Scale length, fret size, radius, etc.

[nfe]

I have short, fat-ish fingers and square palms but quite perversely find that a wider nut helps me out when playing in the lower five frets. If you are a prolific string bender then you really need a flat-ish radius, 16" or so, and if you play mainly with your thumb centered in the back of the neck a slim profile will help negate any disadvantage you may experience from your inherent lack of reach.

If you play with your thumb on the back of the neck you have vastly more reach in every direction than any other way of playing, that's why it's the insisted upon technique with classical players. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean?

[Bob Johnson]

I have short, fat-ish fingers and square palms but quite perversely find that a wider nut helps me out when playing in the lower five frets. If you are a prolific string bender then you really need a flat-ish radius, 16" or so, and if you play mainly with your thumb centered in the back of the neck a slim profile will help negate any disadvantage you may experience from your inherent lack of reach.

If you play with your thumb on the back of the neck you have vastly more reach in every direction than any other way of playing, that's why it's the insisted upon technique with classical players. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean?

Yes you are totally misunderstanding what I mean; but I'm used to that; maybe it's my accent :D

[nfe]

 :lol:

[Philly Q]

i dont think neck angle had been mentioned and thats something that can affect how a scale length feels.  the nut end of a les paul generally feels a lot closer because of the neck angle AND the shorter scale length - some shorter people benefit from this

Speaking as a shorter person.... I know what you mean, but I actually notice it more with my LP Jr, which of course doesn't have the steep neck angle.  If I play the Junior then the PRS Mira, the Mira's neck seems about a foot longer!

With a "proper" LP, I have a problem with the huge body thickmess, I feel like I'm having to reach over it rather than across it to get at the strings (my gut probably doesn't help matters either).

[Lazy_McDoesnothing]

Jonny have you ever played a Jackson?  I think you'd like the neck of the SLSMG or any other of their guitars with similar profiles.  It's slightly thicker than the Ibanez Wizard you mentioned and has a compound radius fretboard with jumbo frets(if you like those).

[Alex]

I try to keep my thumb in the middle of the back of the neck, but on slimmer necks my thumb starts to wrap around the top a bit. I prefer a bit fatter necks.
I also feel most comfortable on the Gibson scale and like the neck to be a bit rounded, it's just a nicer feel to it than these flat Ibanez necks.

I used to think Extra Jumbo frets were great, but the more I play the more I just want large or medium jumbo frets.

As said, it's a very personal thing.

I played a guitar with a 45mm nut the other day (an LTD Will Adler), now I am really wondering if that is what I should get.

[Jonny]

Jonny have you ever played a Jackson?  I think you'd like the neck of the SLSMG or any other of their guitars with similar profiles.  It's slightly thicker than the Ibanez Wizard you mentioned and has a compound radius fretboard with jumbo frets(if you like those).

I haven't tried a decent quality Jackson. I've only played one and that was a really cheap one. I don't seem to see any SLSMGs anywhere.

I also feel not so knowledgeable when playing guitars in shops. Like you'd pick one up, but there's no numbers on it obviously so you wouldn't know. Unless you do research and then go in, but I've never seemed to like that method.

I'd like to try an SLSMG if I could.