I know its not your goal but that upsets me because I just bought an expensive full scale length guitar. I’ve always played full scale length but I’ve never tried to play fast. There doesn’t seem to be many quality smaller scale guitars out there either. Now I’m wondering if I should I return my Ibanez RG? 
I just measured mine. I’m under 2.5 inches. Tbh I never even thought about it. I have three main guitars that I play, I don’t know how long their necks are. I just play what I can on each one and if a fingering isn’t working, I just find another way.
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No reason to give it back if you like it!
Do you have a time limit for returning it? If so, I would make to most out of this time to try and play some “shreddy” things of your choice on the 25’5, and checking if indeed you run into problems because of the overall size of the guitar.
Try different positions too: standing up with a strap (try different strap lengths), sitting down with guitar on the right leg and also on the left leg (classical-style).
If you find a setup that’s comfortable, then you’re good 
It is now time to try and see how it goes 
I can see you are a MiM member, have you already tried the experiments “testing your motions” and “unlock the tremolo” sections?
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I only have 45 days to return it. I’ll need to review those two experiments again. I’ve tried some different positions too and those definitely help. I honestly love this new guitar. The way it plays, the way it sounds, it’s just incredible. I feel like if Li-Sa X at 8 years old, with what looks like a pinky as long or shorter than mine can shred on a full size guitar, so can I.
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This is getting kind of absurd. I doubt this matters in practice, what does is how independently you can move them, and that takes time and practice. If you can span a 5 fret stretch on the lower frets, as your picture indicates, No need to buy a different guitar with a shorter scale or any of that. You already have 90% of the stretch you will likely ever need or use.
Enjoy your new guitar, and then worry about this stuff if it actually becomes an issue on your guitar journey, right now it just sounds like an obsessive compulsive speculation.
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In the photo, it looks like you can cover the first 3 steps of the major scale from the F on the low E string (whole-step whole-step stretch). While there are tricky licks where the ability to stretch even further is desireable, I think the main milestone for “should I use a shorter scale length” is whether you can comfortably and quickly do a “whole-step whole-step” stretch from the G at the 3rd fret of the low E string. To me, that’s the widest “super common” stretch in “shred” guitar.
My pinky is around 2 and 3/8 inches, and while I sometimes strain on certain licks on a 25.5" guitar, I find it’s mostly not a big issue. Most frustrating is licks where I can just barely make the stretch, but not in a relaxed enough way to play fluidly, but those are rare.
And as Troy pointed out, you could always DIY a shorter scale by slapping on a capo at the first or second fret if you really felt you needed to. And if you go that route, there are even removeable fretboard stickers you can buy to adjust the appearance of the fret markers.
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You’re right. It is somewhat obsessive speculation. Do you know of some good songs to learn in the beginning? Preferably ones without large stretches?
Well where are you at playing wise now? Are you just starting out all together, or have you played for a while and just want to branch out into more advanced lead playing?
The latter. I’m pretty decent at rhythm playing and can do a few very simple leads but when it comes to playing anything complex and / or fast then I can’t do it.
I’d recommend you start with what @tommo has advised. Find your fast tremolo, without thinking too much about how you do it. Experiment and see what comes easiest. Film it (there are filming guidelines here which are important so that we can see exactly what is happening)
And post your videos here. From there it’s much easier to advise on the next step.
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Well, I can only tell you what my experience has been. I used to play a strat when I was a teenager, when I didn’t know anything about scale lengths and hand sizes. I didn’t put any thought into it. I wasn’t playing any 3nps runs in the lower registers, and couldn’t do it now most likely. The max I would play nowadays is a 24.75.
I would say return it if the disadvantage of having a wider stretch outweighs all of the advantages the Ibanez gives you. And I definitely understand where you are coming from, they are very nice guitars. I wish they made a 24" scale model for lefties. I just returned my 22.5" scale Ibanez due to a nickel allergy, but it was a very nice guitar.
And I’m not saying you can’t play fast on the Ibanez – not at all. Its just that some fast runs in the lower registers may be too difficult unless you downsize. 3nps runs in the higher registers are certainly doable, as is every other fast technique. So you aren’t that limited.
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I’m sure I’m blushing.
@AerithAngel if you could make a video of you playing a 3 note per string scale shape I can give you pointers on fretting postures and mechanics which will alleviate any problems you experience. Simply knowing how your fretting hand should approach the neck is itself incredibly powerful.
For example, these stretches
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This is a serious thread 
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Stop whining and deal with it. Make it your secret weapon.
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Ok so I am also a Twitch streamer so please don’t worry about the little things still smattered about the screen. Here is a quick video. Simple Major Scale
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Try to put a space between the link and the text. It should display the player in your post. Also video is set to private so can’t view.
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I can’t seem to make it embed. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, which is sad because I’m a software engineer lol.
Well I can open it now. Fretting hand looks fine to me. I wouldn’t really focus too much on running scales though. It’s good to spend some time on them just to learn them. But I would may try incorporating more fragmented licks on one or two strings. What type of shred stuff do you like. If you like more neoclassical malmsteen type of stuff that may be a perfect place to start as he does a lot of single and two string sequences. What is your rhythm picking hand like (motions, placement etc.). Ideally you will want to build off of that and what you have already developed for your lead playing too if you can.
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Django Reinhardt played absolutely smoking lines with only two mobile fingers. Danny Gatton had rather small hands and he could play like an absolute legend.
I don’t think that a short pinky is a problem unless you let it be one.
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