Jagmaster questions/potential new owner

[NJjoanjettfan]

Is it easier stretching fingers/fretting the 7th-12th frets for power chords and double stops ? Is the distance between the frets smaller/shorter ? Will the 24" scale make it easier ? Is each individual fret shorter in distance between the fret wires ? If smaller area between fret wires does it hamper forming chords ?

Reason I ask is that since the accident where both my wrists were shattered and both thumbs dislocated I've been having difficulty achieving the "stretch". Any info as what to expect will be appreciated.

[Roxy]

Best thing I can tell ya is to check one out at a local gee-tar shop and rip it up a little . IMO the neck is pretty much a strat .

[notdave]

Originally Posted by Roxy

Best thing I can tell ya is to check one out at a local gee-tar shop and rip it up a little . IMO the neck is pretty much a strat .

It's a very rare Strat with a short scale length then.

Strat scale length - 25.5 inches

Jagmaster - 24 inches

I own both and there is a noticeable difference IMHO, especially at the dusty end. But, as stated, go and play one. Neck profile, fingerboard radius and width make a difference too.

If smaller area between fret wires does it hamper forming chords ?

Could be a problem if you have banana fingers, I suppose. I don't

[Telepicker]

I'm on the short side. There is a tune I do in open G tuning that requires a barre at the 5th fret while playing a lead note at the 10th fret, e string (a 5 fret stretch). It's right at my hand's limit on a 25.5 inch Tele, and sounds it. It is completely playable on the 24 inch Jagmaster and sounds good.

Sometimes I'm bothered by sore wrists and thumb joints because of my dayjob. I can't play the Tele at all when it happens. I used to have to stop playing for a period of time, which was total drag. Now that I have the Jagmaster, I can keep playing without any problem. I call it my convalescent axe.

[NJjoanjettfan]

Thanks for the info and any more input will be appreciated. Maybe more info as to my condition is required.

I'm 46 yrs old, 6'3" with long arms, average hands & DO NOT have either long or thick, stubby fingers. Some of the injuries I sustained when struck by the car were both wrists shattered, both thumbs dislocated. In addition I had a traumatic brain injury (my brain hemoraged for five days), three (3) fractures across my shoulders, my lower back which already had been surgically repaired was severely damaged again and my right ear mangled. As with most accidents of this type my fingers and hands and shoulders were "road rashed" from grinding against the pavement upon impact when I instictively put my hands out to break my fall (or so I was told by witnesses) which then crumpled beneath me as they broke.

For the above reasons and that for over 25 years I was a bus/diesel mechanic where the work was heavy and dangerous I find that my hands, fingers, and wrist are stiff at times. Broken fingers, stitches, burns, lost finger nails, stitches in three finger tips (painful with or w/out anesthesia) where common. My left/fretting hand took most of the beating through the years.

When I played 20 years ago I was barely able to make the stretch between the 7th & 12th frets for the power chord & double stop. Back then prior to playing I would use a tennis ball in the webbing between my fingers to stretch them apart gradually in a "V". Afterward I would just be capable of forming the necessary chord shapes. I hadn't played guitar since 1988 when my left hand was impaled on a threaded rod. I picked it back up middle of last December as part of the physical/neurological therapy to regain complete use of my hands and fingers also to help re-establish the connections for the signals from my brain to my hands/fingers. I've tried the tennis ball trick and it seems to offer a bit more stretch but the damage from the accident has restricted the range I was once capable of.

I experience pain (which might be remedied w/surgery but I have other things more pressing to be repaired) after playing certain songs especially where the "stretch" is required.

I've already tried playing in the local store and GC but there is only so much time available and I need a trial of longer period of time to be sure. My main concern is if after a while one might feel "cramped" with the shorter scale, meaning that the upper arms are feeling like they're bound to the upper body. Is that the case ? I know for a fact having bought the 22 1/2", (22.5") scale early 90's Duo Sonic that the scale used for that particular model is too short for me to play comfortably.