorter scale length. It should have been a dream but was actually a nightmare. The reason being that the bridge was so much further to the right, it felt claustrophobically cramped and unplayable. I’m now going to have a look at guitars with a 25” scale and where the bridge is closer in to the sound hole!

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Yeah scale length can be more of a preference it does make a difference but I find when you switch scale length it can take time to adjust I’ve just been playing my 24.75 for a while now and a 25.5 just arrived for review and it took a while to get used to it & vice versa

I have small hands and the best necks for me so far have been of my Bc rich Ironbird from early 90's (which is also short scale and I love it) and the korean LTD m102 which has a flat D shape neck. I've had a Jackson warrior js32 which was too big, and now I have a Jackson js11 dinky which has a wonderful blue finish but a big neck and makes the power chords sound weird and loose/stiff/dull (not as tight)... it was the same on the Warrior and probably the two RR3 I've tried. So, my conclusion is that the neck shape has also an influence on how it will make the strings interact and sound

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.

My Squier bullet mustang HH with it’s 24 inch satin smooth thin neck is ideal for my small hands. Or copy BB King, fit 8’s and play higher up on the neck.

@hanskung3278

2 ай бұрын

I tried the idea of playing higher up the neck but can't break the habit of using the entire fret board so I got a Duosonic and a Supersonic.

When it comes to schecter guitars, you think that the 24.75 scale ones (with thin c neck) fit better for small hands?

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

It’s ultra thin c you need to keep your eye out for 👍

Scale length is critical for me too. My caparison horus is 24.75 inch scale. Its almost perfect with a 42mm nut i just wish the neck was a little thinner in depth (21mm on first fret 22mm on 12th) it needs to be 1mm thinner for me. Im thinking of shaving it down but its a 3.5k guitar!!!!!

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.

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

Check the radius as well it’s another big factor I need to cover

Personally would take a charvel over schecter or ibanez, better feeling necks and better access but as with everything its all personal preference. Having small hands sucks which is why if I'm in the market for a newun I play through the walls of guitars to find the right one. Solid advice about finding the right neck though since nigh on everything else can be modded to suit your taste. Will give schecter credit where its due though they have made the first 7 string guitar I can actually play comfortably, some burl topped tomfoolery but really nice. Solid vid as ever sir

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Thanks ,if you like Charvel’s try and find a Korean one as the necks are super slim compared to the Mexican ones.(if you haven’t already)

@AnimalJohn85

9 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeilnow that sounds a tasty neck to play :) will keep an eye out cheers sir :)

Have you tried the Jackson USA select Soloist? How do you like that neck? Thx

@NinecoreNeil

8 ай бұрын

Unfortunately not Jackson don’t answer my emails anymore no idea why 👍

I have small hands and fingers compared to most, and i actually find it painful to play an rg wizard compared to a charvel compound radious or an az. I also owned a keith merrow 6 and i couldnt stand the thin neck. So the more rounded c neck. I also own two prs core models and a jp15 bfr , which have complretly different necks. Pattern thin on the cu 24, pattern regular on the sc58 and the JP's neck is very thin. Yet, they are all comfortable necks and i dont suffer from any type of pain. I'm an anomaly i guess :)

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

There are guitars with chunky necks that are still comfortable but I often find that they will have something like a low action and small nut width that make up for it ….fingerboard radius is a factor as well

I have small hands and the best guitars I for my hands are my EVH Wolfgang special and my Schecter Apocalypse Solo II

good points, try a fender jaguar the japan ones are 42 nut and dont spread too wide as you go up plus they are the shorter scale and c profile

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

Sounds great

i have jackson js12, ibanez rga and cort x1. the fretboard of cort x1 seems to be a great fit for me.

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Yes some Corts I’ve played are fast as hell

What exactly are the measurements of smalls hands? The line of my wrist where my hand starts to the tip of my middle finger is about 8 1/4 inch on my fretting hand and about 8 inch on my picking hand. The width of my hand in the middle of my palm is about 4 inches across. Is that considered to be small or medium?

@NinecoreNeil

4 ай бұрын

if you shake someones hand and you feel tiny ,you got small hands

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.

@NinecoreNeil

4 ай бұрын

Wow that’s a blast from the past affinity’s,I had one of those bad boys

@ Ninecore Neil what’s your opinion on esp necks compared to schecter

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

This is a very interesting question,I knew someone would ask 🤣 Ok so the ESP necks are Thin U and Schecter are Thin C ,the thing is with ESP the thin u varies in feel to me from model to model ,ESP necks are generally bigger to me but quite often they sound bigger too.Schecter have the Thin c and the ultra thin c,I’m actually going to make a video about this…..The Ultra thin c is thin and the nut width is narrow too so to me it feels amazing.I’m hoping to get more ESP on the channel so I can make a better comparison. For instance the best Singlecut is the eclipse for me it has the best body and best headstock however the Schecter solo is way thinner on the neck. I think I would need the thinnest esp thin u vrs a schecter ultra thin c to decide

Rolled fingerboard edges help also. If it’s not rolled it will cut into your handle and be uncomfortable.

I agree about Schechter Guitars, they are easier to play if you have small hands (which I do). I recently purchased a used V1 Custom from Guitar Center, so I had the chance to play it first and I loved it. It has what is described as a "Thin U" neck. Just this past weekend at another Guitar Center they had a V1 SLS Twin Evil which has what is described as an "Ultra Thin U" which reminded me allot of an Ibanez neck. The Ultra played even better for me then their Standard Thin U, I returned the V1 Custom for the SLS Twin Evil with the Ultra Thin.

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

@@danc3746 yes they are ultra thin c and one of my favourite necks Glad you like them

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.

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

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😊

@positivelynegative9149

Ай бұрын

@NinecoreNeil Well, do you have advice for fat fingers? Do I make finding the widest nut my main priority? 🤷‍♂️

Agree most part of it. however, i owned a fender kotzen japan strat..chunkier neck but strangely it fast!

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Yes you get this on occasions I played a Prs with baseball bat neck and that was strangely easy and fast to play

what about synester gates Ultra Thin C? I am planning to buy it.

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

@@aardihilary408 it’s an awesome neck slightly different from the regular ultra thin but the radius is a dream to play

Went through this exact problem getting my first non-starter guitar, and learning very quickly that the "Thin-U" on ESP's guitars isn't all that thin if you've got smaller hands! I was getting cramps and even playing with my thumb over the board rather than behind, until a buddy of mine let me try out is S series Ibanez guitar and I was playing way faster than I'd ever done before

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely the ESP necks are not thin at all which is a shame

I’m here because my roommate has a custom guitar with a Clapton neck on it and I could not believe how much easier that neck made it play than my American standard. I’m a saxophone player, so my hands are not necessarily small, but they are used to making certain movements very ergonomically. I was just at Namm, and I wish I saw this before, I would’ve tried Shechter.

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

Hi buddy there are two Schecter necks a thin c and ultra thin both slim and fast but ultra may be the one to try for you Hope you enjoyed Namm

I’ve drooled over the Orange Ibanez Presitige for so long. Had it in the basket a few times but it has a Super Wizard neck and something tells me it’s too thin and wide. Can’t find one anywhere to try out. I do love my Schecter Mach 6 and PRS S2 24.

@NinecoreNeil

2 ай бұрын

I love those guitars mate

Ibanez have the best necks for my hands ! The original wizard necks are absolutely speed machines !!!

Esp has alot of comfortable necks too

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

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

I feel the most comfortable with Schecter, Ibanez, ESP and the pattern thin PRS neck shape. I have big palms, shorter sausage fingers😂

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!

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

@@learningguitar7948 totally agree

I don’t have the small hands issues but prefer 42 and under as well. Same with necks, if like the smaller necks.

I am a guy with small hands and always heard about guitar enthusiasts telling me Ibanez Prestige have the best necks but to my dissipointment when i purchased the Ibanez Rg 1570 Prestige i felt the neck was really too wide for me.I own a Esp ltd Mh-327 as well and i felt at home with the Esp Ltd U shape neck.I personally feel the thin Wizard necks aren't my feel.Infact somehow I feel even the Fender necks more comfortable than the Ibanez.

@NinecoreNeil

2 ай бұрын

Nut width ,radius all counts as well I know what you mean about Ibanez they aernt for everyone also the necks differ a lot

Hi, what about 25.5 vs 25 vs 24'75 ?

Of all the guitars I have ever played. The Ibanez HP Super Wizard, and Original 1987 Super Wizard necks have been the most comfortable. Mostly because they are so narrow. The Ibanez Wizard II (1990s and early 2000s) necks are pretty comfortable. The 43-56 mm are the best, 43-58mm (late 2000s onwards) not so much! I also rate the AANJ and neck-thru options for higher fret access. I've always had trouble with fat necks, due to my chipolata fingers!!

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

Ha I’d love my old Ibanez back that was a wizard 2,I’m sure they’ve changed the wizard 2 since the 90’s

@KixxKvldera

3 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil Yes. the Wizard necks were made 2mm wider on the Prestige Models when production moved to Team J Craft, and the Indonesian made ones also did around 2010. I can definitely feel the extra restrictions as a result.

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

@@KixxKvldera interesting 🧐

You didn't touch on scale length. How do you feel that affects the playability for small hands?

@NinecoreNeil

4 ай бұрын

I kind of adapt to either,when I was smaller body wise sat down a shorter scale length was easier for me however now I’m 98kg so sometimes I feel squashed up Hand wise it’s easier but not if you have small fat fingers I meant to do part 2

The Washburn BT is 24.75 inch scale and has a thin little neck. A very underrated little guitar. Washburn is a good brand!

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.

@timothymartin2137

9 ай бұрын

Put some effort into the larger necks...it pays off...trust me...I have small hands...(and you want to bitch about hand issues...look at Alex Lifeson.Rush guitar player..yup...he has large hands...SAUSAGE FINGERS>>>>OUCH...how he cleanly frets anything...I watched him and quit whining about my small hands...my fingers fit the strings better...we all have sacrifices...except those guys with spider fingers....long and thin..THAT is guitar playing bliss...or so I would suspect...I would bet they disagree though!!! LOL

@Utubewrk123

9 ай бұрын

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.

@timothymartin2137

9 ай бұрын

Yeah..my reply wasnt meant to cover ALL eventualities like injury...I am speaking to the LAZY ones who think it is too hard to get your hands to work big necks and HAVE NO ISSUE LIKE INJURY>>.they are just lazy and unwilling to work at it (I find heavier gauge strings CAN BE rewarding...it depends on the guitar and the setup...my Les Paul sounds like shit with anything lower than an 11 on it (My Jackson uses 9's, My Martin acoustic 12's...so it is guitar dependent)...@@Utubewrk123

Which Schecter model has all the requirements from this video?

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

There’s quite a few the Evil Twins and other SLS have these specs

What about with G&L Moderm classic profile? 1st fret 0.820 and 12th fret 0.870

@NinecoreNeil

4 ай бұрын

I know little about G&L other than their cases are awesome

Are there any Thinline Telecasters (Fender or Squier or ANY off brand) that have thin necks?

@NinecoreNeil

7 ай бұрын

Schecter Evil Twin pt 🤘🏼

@currytoys

7 ай бұрын

Wish it came in a Thinline, but still pretty cool. If you think of any others, let me know, thanks! @@NinecoreNeil

@NinecoreNeil

7 ай бұрын

@@currytoys if you are after a thin body I think it would screw up the balance on a strap

The Yamaha RGX 420s had really narrow/thin necks like a Wizard. My best guitar. It's also 28 years old.

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Yeah when I was at school I had a friend with a Yammy it had a super slim neck

@whaguitars

Ай бұрын

100% RGX and RGZ's have great thin necks!

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.

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

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 👏

@artax9683

Ай бұрын

​@@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. 😀

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

@@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 👍 🤣

I have the opposite, I have massive hands and I get super cramped up on skinny necks.

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

27” scale for you big boy 🤣

@These_go_to_eleven_1959

9 ай бұрын

DO you mean "skinny" as in along the nut or from front to back? Vai has huge hands and very long fingers and does extremely well on the Jem necks which are very close to the Wizard neck. You cannot get any skinnier than the original Wizard neck. they are 17mm at the 1st fret and 19mm at the 12th, that is thin but i love em!

@KaiDown

9 ай бұрын

​@@These_go_to_eleven_1959 Front to back mainly. There are players with big hands on small necks, and vice versa - some people are affected more than others. Personally, I like the necks to be pretty chunky - Les Paul style necks tend to be my favourites

My hands aren’t small but they are tightly wound and the fingers aren’t long. My problem is the lateral stretch but I don’t like skinny necks as my thumb will overshoot the wrap over and can’t get down on the low E string. I love a 24” scale but with a 1.75” nut, 1 11-16 string spacing, and thick neck about .95 at first fret. So sometimes big in one way and small in an another way is the answer.

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

Yes experimenting is the best way until you find your perfect format I found recently I really like 18” radius all the way up rather than a compound

@tcjensen1

3 ай бұрын

Indeed. Haven’t tried 18, but I like 16. The idea that bar chords are easier on a curved radius is only true if you hold guitar at your knees lol.

How do you tell of you have big, small, or medium hands?

@NinecoreNeil

2 ай бұрын

Look at them

For wide fingers strong spacing is the most important thinh

I have small hands and fingers with arthritis. I don't do shredding and do prefer a vintage look. How about a vintage fender 7.25. My hands and fingers tend to cramp up after 10 minutes. Seeing my doctor tomorrow, hopefully they can recommend something. I'm thinking a shorter scale would easier for comfort and stretch.

@NinecoreNeil

23 күн бұрын

@@soulsoul67 shorter scale would probably help light gauges too especially if you are in pain while playing

@soulsoul67

2 күн бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil Got myself a Vintera Jaguar now. All good

I have PRS Silver Sky SE,the spacing seems wider to me between the frets,odd shaped neck.

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

I once played a Prs it was a semi hollow thing 4K neck like a baseball bat played amazing tbh ha

@petercollins4030

9 ай бұрын

I have a PRS SE Custom 24 and the neck on that feels wider spaced than any of my other guitars

is the gibson les paul studio thin enough?

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

The odd thing is I found my lp studio really fast and nice but it has medium frets and it is quite a narrow nut width neck I’d say was average but radius was nice Which shows lots of factors can help your playing along side the neck size, I had a Washburn once with medium frets 41 mm nut and super thin profile it was near in perfect for me

Are multiscale guitars suitable for small hands

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

I find them awkward to play especially if it’s a lead part

@RAYPOFFRAY

5 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil I'm a rythm guitarist with small hands ...soo will that be fine?

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

@@RAYPOFFRAY it will be a bigger struggle I should imagine Ibanez seem to be the easiest 7 string guitars I’ve played

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.

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Absolutely 👏

@DGW2013

4 ай бұрын

Check out Durango Guitar Works 😁

@BenjaminRoethig

4 ай бұрын

@@DGW2013 your Iron Horse is now on my list. Funny story, but my aunt and uncle own a wedding venue just East of Durango.

@DGW2013

4 ай бұрын

@@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

@BenjaminRoethig

4 ай бұрын

@@DGW2013 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 have small hands but have to baseball bat Gibson. I play fine with them. I like going for that to modern tele necks. Nice contrast

Man I don't know, maybe I'm werid but my hands are tiny and playing slim necks feels awful and gives me cramps. My Jackson DK2M has the most uncomfortable neck ever, while "baseball bat" Gibson Studio feels just right. But perhaps it's the smaller frets + smaller scale, like you're saying.

@NinecoreNeil

17 күн бұрын

@@szneka12 fret size can make a huge difference I find medium frets easier to play on for some reason it’s hard to find a guitar with medium frets nowadays

I have an Ibanez as my first e guitar and feels great but now that I know better I dislike the tone or lack of tone as well. I’ll NEVER purchase another Ibanez. Just a personal preference.

Your accent, lol! Great vid though, good content my man!

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Haha glad you enjoyed it tha nuz 🤣😜

what if i have big palms but short fingers?.

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

Drums? 🤣

As a man with small hands, the thinnest neck I've EVER PLAYED is the original Wizard necks found on the old Ibanez RG 550's. They came in at 17mm on the 1st fret and 19mm on the 12th fret with a D shape neck. Take that with a grain of salt, considering most standard necks like Strats & Les Paul's start with 19mm -21mm on the first fret. Ibanez really did a service when they introduced the Steve Vai Jems, which came with the same specs as the original Wizard Neck. Their prestige models usually offer a 18mm on the 1st fret - 20mm on the 12th combo but as a man with small hands, I can say the prestige and wizard/jem necks play like BUTTER. I've even owned a few 7 string Vai models and Ibanez prestige and played just fine.

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

Interesting I wish o could remember which wizard neck was on my 570 it was like a wafer I’m wondering if it was the same neck as you are talking about

@eddiehernandez8497

5 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil most 570's had an Original Wizard necks. So the 17-19mm. It's literally perfect for small hands but in telling you even their 7 string prestige models have slim necks.

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

@@eddiehernandez8497 yeah some Ex aernt too slim but Ibanez are generally known for slim necks

I have a Guild D-50 that is the perfect neck shape and amazing tone, but the full dreadnaught is sometimes too bulky. I then bought a Guild m240 parlor. The neck was too thick and not the same as the D-50. Being a finish carpenter for over thirty years I broke out my spokeshave and tapered it down. Problem solved

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

Oh wow I’ve often wondered if we could re shape necks to suit

@rchancock

3 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil Mahogany necks are easier that shape than maple but both can be done. I like a spokeshave but I have seen others do it with files. Final sanding to at least 220 of 320 and then two coats of linseed oil and paste wax buff.

I have short fat fingers so long scales make stretches hard and short scales cramp my fingers lol. I want a guitar that's 24.5" frets 1 to 12 and 27" for frets 13 to 24 :)

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

You need a custom ha

@luke-guitarist

8 ай бұрын

Me too on the fingers

I think you missed a couple of brands , like Yamaha , and also fender strat

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

Strat necks are pretty big for me

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.

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

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

Faster because of the radius not the thickness. The flatter the neck radius the faster youll play. This is true for any size hands. Schecter and Ibanez have 14" and 15" radius compared to 9.5" of a strat. Hand size is meaningless. If you practice youll be able to do any stretch on any guitar.

@NinecoreNeil

4 ай бұрын

Schecter have all different types of radius actually depends on the model,you can only stretch as far as your hand goes obviously a guy with a longer span would reach further. It’s like saying a 5ft 9 guy can reach as high as a 6ft 4 guy 🤣

@childrenoftheabzu

4 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil true, it just seems the 14" is their standard on most of the shredder types like the C-1. Also true that a bigger hand can stretch further but there has never been a stretch that was called for anywhere in my 27 years of playing that I couldnt do. My small hands have not impacted my ability in any way at all. Thats what Im trying to convey. With you clarifying your intent behind the vid, finding a neck size and style that is comfy for you personally, I can say I totally agree. That is the case for any player regardless of hand size though. I just sounded defensive because Im so use to the small hands limit ability myth and just assumed you were going there. My bad, i hate when people assume and dont practice their comprehensive listening skills and critical thinking. We all make mistakes.

@NinecoreNeil

4 ай бұрын

@@childrenoftheabzu I’m 46 been playing since 15,you need to realise that even though your hands may be small they don’t effect your playing but that doesn’t mean everyone’s is the same ,I have particularly small and weak hands yes I could practice more but that might not fix it totally. I know guys who’s right hands are not as tight as mine or as quick but their left is probably way better it’s just the way it is.

Try EVH Wolfgang

@NinecoreNeil

3 ай бұрын

I have one

JACKSON AND IBANEZ GOT THE BEST NECKS AROUND GREAT FOR SMALL HANDS

@NinecoreNeil

5 ай бұрын

Yeah the Jackson speed necks are great the Schecter Ultras are much smaller to the hand imo

Mine are too big for my guitar

@NinecoreNeil

2 ай бұрын

🤣

I was just here to point out a grammatical error, but I ended up watching the entire video. Cheers mate. Good advice in the video. Btw, it's *you're (not your) playing the wrong guitar brand.

@NinecoreNeil

Ай бұрын

Ha I know mate only two people spotted it so far so shhhhhh they might not notice 😃 Glad you enjoyed the video

@the_groove_engineer

Ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil Hahaha! Rock on man!

Small hands love Ernie Ball Musicman guitars...

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

Your not the first to say this actually might have to try some out

@GeoffSweet

9 ай бұрын

@@NinecoreNeil I have a JP15, an Axis and a Luke II with the Luke EMG's...all amazing playing/sounding...all great slim necks.

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.

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

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

@timsharratt1106

9 ай бұрын

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.

@NinecoreNeil

9 ай бұрын

@@timsharratt1106 i remember those old Kramers I had a friend with one it was so easy to play compared to my strat copy

@DGW2013

4 ай бұрын

DGW Slinger fits that bill...