Does anyone else suffer with this? I'm not sure how and when it really started as I've never had an issue with slim neck guitars in years gone by.
It's getting really frustrating now, I've literally got a amazing Gretsch 6120 RHH today and love everything about it but my left hand and wrist is in bits again, same thing happened with the Jazzmaster and the Strat I've recently had.
I'm only 31 and haven't even got big paws. I went the Doctors not to long back to get checked for arthritis and they said I've not got it (yet) but it doesn't half feel like it! I've already had to stop cycling due to a bad back!
My 59Ri 330 doesn't cause me any pain at all. Does anyone know if the shorter scale is helping combined with the chunky neck?
Should I just stick to the one guitar or can anyone recommend anything else? I'm really enjoying playing Rockabilly and Western Swing at the moment hence the Gretsch.
Any advice from those who suffer from similar issues would really be appreciated.
Comments
Firstly, if you are able, ask your GP about the musicians clinic in london. Phenomenal tiny department that tailor there diagnoses to the types of injuries that musicians suffer (which are often fairly standard, but with much earlier onset than usual).
https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/rheumatology/specialties/musicians-clinic/overview.aspx
In terms of instruments, i find that it is quite a complicated and personal journey. For me, I found that super slim necks were a no no, but also that neck shape was incredibly important, alongside nut width.
For me, my best players are my R8 with a chunky neck, and my AVRI 62 start which is much simmer, but the edges are so rounded and rolled that it feels very comfortable.
The sad part was that the US standard strat that I had played exclusively for a decade prior to the hand issues completely aggravated it. wider fretboard, flatter profile, etc etc.
If your 330 works for you, I'd just play that more, you'll find your sound with that and be pain free. Sounds like a win win.
I've been seeing a Osteopath for my back for the last few months, never even mentioned the guitar issues to him.
I've always gone to the gym, actually think throwing weights about at 18-21 hasn't helped any of these issues now. I've found swimming and Yoga have helped me loads in general.
I think that's a really good point on the depth to width ratio as I've had a few CS 60s which never caused me any issues but i've had problems on a 60s RI SG.
It could be technique related.
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Regarding your specific question. My 59 VOS LP has a neck like a baseball bat but my small hands find it very comfortable to fret notes and barre chords. But I've also got a Brook acoustic with a very slim neck (front to back) and a Strat with the same - both are also comfy for me.
Yeah pain happenes if I'm both sitting or standing.
EDIT:- Too many so's..
I have small hands, yet slim necks (either front to back or width-wise) cause me discomfort when playing. Therefore I choose guitars by how the neck feels.
I've had to sell a few guitars I otherwise loved because ofcthus, including a 64 Epiphone Olympic and a Patrick Eggle Redwing Tornado
The Baja neck is nice. I do like V necks. My number one acoustic is a Martin HD28V with a V neck. I can play that for hours. That would be very difficult to replace as most of the newer Martins have 1 3/4" nuts now not 1 11/16".
I had a Gibson R8 for a while with a huge neck, that was very comfortable to play, but it was so big that is was affecting my playing. I have very short fingers. There was something that I had recorded in one take with another guitar that I thought I'd try with the R8 to see how that sounded. It took me about 10 takes to actually play it cleanly. Comfortable as it was, I ended up getting rid of it.
The other thing that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet is fingerboard radius. If you do spend a lot of time playing chords, then an old style Fender 7.25" radius can be very comfortable. I can play on a 12" Gibson radius, but anything flatter than that I just don't like the feel of, and it does make playing chords seem harder. Acoustics might be a bit flatter, but again I don't like them too flat. I got rid of a Brook with a shallow neck and very flat radius.
Ultimately, you have to find guitars with necks and geometry that work for you. Personally I like V necks, and I like PRS Regular necks (or whatever they call them these days). The PRS wide fat doesn't cause me problems, but I don't like the feel of it overmuch. The Wide Thin is a definite no-no. I like the feel of a lot of Gibson necks, but I've had one or two with a 60's profile that have given me wrist pain if I play them a lot.
As has been said above, just make sure that you are doing the other basic stuff. Make sure you have a decent posture when playing, and you aren't slumped round shouldered on the sofa. If playing standing, play with the length of your strap to find the best position - if you are playing with it around your knees that could cause problems. Make sure you have decent posture when using a computer. If you use a laptop, it might be worth investing in a proper monitor and keyboard, and get a decent office chair.
It's worth trying to find some guitars that suit your own individual body and hands, we all have different ones and consequently some guitars will fit better than others.
I think it comes down to a simple thing of no longer buying guitars blind, probably not a bad thing in reality will stop me having to chop and change so much.
Also, once an issue has developed, it's worth warming up (and down) you're hand and wrist
Ideally, walk away and play something else until you've over the acute pain
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
The only problem is that sometimes these problems don't manifest on half an hour playing in a shop. You can tell whether you like the feel of a neck, but that isn't always everything. My old SG had nicest playing neck I've ever played, but something about the geometry of it didn't work for me. I used it for long rehearsal (4 or 5 hours) and my wrist was really sore. Used my 7.25" small vintage frets Strat the next week and I was absolutely fine.
I've sold 3 guitars I really liked, but sometimes you have to have them for a while before you realise that they cause issues.