Question:
I have a cheap Les Paul style guitar and am still a newbie. I am fairly set on getting a new - smaller guitar. Questions are: What are 3/4 guitars like? Obly 75% the size but are they a drastic reduction in size and would they become too small I wonder? How common are smaller types of guitars? I will probably go for a fender style guitar this time (a cheap copy though) - are the necks of these generally thicker of fatter than Les Paul style ones? I guess the best way is by going to shops and trying them out - does anyone in the UK have any specific shops to look at in the South? I have also read about nut width - if a nut was smaller I guess the strings would be closer together? that would probably make it harder for me, I am fairly sure I need the neck to be thinner, currently I have like a reverese D shape and what I need is either a much thinner D or perhaps a rectangular shape?
Answer:
My fingers are relatively short as well, and I found that I had a little more trouble with reach while sitting with the LP. I also cannot reach the bass E string well if the thing is hangling below the belt. I know its not as kewl, but I hang it up higher so that the bottom of the LP pick guard is about even with my belt. That combined with a sensible left hand posture wraps around the neck. When playing acoustic, I sit and the whole posture is a bit different. The classical posture is different again, but I can't make myself do that. Bottom line is that with some patience and effort, you will overcome these initial hurdles. As others have said here, a few lessons could help you a lot. though that 3/4 guitars referred to the fact that the neck is shorter than a normal guitar, i.e., you have fewer frets to work with. Have a look at the Rickenbacker 325 John Lennon played with the Beatles--that's the 3/4 guitar. The full-length version is the 350. You might be happier with a Gibson-style guitar. That's because the SCALE LENGTH is slightly shorter than on a Fender. 24.75 vs 25.5 --the scale length influences the tone a bit, but especially the string tension and the spacing of the frets. Gibson-scale necks are definitely easier on smaller hands. On the other hand, they're more difficult to fret way up high (though Jimmy Page manages all right . The biggest difference is probably in string tension --the longer Fender scale tends to make strings stiffer and more difficult to bend. Another important difference: Gibson-type guitars have an angle to the neck--means the neck comes slightly backward toward you. I find that more comfortable. Fender compensated for that somewhat with the body carve on the Strat though. It all comes down to personal preference. I definitely prefer the Gibson scale, but I also like playing my Fender too. Other people will swear by the longer scale length. If you're looking for a thinner neck, then I can recommend a Gibson Melody Maker --the neck is both slightly narrower and slightly thinner than a normal Gibson neck. They're also much less expensive--a good guitar for a beginner,
Add to favorites
