RG550 20th Wizard...too thin?

Smitty · #1 10-01-2007, 05:23 PM

I received my black RG550 20th guitar about a week ago, and man, it is awesome. Amazing. Except one little problem!
I've been playing on a JS1000 for quite some time now, great feeling neck. It's quite thin. When I discovered the Wizard on the RG though, I about crapped my pants. So fast! But I am now starting to discover that my thumb muscle is cramping like a menstruating long distance swimmer. Yesterday, I could barely move it. When I pick up the RG, the pain is evident, but playing the JS is still pretty easy.
So is my hand just not "made" for ultra thin necks like this? Anyone else have this problem?

andy7jem · #2 10-01-2007, 05:28 PM

Two completely opposite necks there

(i know...i own both

)

Do you warm up properly on the wizard? I find i have to break myself in a bit first to loosen up properly on it (not that i can play fast enough to really worry

). More so than any other neck (i own JEM,JS and RG20th).

I must admit, i find my jem neck more comfortable than the wizard. Awesome neck though.

Passion_and_Warfare · #3 10-01-2007, 05:40 PM

I have been having that problem lately, I just find the neck too fast sometimes, epecially when I have just been playing a Les Paul Standard. I definitely find my Les Pauls' with the slim 60's taper neck more comfortable to play, I can hit the notes exactly.

Anyone know what I mean?

Algiman · #4 10-01-2007, 05:46 PM

Yep. I really don't like the thin wizards. Gives me a great excuse to buy Jems rather than 550s though!

I find really thin necks tiring to play, and I prefer a guitar that fights back a bit and makes me work.

brianxtr · #5 10-01-2007, 05:48 PM

i can play a les paul a jem and a rg and switch the guitars and have no problems at all.its personaly i think.

Smitty · #6 10-01-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algiman

Yep. I really don't like the thin wizards. Gives me a great excuse to buy Jems rather than 550s though!

I find really thin necks tiring to play, and I prefer a guitar that fights back a bit and makes me work.

Exactly! Also, the strings are too thin, which of course I can change...but of course...its a big job on a floyd, ugh.
I regularly use 10s with 4 springs in the back. I think I'm gonna trade my RG for an AT300 or something.
I just played on my JS and there was no pain at all. RG: terrible pain. This was just like, 10 seconds each.
smitty

MelodyMan · #7 10-01-2007, 07:04 PM

The pain will go away...the first few days that I had my RG 20th my hand hurt like a bitch, but then it went away.

richard1973 · #8 10-01-2007, 07:07 PM

Ah give it a bit of time

I love the 550 neck, ok yeah its thin and when i swap back n forth from my jem to the other it takes a little adjusting, more evident when learning a new tune on one guitar then i pick the otherup and its like 'arghh i gotta re-learn finger positions for this guitar now!'

I can't deciede which i like best, when i'm playing one of them i think 'right this is the best', then another day i'll be like 'oh this is better', and vice versa..... constantly

Smitty · #9 10-01-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard1973

Ah give it a bit of time

I love the 550 neck, ok yeah its thin and when i swap back n forth from my jem to the other it takes a little adjusting, more evident when learning a new tune on one guitar then i pick the otherup and its like 'arghh i gotta re-learn finger positions for this guitar now!'

I can't deciede which i like best, when i'm playing one of them i think 'right this is the best', then another day i'll be like 'oh this is better', and vice versa..... constantly

Haha, I've been doing that too with the RG and JS (when the RG wasn't hurting, atleast).
But really, I think the RG just doesn't feel right. Sweet guitar, but just not for me. I need a thicker neck!
smitty

Dee · #10 10-01-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passion_and_Warfare

I have been having that problem lately, I just find the neck too fast sometimes, epecially when I have just been playing a Les Paul Standard. I definitely find my Les Pauls' with the slim 60's taper neck more comfortable to play, I can hit the notes exactly.

Anyone know what I mean?

I do. I have mentioned before that the 550 neck feels almost too fast at times, it flies. I am used to the Wiz profile, though, that's all I've used since 1987. You get used to it, then everything else feels wrong.

MattyCakes · #11 10-01-2007, 10:28 PM

i really like mine. i have small hands and prefer thin necks. i will admit that the fret finishing is pretty bad.

Dino · #12 10-01-2007, 10:28 PM

Funny thing is my thumb hurts when I play my JS 1000! Just what you are used to I guess.

Smitty · #13 10-01-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dino

Funny thing is my thumb hurts when I play my JS 1000! Just what you are used to I guess.

Yeah, now I'm starting to think that putting up my thread for the WTT for an AT300 came a bit too soon. I think I'm gonna shut it down and just wait out the guitar. Probly set it up for 10s or something. Which is a pain, but hey, I love the guitar except for the neck, and I'd rather keep it.
smitty

Dee · #14 10-01-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyCakes

i really like mine. i have small hands and prefer thin necks. i will admit that the fret finishing is pretty bad.

Luckily I have good fretwork on mine, no sharp edges. All they needed was a good polish with 0000 grade steel wool. What's wrong with yours?

HeavyMetal4Ever · #15 10-02-2007, 12:31 AM

I also had the same problem when I got my RG1570. After a week or so it went away, and hasn't bothered me since.

I hope you find the same, but if the pain persists for more than a week or two, it might be worth having a chat with your doctor. No matter how good the guitar is, it's not worth permanently damaging your hands.

Good luck and...

Rock on!