Electric guitars and age.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by hesson11

My hands are old. My hands and wrists have multiple injuries (nerve entrapment, etc.). So I've tried to get comfortable playing electrics. While they are much easier to fret, I can't seem to get the overall ergonomics right. Maybe it's because I've long played in the classical position, and I can't make that work with the electrics I've tried so far. Whether holding it in my lap or standing with a strap, I just can't relax, which adds tension especially to my left hand, which is where most of my issues are. But I keep trying!

Has anyone experienced this kind of thing? And have you found a way to overcome it? (My Epi Casino is fairly comfortable, but when I sit with it on my right thigh, the thing keeps falling off my leg. And when I stand with it, the tension and pain in my left shoulder is just too much.) And don't get me started on the narrow string spacings!

Yes "overcome "more or less..
I played acoustic primarily standing for almost 50 years (so I am comfortable standing) , but lately have started playing my electric both standing and sitting with a strap

[GoPappy]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I've been playing both acoustic and electric since 1970. I've had some health periods (allergy to Statin drugs) that involved retrenching to the electrics because they didn't hurt as much to play. That's when I discovered this truth: tall (jumbo) frets require less fretting pressure than mediums or medium jumbos by a country mile. In fact, they require less pressure or the string will be pulled out of tune. Combine that with extra light strings (.009) and you can survive many health challenges.

It isn't for everyone but it worked for me.

Bob

Bob, how hard was the transition? I.e., did it take a while to instinctively use a lighter touch? I've thought about buying an electric with jumbo frets for that exact reason, but then I wonder about the difficulty of going back and forth between one guitar with jumbo frets and and my other electrics with medium and medium jumbos.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I've been playing both acoustic and electric since 1970. I've had some health periods (allergy to Statin drugs) that involved retrenching to the electrics because they didn't hurt as much to play. That's when I discovered this truth: tall (jumbo) frets require less fretting pressure than mediums or medium jumbos by a country mile. In fact, they require less pressure or the string will be pulled out of tune. Combine that with extra light strings (.009) and you can survive many health challenges.

It isn't for everyone but it worked for me.

Bob

I had a hard time with accuracy with the truly big frets but what I think is 6105 or tall narrow have become favorites.

My playing and self always need to be considered too. It is something I really enjoy but don't get at or stay at with the seriousness some do. That might be changing with age too. I think breaking a knee won't be as easy playing guitar as it was skiing double black in trees. It is really good for the brain.

The used solid rosewood neck Strat I got recently and my Thin Skin Telecaster have those frets. That solid rosewood Fender neck should anyone be interested is also a slightly thicker C.

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by GoPappy

Bob, how hard was the transition? I.e., did it take a while to instinctively use a lighter touch? I've thought about buying an electric with jumbo frets for that exact reason, but then I wonder about the difficulty of going back and forth between one guitar with jumbo frets and and my other electrics with medium and medium jumbos.

I've used .009 strings since the '70s and usually with medium to medium-jumbo frets. When I played the guitar with jumbos, a 2005 Gibson ES-335, it just felt like I was home. Bends, which I do a lot of, are so much more secure than they are on lower frets. And chording feels secure as well. No, there wasn't a bunch of adjustment needed.

Bob

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I've used .009 strings since the '70s and usually with medium to medium-jumbo frets. When I played the guitar with jumbos, a 2005 Gibson ES-335, it just felt like I was home. Bends, which I do a lot of, are so much more secure than they are on lower frets. And chording feels secure as well. No, there wasn't a bunch of adjustment needed.

Bob

This is one thing that confuses me greatly. I always thought it was easier to bend on big jumbos until I got my L5s guitars. They have low wide frets and on the 50 or so guitars that I own they are the easiest to bend notes on...

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

...I always thought it was easier to bend on big jumbos until I got my L-5S guitars. They have low wide frets and of the 50 or so guitars that I own they are the easiest to bend notes on...

You're not alone - I always preferred low frets, bending or no bending...

[Rudy4]

I keep my three most often used guitars hanging close by the back door for quick access to the living room easy chair or back screen porch, weather permitting.

Acoustics are 24-1/2" scale length, steel and nylon strung, and electric is 24" nylon strung. I have a couple more 24" steel strung electrics, too. The steel or nylon strung electrics mostly get played late at night or in the easy chair.

I LOVE the low tension and silky feel of the 24"+ scale lengths, often using a capo. I'll probably end up selling off any of my "regular" guitars as I just don't play them any longer.