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#1
12-23-2017, 03:53 PM
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Seeking a smaller bottom
Bummers! The osteoarthritis in my right shoulder has gotten worse so I can no longer play a guitar with a large lower bout -- not even the Taylor GS-Mini (sigh). So I must switch from acoustic electric to electric since "size doesn't matter" with an electric, right?
So I request your guidance concerning brand/model info for a small-lower-bout electric guitar that will sound & play pretty good for under $400. Aloha from Hawaii & thanks for any help you can give me -- I am a total doofus when it comes to knowing anything about electrics. 
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#2
12-23-2017, 05:22 PM
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bellgamin: welcome to the AGF!
what about a uke? or a traveler guitar? for electric, danelectro. note that you'll need an amp too. i have bursitis in my right shoulder. i do warm up exercises prior to any playing. i start with smaller guitars and work my way up to my hd28. still, after about 1/2 to 3/4hr., it becomes tough to play and i move back to smaller guitars. play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics Last edited by muscmp; 12-23-2017 at 05:25 PM. Reason: welcome
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#3
12-23-2017, 06:27 PM
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Take your pick. Most popular solid body electrics will have smaller and shallower lower bouts. Les Pauls, Strats, Telecasters will all be more comfortable if the Mini 's too fat, and there are any number of inexpensive versions of each. Where you'll see an increase in size will be the longer scale...so I hope your left shoulder is OK
 You might also consider a smaller acoustic like a Vintage Viator which is only about 11" across the lower bout and 3.5" deep. I think the combination of that and short scale length of 21.5" would be about as comfy as an acoustic guitar can get. Before you do anything, however, have you tried resting the Mini on your left thigh with your left foot elevated on a low foot stool? That position will bring your right arm in a lot closer to your side.
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Martin 000-17SM Supro 2030 Hampton Taylor 562ce 12 X 12 Taylor GS Mini-e Spruce/Rosewood Waterloo WL-S Wechter TO-8418 Cordoba 24T tenor ukulele Kanile'a Islander MST-4 tenor ukulele Kiwaya KTC-1 concert ukulele Kolohe concert ukulele Mainland Mahogany soprano ukulele Ohana SK-28 soprano ukulele Brüko No. 6 soprano ukulele Last edited by Swamp Yankee; 12-23-2017 at 07:27 PM.
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#4
12-23-2017, 09:04 PM
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What about a weight relieved Les Paul. It might be that Epiphone makes a weight relieved version that is in your budget.
BTW, just because you are inexperienced with electrics doesn’t make you a dufus. Welcome to the forum.
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1969 Framus Solid Body Electric 1969 Schaller KV25 Amplifier 1997 Mexican Strat 2017 Les Paul Tribute Model Bugera V22 Tube Amplifier 1969 Oscar Teller Classical Martin DRS2 Yamaha FG700S
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#5
12-23-2017, 10:05 PM
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Telecaster/Stratocaster or a Gibson Firebird. The Firebird is a pretty lengthy guitar, but is fairly narrow and thin; and is not especially heavy compared to something like an ES-339 or Les Paul.
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"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." -Zig Ziglar Acoustics 2013 Guild F30 Standard 2012 Yamaha LL16 2007 Seagull S12 1991 Yairi DY 50 Electrics Epiphone Les Paul Standard Fender Am. Standard Telecaster Gibson ES-335 Gibson Firebird
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#6
12-23-2017, 10:18 PM
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Something like the now discontinued Fender Acoustasonic might work well for you - it's a lightweight hollowed out Telecaster shape that uses a piezo pickup.
You'll need an amp, too, with this guitar. An acoustic amp like a Fishman Loudbox mini would probably work well here. Of course if you REALLY need a guitar with a tiny lower bout, check out the Steinberger, which has taken small body electric guitar design to the nth degree. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guita...18965000002000
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#7
12-23-2017, 11:36 PM
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Seeking a smaller bottom
Many Gibson (not Epiphone) low-end SG models scale in somewhere in the high-five to very-low six pound bracket - you may be able to find a used one in the low $400 range...
Then again, salads really worked for me... 
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased)
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#8
12-24-2017, 12:51 AM
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Go to Reverb and type in - Yamaha Thinline Cutaway - Natural. I think this could work well. A best of both worlds guitar.
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#9
12-24-2017, 06:27 AM
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Quote:
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#10
12-24-2017, 06:53 AM
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The guitars that have the most consistency for playability in my book are PRSs. Their consistency is unmatched by anyone but Taylor. Usually out of the box I am wanting to raise the action a bit. The PRS SE line can be bought used easily for your money. Strats are always comfortable to play- a used Mexican strat or a Squier Classic Vibe fit the bill. I also agree with the SG comments. They tick a lot of boxes for me. I have not played the more reasonably priced ones in a while but generally they are very comfortable and easy to play.
Some great suggestions here. Pick 2 to 4 models and try all you can for each model. Something will eventually speak to you. Have fun.
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#11
12-24-2017, 07:31 AM
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Check out the Epiphone Casino Coupe. Full hollow body, light weight and smaller, thinner lower bout. For acoustic an Ibanez AVN1 is smaller too. Good luck with your search.
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#12
12-24-2017, 08:04 AM
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Used Carvin AC 375, AC175, or the nylon crossover CL450 version.
These are thinline acoustic electric guitars. New, they are above your budget, but used might be close if you wait for a good buy. Carvin made and makes several versions of the thinline acoustic electric: https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...413954660.html http://www.carvinmuseum.com/decade/images/01-cl450.html
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#13
12-24-2017, 08:09 AM
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Maybe stretching your budget a bit, but you might look into the Supro Island series guitars ( Hampton, Jamesport, Westbury) I picked up one of their top of the line Hamptons for $400 (full price, $1099) on a blowout sale from Sam Ash and I really like it. Great sound and quality build. There are plenty of video reviews. I see Reverb has some listed within striking distance of your budget though nothing quite like the deal I got
 Size-wise, it fits in a Les Paul case almost like the case was made to fit it, and it's very comfortable and lightweight. In fact, I bought two at the same time and they came in one box. I was shocked at how light that box was, and asked the Fedex driver if he had the other box in his truck.
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Martin 000-17SM Supro 2030 Hampton Taylor 562ce 12 X 12 Taylor GS Mini-e Spruce/Rosewood Waterloo WL-S Wechter TO-8418 Cordoba 24T tenor ukulele Kanile'a Islander MST-4 tenor ukulele Kiwaya KTC-1 concert ukulele Kolohe concert ukulele Mainland Mahogany soprano ukulele Ohana SK-28 soprano ukulele Brüko No. 6 soprano ukulele
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#14
12-24-2017, 09:06 AM
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+1 on Gibson SG
Also, check out the G&L Tribute Fallout. The G&L Tribute Bluesboy is awesome, but a bit on the heavy side.
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Roy Ibanez, Recording King, Gretsch, Martin G&L, Squier, Orange (x 2), Bugera, JBL, Soundcraft Our duo website - UPDATED 7/26/19
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#15
12-24-2017, 10:40 AM
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Quote:
So with that in mind, maybe a Gretsch G5426 Jet Club, around $300. Maybe spend a bit more than your stated budget & get a Fender Modern Player Thinline Deluxe Telecaster, around $500. These are both "chambered" - smaller, solidbody shape but with some areas of the body hollowed out. Actual hollowbody electrics - like the Gretsch Artcore - tend to have larger shaped bodies, more like the size of an acoustic. There are reviews of the two I mentioned on YouTube.
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