What guitar do I deserve?

[Quinbus]

In a few months I will have finished Frederick Noads Solo Guitar I...and be moving on to Solo Guitar 2. I'm self taught and play for the simple pleasure of it...

I've been playing an Alvarez Professional--solid cedar, about $900 in 1992. I don't really have any complaints with it but I want to reward myself with a suitable upgrade. However, I don't want to spend money on a guitar that is 'beyond' my abilities, although I could afford to buy a very nice instrument..

So my question is, what guitar do I deserve at this point? I'm looking for something that fits the level of my guitar playing abilities...and gives some room to grow.

If I was your son, and it was your money, and you wanted to see me advance appropriately....what might you recommend.

TIA for the help. Seriously. I'm in a small town and its very hard to get good feedback in this regard....

[Pepe Vergara]

If you were my son, I would him my Harmony purchased in Sears for $75 in the 1960's. Proudly made in the USA with all solid woods. However, that may cost a fortune nowdays (in fact, I gave it to my son, but he was not interested in guitars at that time, but rather spring breaks). So if I could afford, I would give him the best I could afford. What about a Torres by Kenny Hills (about 3 grand). Those guitars are the best ever ( I am talking of the one that is small size Torres). What about Prudencio Saez ( the handmade one, not the factory mass produced), the one that cost about 8 grands. If you cannot afford those, you can always get a used Jose Ramirez from the 1960's or 1970's for a bit less.

[daniel711]

Second the 'Hill' guitars... Check out www.hillguitar.com

[Quinbus]

Thanks Pepe. I must admit that Torres looks lovely.... There is a dealer about an hour away (Dayton Ohio). Looks like I'll be making a road trip.

One other question. My Alvarez is a standard 650mm. I've always wondered if a slightly smaller size was more appropriate for me.... My fingers are shorter...but thick... My fear has always been that if I try to accomodate my finger length, the closeness of the strings will be a problem for my finger width.....Alas.

Anyway, is there any chart or hand measurement conventions that help one determine the appropriate guitar size? Like sizing shoes. I realize I should try them out and see how they feel, but I was just wondering.....

Thanks.

[Pepe Vergara]

I've always wondered if a slightly smaller size was more appropriate for me.... My fingers are shorter...but thick... My fear has always been that if I try to accomodate my finger length, the closeness of the strings will be a problem for my finger width.....Alas.

Anyway, is there any chart or hand measurement conventions that help one determine the appropriate guitar size? Like sizing shoes. I realize I should try them out and see how they feel, but I was just wondering.....

Thanks.



Unfortunately, I do not know about a chart or standard. The 650 scale is considered the standard. However, Torres made all scales for several kind of hands. Your case needs a custom made guitar, unless you can find a short scale with wide fretboard. In fact, I am building one guitar for a person with your same characteristics. In his case, I did measure him well and determine the best scale after couple hours of playing several different instruments. He also contributes to this forum and must be reading this article.

[Pepe Vergara]

I've always wondered if a slightly smaller size was more appropriate for me.... My fingers are shorter...but thick... My fear has always been that if I try to accomodate my finger length, the closeness of the strings will be a problem for my finger width.....Alas.

Anyway, is there any chart or hand measurement conventions that help one determine the appropriate guitar size? Like sizing shoes. I realize I should try them out and see how they feel, but I was just wondering.....

Thanks.



Unfortunately, I do not know about a chart or standard. The 650 scale is considered the standard. However, Torres made all scales for several kind of hands. Your case needs a custom made guitar, unless you can find a short scale with wide fretboard. In fact, I am building one guitar for a person with your same characteristics. In his case, I did measure him well and determined the best scale after couple hours of playing several different instruments. He also contributes to this forum and must be reading this article.

[jdschoe@juno.com]

Dear Quinbus,

My guess is that you would really like a 640 mm or smaller string length and could handle 640 with no problems at all. I hope your hour away dealer will have at least one or two in stock. GSI does with the John Ray, I notice. I hope you will not buy your new guitar until you have a chance to consider/play at least one guitar with a shorter than standard string length.

I like your idea about a hand-size chart for guitar selection!

Currently I play three guitars: one has a 550 mm string length; one has a 625 mm string length; and one has a 635 mm string length. Two of these are inexpensive guitars but solid wood guitars, one a bargain due to surface defects, one a hand-made guitar from the 1960's with lots of dings. One was made for me by English luthier, Rik Middleton, (625 mm) and is my personal "reward" guitar, such as you are seeking. Happily, it did make a better guitarist of me the minute I started to play it. It's not just the sound, it's also the playability Rik put into it. When this thread was entitled, What guitar do I deserve?, I thought of this guitar: whether I deserve it or not, I really do appreciate it.

Although my fingers are wider than a typical child's, shorter string length poses no problems. That cannot be said for a narrower fretboard. I do have to be precise with the left hand to avoid adjacent string interference on the 550mm guitar. The problem arises because that guitar has a 3-4 mm narrower than standard fretboard; it's a vibrating strings too close together problem more than a chubby finger tip problem. High tension strings help...and precision fretting.

Also, the back of the neck profiling of a guitar can make a big comfort/reach difference for me too. (That's something I like so much about my hand-made model from Rik Middleton.) So along with string length, I think neck profiling is something to examine closely on any prospective new guitars.

Even in a small town, there will usually be a few Takamine Jasmine guitars for children...1/2 size, 3/4 size. How about taking your tape measure with you to the local musical store and playing a 3/4 size guitar (c. 580 mm string length) just to see how it feels to play one? Measure the nut too.

My guess is you will not have difficulties with chubby fingers as long as the nut is at least 52 mm. Playing these smaller guitars will at least give you an idea of how it feels not to have to shift quite so much to reach notes in the first four frets; and you will experience for yourself how your wider fingers perform in shorter distances between frets.

Even big guitar dealers may not have any 640mm or shorter string length guitars in stock, except for the children's models. That was my experience in Seattle, at least. That is why I ended up purchasing three guitars over the Internet...one from GSI (a very good experience!), one over E-bay (also a good experience--a small handmade guitar from the '60's which I can take anywhere), and one direct from the luthier (the best experience of all.)

Here's hoping your experience looking for a new guitar will be fun, not frustrating and that you will find your way to a guitar which both suits you and inspires you.

Have you entered GSI's drawing to win the Cordoba Gypsy King model? Since you definitely deserve a new guitar and are ready for one, maybe it's the one for you.