Members Woody_in_MN Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 OK. Everybody better sit down. I don't know what scale length is. Shocking I know. But how is this measure? From past experience, a scale length of 24 3/4 seems to be a good fit for me. But I am looking at a guitar (online) that is 25 1/2. That seems to be a big difference. Where is this measured on a guitar? Thanks in advance, - w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shredtilurded Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 From the nut to the bridge, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pascal Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 It is the distance between the nut (or zero fret) and the bridge's saddle. http://www.12fret.com/fret/fv4n7.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Annoying Twit Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 It is the distance between the nut (or zero fret) and the bridge's saddle.http://www.12fret.com/fret/fv4n7.htm AKA the length of the string that vibrates when you play it open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grantus Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 I prefer shorter scale lengths because of having freakishly small hands, but to me, scale length makes less of a difference than nut width and neck shape for the comfort of playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members prolog Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 To me, this is basically a non-issue. I have both Fender- and Gibson-style scale length guitars. I can switch between them with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blingdogg Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 Another thing to remember is 25.5" scale necks make string tension higher, so it will take more effort to bend strings compared to a 24.75" scale neck. You'll also have to stretch your fingers a bit more to reach notes. I much prefer 25.5" scale guitars...all but one of my guitars is that scale. It suits me best, and it's more comfortable for my long fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rpw003 Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 I don't think you will notice to much of a difference went playing except for the string tension. I play a gibson at 24 3/4 a guitar I built at 25.5 and a seven string at 26.5. I only notice the distance when playing the 26.5 and that is just at the first 5 frets but what is good about that scale is playing on the 24th fret is real easy. I wouldnt worry about it and if there is a guitar store near you just go play a strat and see how it feels, it will be 25.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rpw003 Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 And now that I look at your sig you say that you have a Fender Jaguar that thing is at 24 inch scale. Changing from that to your gibson is an increase of 3/4 of and inch so going to 25.5 is just another 3/4 in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members conuvial Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 I find the difference to be negligible. Look at it this way - 3/4" over the entire scale means a difference from the nut to the twelfth fret of only 3/8". That's an average difference of 1/32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members headless Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 OK. Everybody better sit down. I don't know what scale length is. Shocking I know. But how is this measure? From past experience, a scale length of 24 3/4 seems to be a good fit for me. But I am looking at a guitar (online) that is 25 1/2. That seems to be a big difference. Where is this measured on a guitar?Thanks in advance, - w First of all, GET THE HELL OUTTA MY MOM'S HOUSE! (unless you're my daddy--I've always wanted a daddy). That said, if I've been taught correctly (don't bet too much on that), the scale measurement it done on the High "E" string. (which should end-up being double the length of the the measurement from the front of the nut, to the center of the 12th fret). So from the front of the nut to the saddle of the High "E" string should be 25.5", or 24.75" or what ever scale it is we're talking about. This may be bogus info, and I'm going to be doing some investigation on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newbuilder Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 I just measured an LP at GC to make ablsolutely sure before drilling. AN LP is 24 3/4 scale and on the treble side of the bridge it is exactly 24 3/4 from the saddle to the back of the nut. On the bass side it is 24 14/16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted August 8, 2009 Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 I will add that typically Fender uses the "long" 25.5 scale compared to the "short" Gibson type. So if the OP wants to get an idea they can just hitthe store and play some Fender Strats and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Woody_in_MN Posted August 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted August 8, 2009 Thanks for the help guys. - W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 Its meaured to the 12th fret then Xs 2 The high E saddle jump off point should be exactly scale length, all other strings are a bit longer. 25.5" FTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MichaelSaulnier Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 I can easily switch between scale lengths... and so does everyone comfortable with switching between most Fender and Gibson guitars. PRS guitars for the most part are in the "middle" at 25". Except for the ones that aren't... like my SC245 which is 24.5" I can notice a bit of string tension difference between long and short... using the same string guages... but it's no problem to adapt for me. Some people REALLY have a preference for one or the other... maybe you will too! You won't know until you try a bunch! M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shredtilurded Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 It is the distance between the nut (or zero fret) and the bridge's saddle.http://www.12fret.com/fret/fv4n7.htm Wouldn't the guage of strings used affect the position of the saddle(intonation) thereby altering the measurement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rpw003 Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 Wouldn't the guage of strings used affect the position of the saddle(intonation) thereby altering the measurement? Thats why it is really measured nut to 12th fret and then doubled, the bridge is movable so it would change a little depending on the string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 Wouldn't the guage of strings used affect the position of the saddle(intonation) thereby altering the measurement? yes. The high E string will be scale and then you take the difference between that and the next string and move it back by this amount. You are accounting for the strings diameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nuke_diver Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 I also have both and switch easily between them. But my hands are so flexible (old age I guess ) so even though the difference/fret is small I do find it easy to do long stretches on the shorter scale guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TruSlice Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 I have big hands, but small fingers (admit). So a shorter scale feels more comfortable to me, but so does a bigger neck. But I'm sure that the longer length guitars are compensated by having a narrower feel overall (width and depth). Either way is intended so that the average hand can feel equally comfortable on both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Woody_in_MN Posted August 9, 2009 Author Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 I have fairly large hands. My daily player is a First Act Garagemaster. I measured it from nut to bridge on the high e (bottom string). It is 25 1/2". The guitar I was considering is a 25 1/2. So I don't see scale length as a problem. Thanks, - W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 For me playing a GIbson is no problem but playing a Fender shortscale is really weird. My Jag had 24" scale just 3/4" shorter then standard Gibson but it was all out of wack playing it so I sold it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members golias Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 I like the Gibson scale. But if I picked up a Strat or Tele and it wasn't Fender scale it would probably feel weird to me. I bet it would take me a long time to realize what was different, but I'm pretty sure it would bug me right away. It's not that it would be hard to play, it's just that it would kind of defy expectations. That said, the 3/4 scale of my acoustic parlor guitar doesn't bother me a bit. I like it better than my big ugly dreadnaught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JRicoC Posted August 9, 2009 Members Share Posted August 9, 2009 ... My daily player is a First Act Garagemaster... That Lola that you have is a 25-inch scale. I've never played a PRS model before, but now three First Act SFA Series guitars later my personal preference is 25 inches (with Super Slinkys)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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