
Results 1 to 15 of 16
-
11.22.19, 12:17 AM #1
- Join Date
- 03.26.04
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Posts
- 2,306
- Posts Per Day
- 0.30
- Favorite VH Album
1984 - Favorite VH Song
Me Wise Magic, Panama - Last Online
02.09.25 @ 02:48 PM - Likes (Given)
- 3704
- Likes (Received)
- 1099
- Thanks (Given)
- 1245
- Thanks (Received)
- 400
:::Did I Make A Mistake Buying A Strat (Big Hands?)
I am kicking myself in the ass, for not coming on here first, to get advice.
For my 47th birthday, a bunch of relatives/parents/wife pooled their money together to get me my very first guitar. I got a Wolfgang Standard.
My Dad plays accoustic only, is unfamiliar with the floating bridge setup, and while trying to tune the guitar, he didn't loosen the nuts by the bridge, so he snapped a string. This got me looking into the mechanics of a floating bridge, and I didn't want the hassle, so I traded the Wolf in for a Fender Strat.
The main thing that I focused on when getting a guitar was tone, and comfortability (in my lap). I never thought that my hands would be too big for the neck.
I love my Strat (Fender MIM); my ring finger is size 13.5. I started with Justin Sandercoe's video series today, and I had a problem fingering a chord.
Question: I have very large hands, and although my fingers are large, they aren't unusually fat, given the size of my hand. Like I said, I take a size 13.5 ring.
Will I grow into the Strat? Is my difficulty simply a result of inexperience (this is my **very first time** playing), or is the Strat a poor fit? I love the guitar in every other way. I didn't want to get a cheaper guitar, as I love the Strat's tone, and I thought I would grow into it. Plus the Strat is very easy to maintain.
Now I am kicking myself in the ass for not coming on here first. I had to order the Wolf, and then I exchanged it for the Strat HSS (MIM) - that was back ordered, and when they finally got it to me it got damaged in shipping. So then I (finally) got another Strat on sale at a fantastic price...I don't wanna exchange the guitar that I currently own. I hope I can work with this?? Can I? I watched a few videos online, and they show a variety of tricks of using one finger on several strings. That's not what I want to do; I want to learn how to play properly. Unfortunately, my Dad is living at his other house 800 miles away, and I won't be seeing him for another 90 days...I have relied on his experience up until this point.
Thanks so much for your time and advice.Last edited by NDL; 11.22.19 at 12:25 AM.
"So the legacy of a band who is one of the greatest of all time will be stunted because of spoiled man-baby and his deranged mommy." - Brook
"when I heard Me Wise Magic on I-81 in 1996...I am thinking "what a fucking waste of time the last ten years were for Van Halen." - Dave's Dreidel
"It wasn't Ed's playing that inspired me, it was his spirit. The playing was merely a manifestation of that spirit." - Speedway
-
11.22.19, 10:46 AM #2
- Join Date
- 12.26.13
- Age
- 28
- Location
- East Virginia
- Posts
- 1,763
- Posts Per Day
- 0.43
- Favorite VH Album
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge - Favorite VH Song
Mine All Mine - Last Online
01.08.25 @ 10:37 PM - Likes (Given)
- 565
- Likes (Received)
- 227
- Thanks (Given)
- 2767
- Thanks (Received)
- 972
The Wolfgang bridge shouldn't have been floating, it is supposed to rest flat on the body. That'll often happen when inexperienced shops try to "set them up" before sale.
I think the strat is actually wider at the nut than the Wolfgang is, giving you more space than you would have had with the Wolfgang.
-
Thanks / Likes - 0 Likes
11.22.19, 11:34 AM
#3


- Join Date
- 03.26.04
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Posts
- 2,306
- Posts Per Day
- 0.30
- Favorite VH Album
1984 - Favorite VH Song
Me Wise Magic, Panama - Last Online
02.09.25 @ 02:48 PM - Likes (Given)
- 3704
- Likes (Received)
- 1099
- Thanks (Given)
- 1245
- Thanks (Received)
- 400





"So the legacy of a band who is one of the greatest of all time will be stunted because of spoiled man-baby and his deranged mommy." - Brook
"when I heard Me Wise Magic on I-81 in 1996...I am thinking "what a fucking waste of time the last ten years were for Van Halen." - Dave's Dreidel
"It wasn't Ed's playing that inspired me, it was his spirit. The playing was merely a manifestation of that spirit." - Speedway
11.22.19, 11:39 AM
#4

- Join Date
- 12.26.13
- Age
- 28
- Location
- East Virginia
- Posts
- 1,763
- Posts Per Day
- 0.43
- Favorite VH Album
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge - Favorite VH Song
Mine All Mine - Last Online
01.08.25 @ 10:37 PM - Likes (Given)
- 565
- Likes (Received)
- 227
- Thanks (Given)
- 2767
- Thanks (Received)
- 972






Yes I would say so. It's a good guitar for you!
Thanks / Likes - 0 Likes
NDL thanked for this post.
11.22.19, 12:00 PM
#5


- Join Date
- 05.29.03
- Age
- 36
- Posts
- 7,169
- Posts Per Day
- 0.90
- Last Online
Yesterday @ 11:57 AM - Likes (Given)
- 2630
- Likes (Received)
- 3911
- Thanks (Given)
- 3312
- Thanks (Received)
- 3913

Achievements:





Plenty of dudes with big hands master playing with Strats. SRV comes to mind. You'll get used to it.
Yaminub is totally right that you're probably better off with a wider nut width than a Wolfgang anyway.
Thanks / Likes - 0 Likes
It's not near as bland once you get away from everything having so much salt in it.
POLITICAL BLOTTER