I'm new to Fender guitars so bear with me.

I have a Squier right now. It was part of a cheap set and learning to play electric in my old age. LOL

If I get good enough at my guitar, I would like to get a better one. Being a woman with small hands, I wanted something that a woman could play. I asked at a mom and pop store what would be good, and the guys said I should think of getting a Mexican strat because the necks are slightly smaller.

What do you think? What would be a good guitar for a person with smaller hands. The squier handles okay, but would like to trade up someday.

So, would a mexican strat be better for me vs. an american? Need some input.

Thanks.

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"While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

My dad said, "I'm going to miss you."
I said, "Well, now that I broke that sight off your rifle..." (Emo Philips)

I don't think that's exactly right. Fender makes necks in many different widths, with the most typical (at least from what I can tell) neck radius at 9.5 inches, but there are some with 7.5 inch radius, as well as 12 inch radius. I recommend you check Fender's website for their strats - they offer the specs on each guitar they produce. This may help you. The made in Mexico standard strat is a pretty decent guitar, especially if you're just starting out. Guitar Center & Sam Ash usually have a pretty good selection of them. You may consider going there to try a few out. Even though they look the same, they're all just a bit different. Maybe you'll find one that "speaks" to you. Hope this helps - good luck.

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'10 Gibson LP Studio Faded
'09 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
'08 Fender Classic Player 60s Stratocaster
'07 Fender Classic Player Baja Telecaster
'05 Breedlove AC 25 SR Plus

Your new Strat's neck size will depend on which model you get.

New Standard series Strats (these are made in Mexico) have a 9.5" radius modern C shaped neck. The radius is the curve of the fretboard, smaller radius having more curve than a larger radius fretboard.

Most "shredders", those guys who love (and unlike me CAN) play fast and furious seem to prefer a larger radius fretboard because it is flatter.

You hear this advise here a lot, but take it from a relative newbie also, go to you favorite guitar store and play a lot of guitars. Yours will find you. Play them on the same amp that you will play them on at home, or get as close to that amp as possible.

Don't get caught up in the minutae, especially just starting out. Just play a bunch of strats, HSS, Highway 1, Standard, Deluxe etc. You will know when you found yours.

I really like my Standard Strat and so do the guys I garage jam with. At my level at least, I cannot make an American Standard play any better and it allowed me to sink a few more dollars into a good amp, which is the other half of your electric guitar.

Don't let the guitar sales guys talk you into any guitar. Most of them, especially the "big box" guitar store people, may know what they are talking about with regards to specs and stuff, but they are not well trained on how to match that knowledge with what a client wants.

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http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

LadyVendettaAngel,

First let me say welcome back. There was a post earlier this week wondering where you have been. I am glad you are ok.

I agree with strattastic12 in saying to look at the Fender website to see which models have 7.5", 9.5", and 12" radius necks. In my opinion the neck radius should not be a deciding factor because you should not be "choking" the neck when you play. I too am self-taught and it took me years to break the habbit and I still do it on some songs I play.

I am not sure which Strat-Pack you got, but I am almost sure you have a 9.5" radius on your guitar, but I could be wrong.

As far as MIA vs MIM, that is a choice you have to make on your own. I recently posted a comment that said something like this: The amount of money spent on your FMIC guitar is directly porportionate to the amount of money you may have to spend on it to make it what you want. What I meant is you buy a $499.99 Standard Stratocaster, but decide you want different pickups in the future. You have heard of locking tuners and want to put them on. Those two mods alone could easily cost you $200 or more. You have now spent almost $800 on your guitar. You will never get that $800 on that MIM Standard Strat.

Most MIA guitars usually have better pickups and tuners and you would be less likely to need to modify it down the road.

As mentioned previously, play before you pay. Try out as many guitars within your price range, even venture slightly out of your price range. You will know the right guitar for you when you play it. It is a feeling of "oh yeah" when you find it.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

ladyv- welcome back

i am a man who was blessed with small hands. i purchased a new mim strat in december. i have no problem playing it. i haven't found a guitar yet that i can do long stretch chords on, but that's something i'm stuck with. it hasn't bothered me in my 50 years of playing.

I'm not sure about the neck - I did, however, purchase my first Strat this past Friday. I compared the Mexican and the American Standard. The Mexican cost $500 and the American Standard $1,000. I went ahead and bought the American Standard because it is soooo bad@ss .!!! And, I know down the road I will be happy forever that I paid more on the front end to get the 'real deal."

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billritt

Am Std Strat
Am Std Tele
Martin D-18
Vibro Champ XD & Mustang I

Hi LVD

Here is another spin on advice. When you go to the store try some teles too and since you think your small hands are limiting you, try jazzmaster or mustang short scale Fender varieties. Here is the trick but don't buy anything yet before you go to another store and try other brands guitars (now I am ready to catch some hell ).

Good luck

Agree. Besides, most people with these "larger hands" never learn the proper technique to perform some extralong stretch fingerings. The bottom line is the technique you learn is more important than your finger length.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

First of all, thanks for all the suggestions. It's just hard to get out because of my dad's condition and I just got my Squier strat pack over the Internet. It's similar to this:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-SE-Special-Strat-with-Squier-SP-10-Amp-Value-Pack-104486238-i1177837.gc

but I paid one hundred dollars cheaper for it. I got it in the brown sunburst.

Maybe one day I'll be able to get out and try some guitars. There's a small mom and pop store with a very small number of guitars. Maybe I can start with that. My squier is fine right now for practice and things like that, but if I wanted to upgrade, just wanted to know what would be best.




aww thanks. It's been so rough lately with dad being sick and just got into a car accident with my new car (jagoff plowed into me--no license or insurance) so I'm out of a car for a week or more. Been stiff and feeling blue as hell. I've been blown off by so many people lately that it was nice seeing this. Haven't been on the forum lately because it's been so nuts and haven't been able to practice.
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"While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

My dad said, "I'm going to miss you."
I said, "Well, now that I broke that sight off your rifle..." (Emo Philips)

LVA,

As far as your neck radius, it is 9.5" according to the Squier web page. Here is the link from the thread wondering where you are:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... dettaangel

I am glad you are ok. Motor Vehicle Accidents are never fun, especially when the other driver is un-insured. Hope you feel better soon.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Yeah, mean people suck. Trying not to dwell on it.

Thanks for checking. 9.5 radius is not actually too bad for me. I can reach better on this guitar actually. I have a classical guitar, a Yamaha. It has a HUGE neck but boy, the sound is awesome!!! After playing the Fender, it seems I can reach the chords a little easier on my Yamaha.

Just an offnote, this looks cool:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Jim-Adkins-JA-90-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar-105128425-i1427132.gc

I just like F holes in a guitar for some reason.

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"While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

My dad said, "I'm going to miss you."
I said, "Well, now that I broke that sight off your rifle..." (Emo Philips)

That looks cool. P-90's are pretty heavy pickups. I bet it sounds good. Definately worth a look the next time I see one in the shop.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Okay, I feel like Dr. Venkman from Ghostbusters, "just pretend I don't know anything about metallurgy, or physics, and tell me what the hell is going on." LOL

What is a MIM and a MIA? I'm thinking it's a mexican and american strat? Chomping on stupid pills right now.

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"While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

My dad said, "I'm going to miss you."
I said, "Well, now that I broke that sight off your rifle..." (Emo Philips)

Hi Lady VA funny you should ask that question today,yesterday I went guitar shopping and played a lot of guitars in the store and several Strats, before I go any further I have small hands and also have arthritis in my hands,anyway I tried American Standards,an Aerodyne,American Vintages, American Deluxe,Highway Ones etc anyway the one that felt the most comfortable and had the sound that reminded me most of my 65 Strat was an Olympic White Jimmy Vaughn Model.I didn't realize that it was MIM or a Jimmy Vaughn model until I looked more closely at the headstock,I also bought the Blues Jr. I tried it out with,the combination sounded so sweet together.After playing the Jimmy Vaughn for 2 days my hands aren't near as sore as they have been for the past few months. I think that you should try the Jimmy Vaughn model,for me it's been a Godsend.

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'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.

Yes.

MIM=Made in Mexico
MIA=Made in USA

I was also trying to point out is you have the $$$ for a MIA guitar, you are better off getting one; however, a MIM guitar is still a good guitar but may need some work.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head