Wanted: Good Guitars for Women (and folks with small hands)

**Susan Palmer** · 02-28-2016, 03:12 PM

Men and women have such different bodies and if you can't see that...

My experience, which I have mentioned here, is that I was injured when I was in my late 20s and I was unable to really play for more than 10 years. I spent those years teaching and writing method books designed for students who are taking guitar lessons (because no teacher I know thinks the Hal Leonard or Mel Bay books are really good). "The Guitar Lesson Companion" series is used by faculty at Berklee College of Music.

About a year ago, I picked up a Jay Turser 3/4 guitar and after using that for a year or so, I found that I wasn't re-injuring myself. The proof for me was being able to play Sonny Stitt's

solos I had learned by ear. I couldn't do that 5 years ago, and I believe this is simply because I hadn't found a guitar that fits me until that time. And it's the nut width that made the difference. (Both the Jay Turser and my Duo Sonic have very narrow necks, about 38mm.)

I love all the well intentioned guys who are trying to help me, as long as you all understand that I know myself and the guitars that work for me better than anyone. It's the narrow neck guitars that make a difference for me. Nothing else.

I dig Greentone's final advice: Find a guitar that makes you happy!

**srlank** · 02-28-2016, 03:36 PM

I totally agree on finding a guitar that suits your body, and is least likely to cause injury. I have had chronic back and neck problems for what seems forever. It has put me at minimum to no guitar time for some very long stretches. Since however I got my Forshage ergonomic guitar (lucked into a great deal from a forum member here) a little less than a year ago, I have had significantly less problems, and have been happily practicing/playing away!!

You'd think I'd just get smart enough to quit, but thus far I haven't been able to do that.

**Greentone** · 02-28-2016, 04:02 PM

Susan

your response is perfect!

play on.

GT

**Bach5G** · 02-28-2016, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Susan Palmer

@Bach5G

It wasn't really a choice ...

Some are born hip, some achieve hipness, and some have hipness thrust upon 'em.

**Susan Palmer** · 02-28-2016, 05:39 PM

I'm just back from a 5 mile run and I realized that if I wore shoes that were the wrong size, I'd probably not be able to run very well.

I'm so thankful for this guitar, and I'd sure like to find a company that would consider making smaller neck guitars, or even 3-D printed guitars/parts to fit different hand/body types. I think there's a big future in that, and it'd be awesome to be a part of it.

**rabbit** · 02-28-2016, 07:35 PM

Susan Palmer, you are a hero.
A swell musician, too.

I know this.
I have been denied the guitar for two long periods of "infirmity."

All the best to you.

**Tal_175** · 02-07-2018, 06:46 PM

Here is a beautiful 1968 L7 with cutaway and 60's Gibson 40mm neck. Almost affordable for a solid carved Gibson (note the price is in CAD):
Gibson L7-C Acoustic Archtop Guitar Sunburst, 1968

Obviously L7 is no small guitar but since you said the most important thing for you is the nut width and the other dimensions don't matter as much, may be it can be an option.

**Hammertone** · 02-08-2018, 12:25 AM

If I was looking for a 38 mm nut width on a neck, I'd just get Musikraft or USGC to make one for a strat or tele - seems like a simple enough request. FWIW, the Fender Bonnie Raitt Straocaster (1995-2002) has a 1.57" nut width (39.878 mm) - a bit wider than 38 mm but perhaps OK?

As mentioned earlier, another simple option for any future guitar acquisitions is to find a guitar you like and have the neck narrowed. This is surprisingly easy to do on a neck with an unbound fingerboard - it doesn't even require refretting - just careful sanding/filing and suitable dressing of the fret ends.

**whiskey02** · 02-08-2018, 12:13 PM

Glad to see you back here Susan.
I would think that anything deeper than a solid body or 3xx style would be a terrible choice. The first thing I thought of when I read the op was to check out the history of Cheryl Bailly’s guitars (don’t know her size but she looks petite) and second thought was maybe a belly cut tele body with a conversion neck. Perhaps a Gibson 339, shrunk 335 body or Heritage equivalent.

**Susan Palmer** · 02-08-2018, 02:30 PM

I'm not sure if you read my original post, or my posts that followed. There's something specific about the guitars that I am looking for that I keep pointing out in this thread because most folks seem to keep missing it.

**lammie200** · 02-08-2018, 05:17 PM

I didn't read all the posts in this thread, but I assume that nut width is one of the issues that the OP addressed. One thing that they may not realize is that (within reason) nut width may not be the item that they are struggling with. It may be string spacing instead. For example, some manufacturers utilize an 1-11/16" nut and the string spacing that would typically be found on an 1-5/8" nut. I have found that to be the case on both the Gibson and Epiphone that I have. It makes for a very consistent feel between them and my Fender-type partscasters even though the nuts are slightly different widths.

**Hammertone** · 02-08-2018, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Susan Palmer

I'm not sure if you read my original post, or my posts that followed. There's something specific about the guitars that I am looking for that I keep pointing out in this thread because most folks seem to keep missing it.

No more than 38mm at the nut, right?

**Tal_175** · 02-08-2018, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Susan Palmer

I'm not sure if you read my original post, or my posts that followed. There's something specific about the guitars that I am looking for that I keep pointing out in this thread because most folks seem to keep missing it.

From the original post:

Originally Posted by Susan Palmer

I'm looking for other guitars that also have narrow necks (nut width less than 42mm).

Please kindly revise the original post or close the thread if this is no longer the criteria you are looking for.

**Greentone** · 06-26-2018, 12:58 PM

Susan,

In the 1960s and 1970s, Fender made A, B, C, and D necks. This referred to neck width, not shape or carve. The A neck was 37.1 mm at the nut. Although Fender made plenty of Precision and Jazz Basses this way, they also turned out the occasional Telecaster, Jaguar, and Mustang with A necks.

**Susan Palmer** · 07-03-2018, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Greentone

Susan,

In the 1960s and 1970s, Fender made A, B, C, and D necks. This referred to neck width, not shape or carve. The A neck was 37.1 mm at the nut. Although Fender made plenty of Precision and Jazz Basses this way, they also turned out the occasional Telecaster, Jaguar, and Mustang with A necks.

Wow! Thank you. I will start looking for one.

**Greentone** · 07-03-2018, 08:31 PM

Susan,

There is a 1963 Fender Duo-Sonic neck "A" width for sale on e-Bay. I know nothing about its condition, etc. However, here is a photo of the butt end of the neck showing the "A" designation. This means that the nut width is 1.5". (37.1mm) I attach it to suggest that you should look for the "A". Duo-Sonic, Musicmaster, and Jaguar guitars had the 1.5" nut more often than did either the Telecaster or Stratocaster.

My first Fender had a B-neck--it was a 1965. It was very slick.

Good luck with your search.
Wanted: Good Guitars for Women (and folks with small hands)-fender-duo-sonic-1963-neck-jpg

Wanted: Good Guitars for Women (and folks with small hands)-fender-duo-sonic-1963-neck-jpg

**Susan Palmer** · 07-04-2018, 01:00 AM

Yes, I ended up buying a '64 Duo Sonic and then a '59 Music Master a couple years ago.

I think there are some pics in this thread. It's got the neck I need, but since these guitars are all "student" models, it's not the best quality guitar. I love solid body guitars, but these tend to sound muted, almost cardboard like, if that makes sense. I make it work because it's what I have and it plays great.

I have heard that the Gibson ES 330 also has a very narrow neck but at the moment, I can't remember which year(s) had the most narrow, and if it also has a short scale (which would be lovely). At any rate, they are so expensive, I would not want to leave the house with it. Actually, that kind of sounds perfect. Grant Green played one, so I'm sold.

**Hammertone** · 07-31-2018, 12:08 PM

Susan: I hope you are enjoying the narrow-neck guitars that you play. In your last post, you indicated that you had purchased a '64 Duo Sonic and a '59 Music Master, and that a very narrow neck Gibson ES 330 was on your wish list.

I don't have an ES-330, but I do have a friend with a very nice '64 Musicmaster for sale, with original case, in case you are looking for another one or have a friend or student looking for one. So, I thought I'd pass that info on to you in this thread.

The guitar is not listed yet but is for sale at Atomic Age Guitars
by Terry Gallie:
<atomic@bell.net>
416.909.9790

**feet** · 07-31-2018, 01:49 PM

the only guitar i ever say that had a 1 1/2" nut was one that was made by accident. i bought an unfinished casino off of ebay from a guy in nashville who "got it off the line", as they say. just a husk. imagine my surprise when i opened it up and pondered the tiny nut. luckily, i was able to return it on the basis that casinos had 1 5/8" nuts and he neglected to mention the smaller one in the ad.

two other thoughts- maybe some of those funky old japanese guitars from the 60s? teiscos and sears models and what not? my old man has one (short scale hollow casino sort of thing, no less) with a little nut, too.

or maybe investigate the guild m65 freshman. its like a baby aristocrat. 3/4 size but technically a hollowbody. can't find a nut width, but i think some aristocrats were 1 5/8", so maybe the 3/4 model is narrower?

**Susan Palmer** · 07-31-2018, 04:17 PM

Thanks for the info on the Duo Sonic! I'm satisfied with mine, but I'd be happy to post the listing on some of the women guitarist forums. Feel free to send me the link, if that becomes available.

**kevmoga** · 07-31-2018, 04:43 PM

This is a great resource for Gibson specs, models, etc.

Vintage Guitars Info - Gibson collecting vintage gibson guitars

Scroll about 1/3 of the way through the page for the section on necks; gives you the breakdown from year-to-year (at least for vintage models) on neck thickness, width, and other details.

**smmllr** · 08-01-2018, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Susan Palmer

There is a Gibson ES-140 I found...that has a width of 39mm, which is promising, but I wish the body size were standard. I'm working with Emerald City Guitars in Seattle to try to locate something.

Many, if not most, mid-late 60's Gibson ES-125t's and ES-330's have narrow necks and are relatively available.

**rlrhett** · 08-01-2018, 10:04 AM

Cant you get any Fender body with a custom neck from Warmouth? Maybe someone already suggested that and I missed it. I know that isn't the cheapest option, but still in the realm of a new American Standard.

**Susan Palmer** · 08-05-2018, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by rlrhett

Cant you get any Fender body with a custom neck from Warmouth? Maybe someone already suggested that and I missed it. I know that isn't the cheapest option, but still in the realm of a new American Standard.

The necks don't go down to 1.5" nut width, and the bridge would need to accommodate the smaller string spacing. I appreciate your advice!

**Susan Palmer** · 08-05-2018, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by kevmoga

This is a great resource for Gibson specs, models, etc.

Vintage Guitars Info - Gibson collecting vintage gibson guitars

Scroll about 1/3 of the way through the page for the section on necks; gives you the breakdown from year-to-year (at least for vintage models) on neck thickness, width, and other details.

WOW! Thank you!