I have been playing off and on for around 7 years now I guess. Often times I have really struggled with my small hands and stumpy fat fingers. My question is what neck should I get on a guitar to make this manageable?

I am looking to get back into playing after 1-2 years of not. I like to play stuff from the blues to heavy metal shred and lead. Also while I am at it what pickups should I get? I want to be able to play squealing lead and chunky rhythm while having some nice clean arpeggios and chords.

thank you for replies.

when i started playing in 1960 (age 6!) my parents got me a fender musicmaster- a 3/4 size "student" guitar. i still have short fingers, but that guitar is easy to play.

as far as modern day- i think the mustang is a little shorter scale. might be good to check it out

good luck

Head to your local music store and start pulling guitars off the wall until you find one that fits. There are a lot of shredder type guitars kicking around these days. Remember that if you get a guitar you like but it's doesn't have the necessary tones you desire, the pups can always be swapped for something hotter.

I Definitely agree with Blinkers on this. Go to Guitar Denter and try every thing that catches your eye. I have several guitars with different necks (Stratocaster, Les Paul, Taylor acoustic etc.) but the one that fits my hands the best in an old cheap starter Dean EVO. This 12 year old guitar probably isn't worth but a few dollars but (so far) nothing fits my hands like the neck on this guitar. I could be wrong, but I think that the EVO was an entry level shredders guitar. The neck is just so easy to play it is unbelievable. So give everything a try. You will probably find one or two that suits your hands just right.

You could always opt for one of the short-scale Fenders such as Jaguar or Mustang but the thing is neither one of them is well suited for metal however I have used both successfully for rock and blues.If your hands are uncommonly small you could always look into one of the 3/4 size Strats.I have pretty small hands and find the 60s style Strat neck with the shalloew "C" profile to be very comfortable and accomodating for my smaller hands.The necks of the Epiphone Casinos are also very comfortable,especially the Inspired by John Lennon models.but sadly these models have the same problem as the previously mentioned models in that they aren't well suited for metal.Anyway lots of luck with your hunt.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Dare i say a shorter scaled Gibson.....

_________________

thanks for the tips. as per my second question can anyone recommend pickups that give me a broad range that I need for metal lead/rhythm as well as clean?

Fender Mustang, Done! Get the one with the Buckers!

+1

Excellent suggestion.

_________________
In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.