I would really appreciate some thoughts on my dilemma!

I am an adult learner and have taken up studying classical (and electric) guitar. I have just taken my Grade 5 classical exam but I am really struggling with some of the stretches, having small hands, short fingers and short arms. Even with the help of my teacher and some inventive fingering I am having great difficulty with my full size guitar. I've tried my nieces 3/4 guitar but it feels like a toy in comparison (Admira Classico - 3/4 body, 4/4 neck).

I love my classical guitar - it's an Admira Capricho. I've just put a set of Savarez strings on it (540R) which has made it sound lighter and brighter.

I want to go further with my grades but would like to try a 7/8 size guitar. My question is this - how much should I spend on one?

I can't decide whether to go for something cheap like a Yamaha 7/8 (£50) or another Admira, model 610 or 630 (£125) just for practicing on. Or should I get something like an Alhambra Senorita 3C (£300ish) that is suitable for an exam / performance?

Would it be better to practice Grade 6+ on a cheaper instrument that I am comfortable with and then persevere with my full size guitar. Or should I spend more and get something like the Alhambra that becomes my primary guitar and not bother with the full size?

I also play piano (and organ). I stopped taking exams after grade 3 when I was little because the stretches were too painful. I can just about stretch to an octave but can't play any keys in between at the same time.

I would be really grateful for any advice.

If this is any help, Mr LT went all the way to grade 8 on his bog standard student model. I recently bought him an Alhambra guitar for his 40th - his first guitar has lasted him well over 20 years!

I'd agree with getting a smaller, more comfortable guitar if you have small hands - the stretches are bigger and the fingering faster as you go up the grades.

Good luck!

I think practising on one size and performing on another would be problematic.
You don't want to be worrying in an exam about not being able to reach things properly because you're used to playing a smaller instrument.
I found it difficult to switch between two descant recorders for an exam and they're the same size. I'd done the bulk of my practice on a plastic one and the wooden one didn't respond in quite the same way, so in the end I did my exam entirely on plastic (I'd been planning to use wood for two pieces and plastic for everything else), as I felt more secure about playing the more familiar instrument.
Given a choice between a higher quality instrument I'm not so used to playing and a cheaper instrument that I've played regulalry, I know which I'd rather use for an exam.
So, you're probably best off sticking with your current guitar if you want to use a full size one in exams. If you'd rather switch to 7/8 size for practice, choose one you'd be happy to take into the exam room.

T.

A couple of thoughts:

It sounds like you should go to a (good) guitar shop and try different scale lengths to see what suits you. I'd have thought that it would be better to get a guitar that fits you than struggle with stretches (which aren't going to get any shorter as you progress).

I'm not sure about buying a £50 guitar to practise on. Most of us play the guitar for the sound - you too from what you say. It would be a shame to lose it especially having got to a good standard.

One point on the Alhambra Senorita 3C - it's a cedar topped guitar, not spruce like your current one, and so will have a wonderfully warm tone. Good for Spanish and South American music but perhaps not so good for Bach etc.