Talk me out of a GS Mini?

BRISTOL86 · November 2017

Whitecat said:

You'll love the Mini, seriously. I have big hands and I love it - they may market it as a travel guitar but it sounds excellent and those smaller bodies record really well too. One thing to note - if you intend on plugging it in, hopefully you are getting the ES-2 pickup system and not the ES-B... the latter is a bit crap and prone to failure.

The arched back design on them means that they can project though.

Thanks for that. Yes it’s the ES2. I’d use it unplugged 99% of the time but I like having a pickup for making easy recordings

jellyroll · November 2017

@BRISTOL86 my sympathies with arthritis, I'm sure it's not fun. If you go ahead with the purchase (or get something else) please let us know whether the new guitar helps. Do you anticipate that the assistance will come from the physically shorter fret distances (ie less hand stretching) or the reduced string tension that comes with a shorter scale length?

west · November 2017

Go light with strings and detune ive done this and its great a lot less painfull , it does spoil you though ....

BRISTOL86 · November 2017

jellyroll said:

@BRISTOL86 my sympathies with arthritis, I'm sure it's not fun. If you go ahead with the purchase (or get something else) please let us know whether the new guitar helps. Do you anticipate that the assistance will come from the physically shorter fret distances (ie less hand stretching) or the reduced string tension that comes with a shorter scale length?

Thanks. It’s manageable now but I can’t imagine it’ll be much fun in another 10/20 years....

I have no problem with stretches, it’s a strength/resistance thing. I noticed a big difference in the shorter scale of the parlour guitar compared to a GA sized guitar for example which I guess comes from the slight reduction in tension.

I suppose lighter strings on a larger bodied guitar could also work but I like small bodied guitars anyhow from a comfort perspective.

jellyroll · November 2017

BRISTOL86 said:

jellyroll said:

@BRISTOL86 my sympathies with arthritis, I'm sure it's not fun. If you go ahead with the purchase (or get something else) please let us know whether the new guitar helps. Do you anticipate that the assistance will come from the physically shorter fret distances (ie less hand stretching) or the reduced string tension that comes with a shorter scale length?

Thanks. It’s manageable now but I can’t imagine it’ll be much fun in another 10/20 years....

I have no problem with stretches, it’s a strength/resistance thing. I noticed a big difference in the shorter scale of the parlour guitar compared to a GA sized guitar for example which I guess comes from the slight reduction in tension.

I suppose lighter strings on a larger bodied guitar could also work but I like small bodied guitars anyhow from a comfort perspective.

Wishing you all the best. I guess you're familiar with tuning down a semi-tone or two and then using a capo on the first or second fret (or just playing in a lower key without a capo). Not always ideal, I know...

BRISTOL86 · November 2017

jellyroll said:

BRISTOL86 said:

jellyroll said:

@BRISTOL86 my sympathies with arthritis, I'm sure it's not fun. If you go ahead with the purchase (or get something else) please let us know whether the new guitar helps. Do you anticipate that the assistance will come from the physically shorter fret distances (ie less hand stretching) or the reduced string tension that comes with a shorter scale length?

Thanks. It’s manageable now but I can’t imagine it’ll be much fun in another 10/20 years....

I have no problem with stretches, it’s a strength/resistance thing. I noticed a big difference in the shorter scale of the parlour guitar compared to a GA sized guitar for example which I guess comes from the slight reduction in tension.

I suppose lighter strings on a larger bodied guitar could also work but I like small bodied guitars anyhow from a comfort perspective.

Wishing you all the best. I guess you're familiar with tuning down a semi-tone or two and then using a capo on the first or second fret (or just playing in a lower key without a capo). Not always ideal, I know...

Yeah I’ve tried a few things - the shorter scale definitely made the biggest difference though. I play my electric more than acoustic so it’s not a huge deal, but as a home player I happily sacrifice a little tone/volume in exchange for a big comfort boost.

Strat_a_tat_tat · November 2017

Have you tried Newtone Low Tension strings? I'm using them on my acoustic and I like them a lot.

BRISTOL86 · November 2017

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

Have you tried Newtone Low Tension strings? I'm using them on my acoustic and I like them a lot.

Not familiar with those, will check them out thanks.

rustneversleeps · November 2017

TimmyO said:

You see a lot for sale secondhand

Nuff said.......

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Talk me out of a GS Mini?

Comments