I'm in the market for a new fender start and will be buying over the internet. As such, what fender strats around $1,000-$2,500 retail should I consider for having smaller hands. I am looking for a neck that is thin, not chunky. This would include signature models, too.

thanks

For smaller hands, I would have you look at a used Bonnie Raitt Strat. They are in your price range and they would fit your hands nicely. They look nice, the signature is subtle...and they have awesome tone with the texas Special pickups. Its a 9.5 inch radius with a slimmer width made to accomodate smaller hands. My girlfriend has two of them she likes them so much, and I love playing them too, even with my huge mits!

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2006-2007 Fender Deluxe Player Strat Sunburst/Rosewood
1964 Gretsch Tennessean
1997 Guild D5
MIA Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Line6 Spider III 30w amp
Zoom A2
80's Boss Delay Pedal

C-shape or Soft V would be my guess--i have both and like them a lot

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2011 PRS 25th SAS
2008 Eric Clapton Custom Antigua Strat
2012 PRS Artist Package Studio Special Order

The American Standard neck feels pretty skinny to me. Or you could spend a little more and get the American Deluxe Strat with the compound radius neck. A buddy of mine built a Partscaster with a Deluxe neck and it is very comfortable, very fast.

You might have to do some looking. I think standard on a MIA is .820
My MIM measured at a little under .800 if you like the shape, one with a thin U would probably be the thinnest.

Dude, honestly I think that the modern C-shaped neck on most of Fender Stratocasters (American and MIM Standards) are pretty small. I don't think they can get much smaller, except I never tried a soft-v neck.

I have large hands and even Gibson necks dont phase me at all...they actually feel more comfortable in my hand except I hate Les Pauls...they're not for me.

Basically, you can't go wrong with an American Standard or Standard (MIM) Stratocaster. You'll get used to it and make do like millions before you and millions after you.

Rock on and good luck!

That is so wrong in so many ways. You don't get "used" to a guitar, either you like it and it "fits" or you don't. That is why there are so many to chose from.

My Clapton strat has a fairly thin neck that fits right in the palm of your hand and is great for small hands. My hands are small and i can play it nice and comfortable.

Don't know what kind of shape neck it is as i get lost with all this C shape stuff and things like that

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I think the Clapton would be a "soft V." I love the way the 50s-style "Soft V" feels; still a decent amount of heft top-to-bottom, so the neck feels like it has some mass to it, but the slant of the sides makes it really comfortable to hold, at least for me.

Obviously as guitarists many of us play a variety of different instruments, with very different neck feels, especially if you play acoustic as well. Back when I was in school, my classical teacher would've had a heart attack if he saw me reaching my thumb around the neck of a Stratocaster to play bass notes! No! Bad left hand! Hehe, but seriously, a lot of times you'll find yourself adapting your left hand technique to different situations. The important thing is to practice good posture, and not strain yourself or "push through" if you start feeling tendon pain.

That said, there will be certain instruments that for certain players will just be a "bear" to play. But, all things considered, both the MIA and MIM Standard Strat necks are made to be comfortable for the widest range of players possible, and as far as old-school-style electrics go, they're pretty darn skinny.

Look into the specs of each guitar - those listed with a vintage radius or 7.25" radius could make a difference for you - get out and play guitars with different neck specs and see what you feel best with - looks like your trying to spend a little more than I did but I came away happy with my MIM classic 60s series in LPB with a 7.25" radius for my small-ish-er hands

It won't be new, but the Fender HM Strats have the closest thing to an ibanez neck fender will ever make. I have one, and the neck is perfect in my eyes.

It's not ibanez thin, but it's really close.