Noob questions.

[Luke]

Hello, I'm looking to buy a used PRS SE and I have it nailed down to 2 models, the SE Bernie or SE Custom 24. I'm a beginner, I only have 6 months of guitar under my belt and I need an electric guitar. I have really small hands and sausage fingers, so my concern is which guitar would be better for smaller hands? Thanks in advance.

 

[PeteHill]

Bernie is a shorter scale I think, which may help

 

[kes7u]

Many people with small hands and sausage fingers play any type of guitar. If you are concerned, though, then you may want to avoid the Bernie, with its fairly thick neck.

Kevin

 

[Dusty Chalk]

First of all, I definitely agree that this essentially translates to a neck question. But only you can decide for yourself what scale length and neck pattern will be comfortable for you, but it's hard if you don't know, yourself yet, what you will want once you "get good" -- I'm certainly in a very similar boat.

What scale length have you been playing for the last six months? Also, how hard are you going to practice? I ask the latter, because you can compensate a lot with sheer speed, something I doubt I will ever get to.

In my case, I have chosen to go wider apart frets, so that the "pocket" (that area immediately behind the fret where you want to place your fingers) is bigger, but there isn't a whole lot of room between strings, so I still have to have good technique that way. But it's something you should try and continue to decide as you get better, so don't get married into one particular train of thought.

Good luck, and cheers!

 

[Luke]

First of all, I definitely agree that this essentially translates to a neck question. But only you can decide for yourself what scale length and neck pattern will be comfortable for you, but it's hard if you don't know, yourself yet, what you will want once you "get good" -- I'm certainly in a very similar boat.

What scale length have you been playing for the last six months? Also, how hard are you going to practice? I ask the latter, because you can compensate a lot with sheer speed, something I doubt I will ever get to.

In my case, I have chosen to go wider apart frets, so that the "pocket" (that area immediately behind the fret where you want to place your fingers) is bigger, but there isn't a whole lot of room between strings, so I still have to have good technique that way. But it's something you should try and continue to decide as you get better, so don't get married into one particular train of thought.

Good luck, and cheers!

I've been playing a Fender FA-125s.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Yeah, acoustics are usually a longer scale length -- so you're already trying a 25.3" scale length with a fairly broad radius
if you're finding you have trouble stretching -- especially towards the headstock -- then try a shorter scale length.

But keep at it -- you can still accomplish a lot!

 

[dogrocketp]

Luke, you can`t really go wrong with either. The cu24 has a wide thin neck, and sounds like a PRS. The Berne has a shorter scale and seems to be a keeper for most of the forum member who have one. Just get them both. We`re junkies here.