new to the forum / looking for a short scale guitar

nickname009 · Post by **nickname009** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 11:13 pm

Just discovered this forum after having been playing guitar for over 15 years and always struggling with regular sized guitars and scale lengths.

Wanted to say hi to everybody and I'm also in the market for a new guitar that'd fit me properly!

I'm not tall, about 5'5, average build, think michael J fox from back to the future, or billie joe armstrong from green day,
So most guitars dwarf me, especially strats and teles.

I don't actually have problems playing 24.75" necks or 25.5" scale necks but they look like baritone necks on me!

Here's what I'm looking for in a guitar:

single cut-esque type (LP or what have you)
maple fretboard (love the look!!)
preferably short scale or 24.75" scale length at the longest
around $500 new or used

Any recommendations??? glad to be on the forum!!
Cheers everybody!

StevePirates · Post by **StevePirates** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 11:21 pm

24.75 and LP style: Get an LP.

If you want to go shorter, you're probably squarely in double cutaway or offset territory. I can't say enough good things about Jaguars and Mustangs. I got short fingers, and tried to get along with teles for years. I got a Les Paul that was just infinitely better for me, and thought I'd figured out what I needed. Got an SG since the neck was similar. Dug 'em both.

Then my good friend gaybear recommended I check out true short scales. Got a Jag. Never looked back.

Depending on your hand size, I'd recommend a Mustang, or an MIM 1990s 22.7 scale duo sonic.

LizardKing · Post by **LizardKing** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:30 am

StevePirates wrote:24.75 and LP style: Get an LP.

If you want to go shorter, you're probably squarely in double cutaway or offset territory. I can't say enough good things about Jaguars and Mustangs. I got short fingers, and tried to get along with teles for years. I got a Les Paul that was just infinitely better for me, and thought I'd figured out what I needed. Got an SG since the neck was similar. Dug 'em both.

Then my good friend gaybear recommended I check out true short scales. Got a Jag. Never looked back.

Depending on your hand size, I'd recommend a Mustang, or an MIM 1990s 22.7 scale duo sonic.

All good advice.
You could even try one of those strat minis (only 99 bucks!) that are 22.75" scale length but if you like Fender I'd recommend a Jaguar.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:51 am

STAG MINI

nickname009 · Post by **nickname009** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 2:12 am

thanks for the suggestions so far

just to be clear, i'm not looking for a toy. I'm looking for a fully functional gigging guitar. I've played the squier minis and ibanez mikros, those are definitely toys.

There doesn't seem to be any singlecut types with maple fretboards that are smaller bodied and shorter scale that I can find so far... I've considered the mustangs, but just love the singlecut shape!

please keep the suggestions coming!

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 2:26 am

ill show you a toy when i fucking plug it into THRAWN and EXCALIBUR tomorrow morning and hit the wiggy switch cur installed on it.

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 2:59 am

lol wiggy switch

JUST GET A LEZ PAUL MAYNE

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 3:22 am

its got a fucking wiggy switch mayne

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 3:23 am

when exactly did "mang" become "mayne" anyways?

i always say "mang"

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:40 am

I've heard both pronunciations, but not from white people.

Anyways, maybe a used 1970s Electra. Something like this I guess:

oldcanuck · Post by **oldcanuck** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 2:20 pm

I'd take a Mustang out for a spin....... I think it might be what youre looking for.

Din of Win · Post by **Din of Win** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 2:46 pm

I'm a bassist, but I'm a big fan o the old MiA Peavey T series. Though they are double cutaway... but them maple necks! They're both 23.5" scale:

The T-30:

The T-15 (my fave):

cur · Post by **cur** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 4:33 pm

robroe wrote:ill show you a toy when i fucking plug it into THRAWN and EXCALIBUR tomorrow morning and hit the wiggy switch cur installed on it.

That guitar is super fun. Push pull vol/tone can keep any ADHD boi busy all day long and of course the wiggy switch.

Did you ever figure out what type of tort guard you want me to cut for it?

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 4:42 pm

na im broke broke broke.

tort costs paper

George · Post by **George** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 4:58 pm

in my opinion, as a man of similar proportions, you may be after a smaller body and slimmer neck but shorter scale isn't always better. I have small hands and can't get on with shortscales. Once I got my little finger involved I can do a 2 tone stretch pretty much anywhere on a strat and that's not something that would improve on a shortscale. I actually find shortscales cramped. I'd try some out and see what you think.

You likely won't find any single cutaway design that's 24". However I would look at some flat top les paul junior designs or sgs. They have slimmer bodies, and then it's just a case of finding a neck profile that works for you. There are plenty of nice junior designs you can get in the US for cheap too

By the way those peavey t series guitars are big and weigh a lot

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:17 pm

those peavey guitars weigh 20 fucking pounds.

markarkark · Post by **markarkark** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:57 pm

Not a shortscale, but have you considered a Fender Bullet (not to be confused with the Squier Bullet series)? 80's student models, small, single cut body, maple board:

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:59 pm

I'd go with a melody maker or lp jr.

personally for single cut lp type guitars I'd go with a gretch duo jet. or a similar electromatic one. neck wasn't bad on the ones I've played.

nickname009 · Post by **nickname009** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:05 pm

George wrote:in my opinion, as a man of similar proportions, you may be after a smaller body and slimmer neck but shorter scale isn't always better. I have small hands and can't get on with shortscales. Once I got my little finger involved I can do a 2 tone stretch pretty much anywhere on a strat and that's not something that would improve on a shortscale. I actually find shortscales cramped. I'd try some out and see what you think.

You likely won't find any single cutaway design that's 24". However I would look at some flat top les paul junior designs or sgs. They have slimmer bodies, and then it's just a case of finding a neck profile that works for you. There are plenty of nice junior designs you can get in the US for cheap too

By the way those peavey t series guitars are big and weigh a lot

George, you're right on the money. I have no actual problems playing regular scale guitars, though I do like the slinkiness I get when playing 24.75" scale guitars or even 24".
One of the options I'm currently considering is getting an Epi LP jr body and putting a warmoth neck with a maple board on it.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions so far, if anything else comes to mind please don't hesitate to post!

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:35 pm

nickname009 wrote:please don't hesitate to post!