Short people and guitars

chris45

Being 5’5 and skinny it’s depressing that some of the coolest guitars look ridiculous on me.  I would LOVE a Firebird but they look as long as I am wide.  Similarly almost all semi or hollow body Gretschs look bigger than me; I would love a White Falcon but would look more Malcolm Young than Billy Duffy.  Any suggestions on less common guitar shapes that suit is vertically challenged?

Teyeplayer

Mate I’m 5’6 and have spent a lifetime playing 335’s, Gretschs and most recently non-reverse Firebirds. Embrace it I say -remember Brian Jones of the Stones was only a little fella and it didn’t matter what he picked up, he still looked cool as.

badlydrawnbanjo

I’m the scientifically proven perfect height of 5ft 7.5 inches and play a Gibson Trini Lopez which does look massive on me but is also cool as F**k so I just don’t worry about it. 
https://imgur.com/a/86vtO0S

rpr

Mustang, Duo-Sonic ?

Moominpapa

If you play like me, then looking ridiculous is the last thing you'll be worrying about ....

meltedbuzzbox

Cue the picture of pj Harvey playing a firebird

SteveRobinson

chris45 said:

Being 5’5 and skinny it’s depressing that some of the coolest guitars look ridiculous on me.  I would LOVE a Firebird but they look as long as I am wide.  Similarly almost all semi or hollow body Gretschs look bigger than me; I would love a White Falcon but would look more Malcolm Young than Billy Duffy.  Any suggestions on less common guitar shapes that suit is vertically challenged?

Steve Marriott was 5'5". Here he is with a White Falcon

olafgarten

Stephen Stills was 5ft 6 when he was younger, probably a little shorter now due to his age.

This is him playing a Gibson Super 400, a massive guitar. 

https://goo.gl/images/bsX1V6

Teyeplayer

Is this the part of the thread where we all start using innuendos about it not being the size but what you do with it that counts?  

Lebarque

rpr said:

Mustang, Duo-Sonic ?

This ^ 
Smaller bodies than strats and shorter scale length too. I love the look of them, but am 6ft, so they don't look right on me. Go for it!

Although I agree with the sentiment of not giving a toss, I know what you mean: 335's, Jazzmasters, Firebirds etc. do look better on taller people.

digitalscream

Why do you think Nuno's sig guitar is significantly smaller-bodied than the average superstrat?

carlos

digitalscream said:

Why do you think Nuno's sig guitar is significantly smaller-bodied than the average superstrat?

He's 5'8" so short but not a dwarf. I measure my Nuno guitar and it's only 1" thinner at the "hips" than my Ibanez RG although it does look smaller (hey. Satriani is also 5'8"). OTOH, the Ibanez RG looks too small when Vai holds one, so I think you shouldn't give a toss of how it looks and just play whatever you want!

badlydrawnbanjo

What about the Gibson ES339 or the Epiphone Casino coupe for the smaller semi vibes?

Philly_Q

All those pictures of Steve Marriott, Stephen Stills etc look fine, but we're used to seeing them.  I could add Pete Willis who almost always played an Explorer.

But I take the OP's point.  I'm 5'6" and - not that anyone is ever likely to see me playing a guitar anywhere - I think that Explorers, Flying Vs and Firebirds look big on me.  Even a light-coloured Strat looks quite big.  As for 335s, Gretsches and jazz boxes, I wouldn't particularly want to own them but they are way too big and physically quite uncomfortable.

SGs, LP Juniors, regular LPs (if you're OK with the weight) are fine for smaller folks.  Teles.  I would quite like a Mustang if I could figure a way of wiring it without those fiddly little switches.  CS-336 or ES-339 if you want a 335 type.  And Music Man make some small guitars - the Axis and Silhouette, for example.

Incidentally, Google says Stevie Ray Vaughan was 5'5" (although reports vary...).

randella

carlos said:

digitalscream said:

Why do you think Nuno's sig guitar is significantly smaller-bodied than the average superstrat?

He's 5'8" so short but not a dwarf. I measure my Nuno guitar and it's only 1" thinner at the "hips" than my Ibanez RG although it does look smaller (hey. Satriani is also 5'8"). OTOH, the Ibanez RG looks too small when Vai holds one, so I think you shouldn't give a toss of how it looks and just play whatever you want!

I remember an interview with Satch - he was talking about his JS signature guitars and how he once got Vai to strap one on.  Apparently he looked like he had, in Satch’s words, ‘some terrible glandular problem’.



I’m a shade over 6’, and slim.  Strats look not-quite-right on me but I am a Strat guy, pfft.  What ya gonna do.  Of the very few photos of me playing that I like, it’s a Les Paul that I’m using.

bluechargeboy

5'8" here and I play dreadnoughts live. I wear ridiculous trousers to distract from the slight mismatch between guitar and player.

The N4 that I had was the perfect size for me. I do miss it since I learnt how to drive a Floyd Rose. Not really a drop-in replacement for a dreadnought though.

57Deluxe

stick to a LP Jr and you will keep your cool

Musicman20

I'm 5'9 and I play huge Musicman Stingray 5 string basses. Don't worry about it. Guitars look like toys on me because people are used to seeing a biggg bass.

digitalscream

carlos said:

digitalscream said:

Why do you think Nuno's sig guitar is significantly smaller-bodied than the average superstrat?

He's 5'8" so short but not a dwarf. I measure my Nuno guitar and it's only 1" thinner at the "hips" than my Ibanez RG although it does look smaller (hey. Satriani is also 5'8"). OTOH, the Ibanez RG looks too small when Vai holds one, so I think you shouldn't give a toss of how it looks and just play whatever you want!

He may say he's 5'8", but I'm 5'7" wearing Converse and he was wearing boots with quite a heel on them...and I was slouching:

Philly_Q

You could go the partscaster route.

Warmoth make 7/8 size Strat and Tele bodies.  The shapes look a little odd but only because the standard Strat and Tele shapes are so ingrained.

Unfortunately they're only compatible with Warmoth's 24-fret, 24.75" scale necks.  And strangely, they usually only stock them in fairly boring traditional colours.  I'd want something a bit more modern with a contoured heel and a more interesting colour, but that adds a lot to the cost.

CountryDave

It could be worse. I’m 5’ 5” and a bit chubby. At least you have the skinny thing going for you.
Tried loads of guitars and still have a big body Gretsch but mainly play a Tele.
I have recently picked up a Musicman Albert Lee which feels just right.