moo, Graham, Cumbrian et al, thanks a lot. I think the difficulty is more about unrealistic expectations (trying to force a decidedly 'electric' effect out of an acoustic guitar, as Willie-O pointed out) + the medium gauge strings I use, rather than small hands or "girlie" fingers.   

The action on this guitar was set for medium gauge strings; when I've tried to use lights instead, I've noticed the intonation suffers. So in order to make those bends easier, I could re-set the action and use lights - but the question is, as so many of you pointed out - WHY? Especially when acoustic has it's own awesome styles, techniques and range of effects to master. Want electric effects? Use an electric guitar then! It would be a waste of time and effort to try to force a flute to sound like a sax, or a piano to sound like a church organ too ... (just trying to convince myself here!)

Don, the reason for the bending a note up a -3rd is simply to hit the designated higher pitch with that cool-sounding electric 'warp', rather than dead-on by fretting it. But if you can't make the proscribed bend, you end up with a "wrong note" that sticks out like a sore thumb (sounds flat) in the lead guitar part. So you're better off fretting it or improvising something similar. Hmmm - I'm going to try the slide-bend combo mentioned above as soon as my fingers feel a bit less like chopped liver. The frets on my Seagull are pretty low, so it might work.

Just because someone put it in a book does not make it the best or only way to play the part.

Yup, this is true.   :-/   I just have a lifetime of classical "by the book" training and teaching on the piano to get beyond, I think. Put a book in front of me, and I do tend to automatically see it as a bible or something if I'm not careful. That's because when you're playing for marks for examiners/adjudicators who are following the score note by note as you play, believe me 'going by the book' is vital.

And that's why I've avoided guitar books - and even guitar teachers! - all these years, choosing to learn on my own by ear and watching others (and most recently, asking you wonderful Catters!) instead. Less stressful, leaves more room for creativity and improvisation, I thought. But certain other vitally important things - like effective, efficient technique - unfortunately get left by the wayside that way. At least that's been my experience over the years!

Fortunately, the simplest way to play a given part is usually the best-sounding cause it's the most fluid.

This is so true - on any instrument. Thanks so much again Willie, and everyone else too!