Effect of Scale Length on Tone

DTrane

DTrane

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Is rarely discussed.

Shorter scale supposed to give a thicker sound. Strats and Teles are 25.5" and Gibsons are 24.75". Gibsons sound thicker than strats/teles. Maybe the shorter scale contributes to this more than glued on neck and mahogany woods.

Brian Mays (queen) guitar is 24" scale. Kurt Colbain used the shorter 24" scale jaguars and mustangs. Jake E Lee used a shorter neck on his strat.

just putting this out there for tonechasers
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Only because it's so definite do we not talk about it much. Generally the longer the scale length the tighter the sound and the shorter the length the looser. It's not as vastly varied as types of wood, strings, hardware or guitar pickups are so it's not discussed too much.
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

To my mind, scale length has an absolutely enormous effect on tone, and bolt on vs. set neck has basically nothing to do with it. It is probably the most overlooked factor in tone discussions that compare Fenders and Gibsons. That's really why a Strat or Tele, even with all the Gibson appointments, will not sound like a Gibson (and vice versa). It has nothing to do with set vs. bolt neck. It's also why attempts to get various guitars to sound like the Red Special usually don't come anywhere close. People need to be starting with Jaguars for those projects, not Strats.
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

1. Grab a 25.5" scale guitar.
2. Tune it down a half step.
3. Put a capo on fret 1.

You have just created a shorter scale guitar. Does it sound drastically different?

BTW, open strings are ringing off a fret instead of the nut, but it's still a decent experiment.
 
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Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

There were a few models of shredder guitars in the 80's based on a Strat body style, but with 24 3/4" scale. The Kramer Nightswan was one. The Hamer Chapparal was another. I have a 24 3/4" scale Chapparal.
The Chapparal has a lot more low end than other Floyd-equipped Strat style guitars.
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

I find shorter scale lengths generally to be warmer sounding and with less string tension.
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

another example, is early Paul McCartney. Didn't he use a small scale bass? His bass tone sounded different.

Do you guys think a 250k pot works better for humbucker strats?
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Totally agree scale length does have a tremendous affect on tone.
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

I thought scale length made more of a difference in feel than it did in tone. I find it a bit easier to cord on a short scale guitar but not that much different from a 25.5.
But I have somewhat long fingers so a long scale doesn't really bother me and my guitar doesn't hang really low on me so I have good access all up and down the neck. I've played long and short scale guitars that both had high and low string tension.
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Chad said:
1. Grab a 25.5" scale guitar.
2. Tune it down a half step.
3. Put a capo on fret 1.

You have just created a shorter scale guitar. Does it sound drastically different?
Click to expand...

Yes.

String tension matters depending on frequency it swings at.

If you compare long and short scale you also need to keep in mind that at the same tuning the shorter scale need thicker strings for the same tension. Apart from being an interesting fact this also illustrates the basis for all guitar gearslutting: everything changes everything. When you mess with the scale you also mess with one or more of #1 tuning #2 string thickness #3 tension. You cannot change just one of these factors, at a minimum you mess with 2 of them.
 
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Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Chad said:
1. Grab a 25.5" scale guitar.
2. Tune it down a half step.
3. Put a capo on fret 1.

You have just created a shorter scale guitar. Does it sound drastically different?

BTW, open strings are ringing off a fret instead of the nut, but it's still a decent experiment.
Click to expand...


I just threw that out there and didn't really answer my own question. IMO, for that experiment, the answer is: no, it doesn't sound drastically different tone-wise. In other words, the difference in tone between say 24.75" and 25" or 25.5" is negligible. I also find the difference in tension to be negligible between those scale lengths. I run the same string gauges on all of those scale lengths. For me, the biggest difference is in feel, due to the closer fret spacing....especially as you go higher up the neck.

With that said, bigger differences in scale length do have a bigger impact. Say 24" vs 27". All else equal, yeah, there is going to be a noticeable difference in tension, tone, & feel. The tone changes because harmonics are laid out quite differently for each note on the fretboard, and also because, all else equal, the strings will be at lower tension and will play floppier on the short scale. This will cause your hands to react differently, which is another indirect effect of scale length.


tl;dr: yes, different scale lengths affect tone and other things, but it is greatly dependent on how much length difference there actually is.
 
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Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

uOpt said:
If you compare long and short scale you also need to keep in mind that at the same tuning the shorter scale need thinner strings for the same tension.
Click to expand...

I think you meant to say "the shorter scale needs thicker strings for the same tension."
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

I just played on of these last week. Just blew my mind how great it sounds. A bit hard to manage at first but tonally it is impressive.

 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

DTrane said:
Jake E Lee used a shorter neck on his strat.
Click to expand...

the guitar(s) he used with Ozzy was all Fender scale ;)
it was not until he got his ESP sigs he went half Fender/half Gibson on his necks :)
 
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Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

I was going from when JE Lee was on the metal show. looked like he had a short scale strat clone with p90 pickup.

did a quick search on google, and shorter scales are described as warmer and woody, but can become muddy.

It seems obvious now that scale length affects tone, but its never mentioned by Dimarzio or SD in pickup descriptions.

Im a lefty so most guitars at the store are lefty strats. Its rare to find a Gibson. I did play a short scale Cobain Mustang with a JB pup. It sounded different warmer than strats
 
Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

Re: Affect of Scale Length on Tone

When comparing Strats to LPs I think scale length is just one of several contributing factors to the tone - but it definitely contributes. I play both every day and they do feel a lot different, and sound WAY different. I like them both a lot, though. Each has a cool vibe.
 
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