How difficult would an 18 inch guitar be for someone 5'3"?

[Broyale]

Since I wasn't blessed with height and play sitting down, how hard would a Super 400-style guitar be for me to handle? I don't live in an area where archtops are in abundance or I would try for myself.

[SuperFour00]

I'm 5'10" and I have long arms. My Super 400 is much more comfortable standing up. I'd say sitting could get sketchy unless your posture and technique are radically different than mine. If it didn't have a perfect neck and stunning tone, I'd use an L-5 or even a 175 like I did in the 80s. It's a little effort. I didn't pick it, it found me. Is a 16" out of the question?

[docbop]

I play sitting down and play an 18" and just have to tilt it a bit more than when playing a smaller body. All that said 18" is big, have you played a 16" how big did that feel for you.

[feet]

the depth will be an issue, too. standing helps. so would playing with the guitar on the left leg (classical position). or if it's super massive, sit, put a strap on it and let it dangle between your legs, using your left leg to steady it.



you'll look like this, but worse. the guitar is an inch bigger and i think he's an inch taller, but basically, that.

[Broyale]

I play sitting down and play an 18" and just have to tilt it a bit more than when playing a smaller body. All that said 18" is big, have you played a 16" how big did that feel for you.

My 575 feels fine. My L5 feels fine as well, but certainly a lapful. I tend to play with the neck no lower than 45 degrees, which I guess is the classical position.

[docbop]

My 575 feels fine. My L5 feels fine as well, but certainly a lapful. I tend to play with the neck no lower than 45 degrees, which I guess is the classical position.

If the L5 is a lapfull then the 18" is probably going to be big for you. With an L5 do you really need the extra bottom of an 18"?

[Guitarbean25]

Back issues may not arise for a while, which may cause you to over do it. But when it comes, it sux.

Can you sit long periods with the L-5?

[Broyale]

Back issues may not arise for a while, which may cause you to over do it. But when it comes, it sux.

Can you sit long periods with the L-5?

Yes, its not uncomfortable. I sit upright.

[SuperFour00]

Back issues may not arise for a while, which may cause you to over do it. But when it comes, it sux.

Can you sit long periods with the L-5?

This is absolutely true. If you have strong back muscles, you may go a few weeks, even a couple of months unconsciously forcing a posture that will eventually cause you serious back issues. That's why i stand to play a big guitar. I found out the hard way. There are ways to sit, with a strap on, mimicing standing, but it's hard to maintain for longer gigs.

[Danny W.]

I used to be 5'5" and had a small collection of excellent 18" guitars, but I never could play them for more than about 1/2 hour before my right arm started to fall asleep--for gigs I played 17" guitars. Today I'm a few inches shorter and even full-depth 17" guitars feel too big to me, so I gig with 16" guitars.

Much as I loved the sound of the 18" versions it's just not worth hurting oneself to take advantage of it.

Danny W.

[AlohaJoe]

I'd worry about your right shoulder. I'm 6' with long arms and and my friends 18" Super 300 is too big for me after about 1/2 hour. My shoulder is fairly old though... it may be less of an issue if you're young. On the other hand, I might not be having these issues now if I hadn't spent most of my life playing a 4 1/2" deep dreadnaught.

I hope you get to try one... they are a kick to play.

[fumblefingers]

at 5'3'' i would skip it.

[Guitarbean25]

I'd worry about your right shoulder. I'm 6' with long arms and and my friends 18" Super 300 is too big for me after about 1/2 hour. My shoulder is fairly old though... it may be less of an issue if you're young. On the other hand, I might not be having these issues now if I hadn't spent most of my life playing a 4 1/2" deep dreadnaught.

I hope you get to try one... they are a kick to play.

This happens to me as well. There may be angle at which it's finally comfy (straight back and good circulation), but then it may feel awkward actually playing.

[Finn]

Check out a video of Wes Montgomery, the way he has his guitar when sitting is very comfortable, seemed a bit strange at first when I tried it but after a while it's fine.

[GNAPPI]

I'm 5'4" and was dealt a sobering fact that my Dad gave me when I was younger when he explained my "handicap"

'Since you're not a big guy, AND you're left handed you're going to have to learn throughout life to handle the tools of a larger right handed man, I tell you this now to get over it"

I am a firearms instructor and handle weapons that make 6'6" linebackers weep, play guitar "right handed" swing large roofing hammers and don't crab about it. Look at those diminutive Mexican mariachi trios. They use those gigantic guitars all night long and handle it. Granted they're not playing like Wes Mo but they handle the size.

Then it comes down to whether or not you can comfortably play your style with a larger body. I'm more comfortable with a big dreadnaught acoustic sitting but I would rather have the bigger sound envelope than a bit more comfort.

PS, I'm always looking for a widow with a super 400 :-)

[SuperFour00]

Look at those diminutive Mexican mariachi trios. They use those gigantic guitars all night long and handle it.

Many of the Mariachi musicians I know are pretty hefty guys, especially the ones who play guitarrón. And, they are standing up. How many sets do they play?

[GNAPPI]

Heft and height are different. Height and arm reach are generally proportional, heft (girth) might make a big body guitar easier to handle angling the guitar on the belly ;-0

I've seen some pretty long sets at restaurants here and in Mexico.

[2bornot2bop]

Due to its larger depth and width, a Super 400 will feel larger than a Super Eagle. Much larger if you ask me. If you handle an L5 comfortably, I'd not be surprised in the least to learn you discovered an SE felt equally as comfortable to you.

SE's play very much like 17's, as they feature a slimmer depth than an L5. Buy it used, buy it right, if for some reason it doesn't work for you, you won't lose a cent.

[fumblefingers]

Check out a video of Wes Montgomery, the way he has his guitar when sitting is very comfortable, seemed a bit strange at first when I tried it but after a while it's fine.

that's a bad position

[Patrick2]

that's a bad position

Y-?

[GNAPPI]

Y-?

I read once that Ben Franklin had bladder stones so bad he had to pee upside down. For him it was the only position, it worked, who cares. I wish I had the WesMo skill in that bad position :-)

[Patrick2]

I read once that Ben Franklin had bladder stones so bad he had to pee upside down. For him it was the only position, it worked, who cares. I wish I had the WesMo skill in that bad position :-)

Pee upside down?? Unless he had a very short Johnson, he must have peed in his face.

[Spook410]

I'm 5'8" and don't have particularly long arms. I go back and forth between dreadnaughts, 16", 17", and 18" all the time. No issues.

[ah.clem]

I'm 5'8" and I pee upside down, so... oh, wait.

[Finn]

that's a bad position

I don't really care it's comfortable and it works, I like big deep bodied guitars and I play with my thumb mostly, if it was good enough for Montgomery it's good enough for me.