Custom guitar for small hands: My Personal Story (Part 1)

[@timothymills733]

I am a tall man, with large hands, and I played on 650 for years, then I bought a 630 just to try it, and it is wonderful. It not only helps with stretch over distance, but it allows for more options, on complex fingerings, as to which finger you can choose. It really "opened up" the fretboard.

[@marcelw6827]

Dear Merce, I have the same problem. My fingers are to short but they are also not very thin. Practice cost my a lot of energy and pain. Thank you very much for the information. There is hope. Can’t wait for part 2

[@FrankBirtwistle]

My current steel string is a 630 - and I love it. I really want a nylon guitar the same size at some point soon.

[@WCGP]

Great video, Merce. I am 70 and have arthritis in my hands and shoulder, so I usually play everything with a capo on the second fret. This helps with left hand reaching and is acceptable since I am not a professional and only play for family and my own enjoyment. All the best, Will.

[@CanadianDivergent]

beautiful playing of the Villa-Lobos study #2! amazing!

[@MelvinHughesatp]

As an aging guitarist (74) with some arthritis issues, I have found a 640mm scale is much better than the standard 650mm. But I believe that a 630mm scale will be even better. I plan to acquire a 630mm guitar this spring!

[@stevenbastien9028]

Over the last year, I've switched to 640 mm scale and prefer it. I have medium size hands for a man. I don't find a 650 mm or 655 mm to be a big problem, but the 640 scale is just more comfortable, and enjoyable for me personally. The 640 mm scale is starting to become somewhat popular now. I often play my older 650 mm guitars too and there is no issue switching between the two scale lengths. The difference is small, as the 1 cm total scale reduction is only a 2 or 3 mm reduction over the left-hand finger span. But this is a case where even a small change can be noticed in certain situations. Another thing people don't consider is the string spacing at the top, or at the nut. A slight reduction in the string spacing there can also help. There is no need to have a narrower neck or nut, but a new nut can be easily made with a slightly narrower string spacing. Again, a small change can be noticed. For example, a 1 mm reduction between the first and sixth strings can be helpful. If a narrower string spacing helps your playing, this is great because you can still buy any standard guitar and just make (or have made) a new nut.

[@chupie]

OMG thank you for making this video. I was just nodding and nodding my head. More and more smaller sized even factory or partial factory guitars are being made. But the prejudice remains. I see many posts on Reddit of people asking about it and so many people whip out a video of a small child whipping around on a standard sized guitar and NOT taking into account 1) that doesn’t mean they are comfortable and 2) no matter who you are or how much you play as we age we will lose some of that child elasticity and then you will move into injury territory. I have aged now and I have to factor in even more body changes that limit comfort and safety of playing and I was lamenting just not being able to achieve. One day I thought “I know they have small student guitars even in my non-classical friendly area” and I went and tried a few sizes. Sound wise yeah. $100 guitars are not pleasant but I finally chose a 615mm to take home and really try. I knew I could sell to well, a child, eventually and I knew that Kenneth Hill had been making some higher end, maybe beginning college level solid top hybrid factory small scale guitars and this would help me decide about a substantial for me price but reachable. What I discovered on that very beginning beginning guitar was “OMG I don’t have to stop playing!” It was so much more comfortable and showed me that I had not been wrong. I so wish I had had this guitar growing up I would have done so much better and I would not have given up for some 20 years. But I cannot think about that. So I sprang for a cedar top 615mm Hill New World Player with only recordings and phone conversations to make a decision because it was much too far to travel to try. I could barely be happier. I would like a slightly wider nut perhaps and maybe a bit deeper body for more concert sound but overall its playability is such that any short comings for me at my level are leagues better. Its sound is very decent even if it may not reach concert level. No guitar would, most likely, at this price point. It is still a very acceptable guitar with nice color range and at least quite a bit of projection and sustain and balance as well for a guitar that is factory assembled. All this novel is to say YES if you have discomfort, if you are smaller framed, if you have small hands, if you are developing shoulder issues or arthritis look at a smaller scale guitar. Find the best one you can afford. EVEN 640, 628mm would allow you greater comfort. But don’t be afraid to try. Go to a store and just try those not so great sounding student cadet types. You WILL feel the difference. It will help you choose where to go next. And don’t listen to those people who most likely are very fortunate to not have difficulty with a bigger guitar that whip out kid videos of youngsters with elastic hands and blazing speed. There is no reason to slog along in discomfort and risking injury and having to lean out out out to play (one of the things causing me other body discomfort. Constantly having to slightly lean out for low position sections.) you just DON’T HAVE TO. Thank you SO MUCH Merce for making this video. Looking forward highly to part 2. 🥰

[@JacopoLazzaretti]

Great video Merce!! A big hug from Scotland :)

[@buzzstankos8532]

You are extremely brave to take that journey in the world of Classical Guitar. You were already a great talent and. your custom instrument will allow you to continue your journey without the constraints imposed by the wrong size guitar. Awesome to see your story…

[@danball4410]

Great video! Thank you for sharing so much content and heart all in one video. I am encouraged to think outside the box.

[@frankavellone1175]

No sure what the surprise is. Throughout the 18th, 19th, and thru the mid-20th century, guitars were typically smaller than 650. While 650 is a standard today, lots of luthiers make 640s and 630s. I have two 640s, one made in Mexico and another made in Japan. For me, the key for smaller hands is less about scale length, its more about the nut width. I have smallish hands so the nut width of 50 is more comfortable than the standard 52.

[@nylonguitar]

Love your passion for the guitar Merce. Being a man with aging hands, I have considered a 64. We will see, maybe someday. Thank you for sharing!

[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

I am into jazz but I also love classical and flamenco and you have an awesome channel! You have a new subscriber!

[@MerceFont]

thank you so much!! glad you enjoy the content! best wishes for this new year!

[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

@@MerceFont Likewise! Thanks you!

[@WhaleBluePRS]

Fernando Sor's guitars were in the 63 - 64 cm range. 65 cm is great for the right player but the player is more important than either the tradition or the scale length of the guitar when it comes right down to it. When I play an open position "C" chord, my 3rd finger falls naturally in the middle of the second and third frets on a 65 cm guitar. For me to play close to the fret, I have to stretch my 3rd finger unnaturally and that doesn't help my playing, or anyone's playing for that matter, at all. For reference, I'm 5' 10" 185 lbs, so not a little guy. I have to work much harder on a 65 cm guitar and that creates all sorts of unwanted tensions. I have a Taylor Grand Concert with a 24 7/8" (63.1825 cm)scale length that is an absolute joy to play compared to my Alhambra 7P. Find the scale length that brings the most musical playing out of you and go with that. I'll be taking a similar path to getting a guitar that fits me and allows me to be the best player I can be. I've been playing for 40 years and teaching for almost 20. This is an incredibly valuable video Merce. Well done!

[@vihuelamig]

The majority of the guitars that I make are 630 mm's. Go back to 19th century early romantic guitars and 630 scale was very common and it wasn't unusual to come across circa 615 mm (Stauffer et al). Even Torres made guitars at 607 mm scale. Of course these are very small romantic guitars but you can use these scales on much larger modern instruments - the body perhaps a little smaller than the average modern classical guitar. Torres made a number of different sizes of guitar that suit anywhere from 605 mm through to 650 mm. If you have rather small hands it makes real sense.

[@lesteubes-r1t]

My thick short fingers love my Taylor GS mini with 60 cm scale length - but only for the first eight frets. After that there is not enough room for my fingers. So I match my guitars to my songs. If I am playing at the dusty end I use a full scale guitar. With classical guitars I realised I was borrowing my eldest daughter’s 3/4 size guitar as much as using my own full size…

[@mer1red]

I had the luck of starting to play classical guitar (65 cm) at the same time as jazz, the latter with a 63 cm scale guitar. After a very short time I realized that 65 cm was not good for many reasons. So it has always been a natural evidence for me that shorter is the way to go. The current trend to 64 cm makes little sense, because the difference is irrelevant. My ideal size and lower limit is 63 cm. Because otherwise the low E string sounds too muddy and starts having intonation problems, especially if you have to tune it down to D or C. But a shorter scale guitar definitely has a different tone color. In the romantic era, shorter scale guitars were very common. They had a different sound, so has a shorter scale guitar. I say different, not inferior, because I like that sound spectrum more. The evolution of the guitar after the 19th century to the bigger instruments today that need to be loud at any cost is not 100% a good one.

[@MultiCugel]

Glad you have your perfect guitar! I may have missed it in the video but is the width of the fretboard still the 52mm?

[@Doug-k1v]

cool

[@halfabee]

Someone should develop a classical Guitar with an interchangeable neck. Necks can be switched for larger smaller necks depending on the customer.

[@riskerin]

This was perfect timing for me! I just ordered a new guitar with 640mm string length and 51mm nut. Really excited to try these new dimensions. Merce, did Mr Chiesa also Change the size of the body? I wasn’t sure if you were confirming that as well. Seems like one might have to do that with such a dramatic shorter SL.

[@danielechiesa6287]

Indeed; body length is still 3/4 of string length and all other proportions maintained.

[@Shravan_Vasishth]

How much did the 60 cm guitar cost?

[@aggunia57]

Thank you for sharing the helpful information Merce. With me being 67 years old, and it's getting a bit harder to stretch the left hand fingers, perhaps this is something worth exploring on my end that I never considered. Also, what is the guitar support you use in the video of the guitar? Thanks again.

[@julianandonov3869]

Yo, I only play electric guitar (just like to listen to classical sometimes), could I not just tune down the guitar a half-step and put a capo on first fret, to test if I like a smaller scale length?

[@matreynolds1]

Absolutely!

[@chupie]

It helps but I suggest finding some student level classical (pretty easy to find if you have a music store) because neck width is quite different on a classical even in the smaller scale. Noodle around on those to see what you think.

[@phildohogne1970]

I watch most the fine young classical guitarist who are women, and when they are playing full sized guitars, they are holding their wrists at angles that long term will damage them. I figured out a long time ago why you play smaller guitars. You are petite. I have thought it is genius on your part.

[@GG-ko9gg]

How tall are you?

[@MerceFont]

I'm rather tiny... about 1,68m

[@GG-ko9gg]

Aah the best things come in small packages ❤

[@joelpenazzo7248]

❤

[@guitartubechannel3864]

TORRES made all different sizes . The problem is today !

[@chupie]

The problem is Segovia. For all his immense contributions, people took the 650mm length as gospel because that is what he played.

[@kaushiksenapsti6523]

Hi from India

[@MerceFont]

Hello there!

[@Mclennnan]

its so sad that classical guitar music is "competative". Music first.

[@caspar9794]

The absolutely most important trait of a guitar, for a guitarist who is willing to put in the hours to get good, is the playability. It you can't play it easily, you will never have the time you need! You can find many great guitars but if they are not decidedly easy to play, never mind. Easy is always better with the CG, and you know when you get it, if you don't, it isn't easy. And mind you, 640mm is not a great difference, 630 is better, nut width 50mm or 48. We people vary in size from about 150cm to 200 cm, we shouldn't be shy about letting the guitar vary. And yes, smaller guitars might sound less, or whatever, but easy is just better. Learn on good fit, and then you can pinpoint what else you want and tell the luthier.