PRS - Pain in the neck

mesatele

Is this weird or has anyone else had the same kind of problem?

I've played telecasters for years and can happily sit for hours playing one on my knee.

I bought a PRS last year and can't sit playing it for more than 15 minutes without getting a pain in the neck.

Roland

It works the other way too.  A PRS, a Tele, a 335, and a Les Paul all sit in different positions because of the body shape, neck angle, and weight distribution.  I find a 335 difficult because, with a rear strap button, it sits so far away from my body

mesatele

You've reminded me, I had forgotten, I had a similar problem with a Yamaha SA2200 (ES335 shape).

The PRS thing seems weird because the offset doesn't appear to be that different.

ICBM

Take it as God's way of telling you that you're too cool to play a PRS.

johnonguitar

ICBM;673920" said:

Take it as God's way of telling you that you're too cool to play a PRS.

God has an artist pack

johnonguitar

guitarfishbay

Different playing position. Try it on your other leg? Or practice stood up? Or buy another guitar that fits you better. PRS make nice guitars but they aren't the right choice for everyone.

mesatele

ICBM said:

Take it as God's way of telling you that you're too cool to play a PRS.

Yeah, you may be right, but why the SA2200? Where does that sit on the Cool Wall?

mesatele

I think the answer is to find a band again and play standing up.

mesatele

guitarfishbay said:

Different playing position. Try it on your other leg? Or practice stood up? Or buy another guitar that fits you better. PRS make nice guitars but they aren't the right choice for everyone.

I've tried playing in that classical position but the damn guitar is so shiny and slippery I struggle to keep it between my legs ">

Standing up is the answer, but I'm a lazy b

meltedbuzzbox

get a Jazzmaster, they were shaped to be played sitting (and standing)

jeztone2

I have to admit I'm usually walking around the house with mine on a strap. So not encountered this problem. How tall are you though?

Jez6345789

It might just be your soul leaving your body. Lol

dindude

Yup, I get the same with Les Pauls, well neck and bad back, I'm so used to Strats and I spend most of my playing time sitting down that it rules them out for me.

PRS are better but I agree they are slippery fuckers and the body is still rather small.

For sitting, can't beat a Strat or Tele.

impmann

I used to think you couldn't beat a Strat or Tele for sitting.

Then I tried a chair.

:-)

Actually - the shape of a Jazzmaster makes them even better than a Strat for sitting playing

stimpsonslostson

I've had several SGs & inevitably end up selling them for the simple reason that they're not comfortable to me.

The whole guitar feels like it's 3"to the left of where it should be.

Thing is, I love the look & sound of them so buy another... After a couple of weeks my left shoulder starts to ache & it's back to the LP.

ICBM

I have the same problem with SGs, and 335s - the neck is too far to the left.

I found 22-fret PRSs fine, but couldn't get on with 24-fret ones at all - even that difference of about 3/4" is enough to mess up the position of the neck.

The relationship between the neck, the front strap button and the waist are all critical to comfort, for me.

crunchman

I think neck angle is a big part of it.  With Fenders I think the neck sticks pretty much straight out from the body.  PRS is angled back slightly, and Gibson is angled more.  That means that your hand is further back.  It's not a very natural position because it forces your shoulder back.

As @ICBM said, a 24 fret PRS may be worse than a 22 fret one as you are having to put your hand further to the left as well.  My first PRS was a 24 fret guitar and I had some wrist problems.  I think that was partly down to the wide thin neck profile, but it was probably partly down to the playing position.  I didn't get the same problems with a 22 fret PRS.  None of mt 22 fret PRS had a wide thin profile so how much was down to playing position and how much down to neck profile I can't be certain.

Neck, shoulder, wrist are all interlinked.  When I have had wrist problems in the past, I've got my wife to massage my shoulder and the wrist feels a lot better.

johnonguitar

Y'all need to man up and fix your technique

Sassafras

I suppose the smaller body shape is making you hunch over the guitar. Straighten yourself up!

mesatele

jeztone2 said:

I have to admit I'm usually walking around the house with mine on a strap. So not encountered this problem. How tall are you though?

About 5' 10"

I should play standing up and if I get in a band again it would make it much easier.