Guitar neck scale??

[SepultuRick]

Hi does neck scale on a guitar affect how suitable the guitar is for downtuning? Also what are the advantages and disadvantages of the different scales?

Common sclaes i see are 24.75 and 25.5. it will be one of these 2 scales i get when i buy my new guitar so info on these types will be best. thanks

 

[FretFire]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

A longer scale, assuming the strings are tuned to the same pitch, will create more tension on the string. That's why baritone guitars (a common scale is 26.5" I believe) are getting so popular for downtuning.

Talking about 24.75" vs. 25.5", I'd go with the latter for downtuning. The shorter scale gives a bit looser feel, easier bending, and a softer tone IMO. The longer scale yields a tighter feel, a bit more fight to bends, and a more snappy/biting tone to my ears (assuming similar materials/parts/hardware of course).

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

SR, I dont detune often so I will let others address that issue-
But 25.5 tends to be a bit 'stiffer' and slightly brighter, ie Fender, vs 24.75 Gibson which are 'mushier' and darker to me. I've also heard that a longer scale is easier to get good inonation on, but the math behind those discussions goes completely over my head-

But the bottom line is what sounds good and feels good to you!

 

[Travis]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

Pretty much, the longer the scale, the better for downtuning. Ibanez made some 27" guitars a while back. You could look into one of those, could find a used one pretty cheap.

 

[proxy]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

If you are asking about to inquite about a future guitar acquisition, how far do ou plan on detuning?

 

[SepultuRick]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

The most common tuning i play apart from standard is drop c. Does scale effect downtuning stability?

 

[nuntius]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

I thought most baritones were 27" The yamaha drop 6's were, and there's a dinky27.. I'm pretty sure I've seen a few others that are 27 too.

You should also be aware that PRS use 25", which is a kind of compromise between the two, giving yet another different feel.

Drop C you can get away with with even gibson scale if you really wanted to.. personally I prefer 25.5" "fender scale" for most things, and if possible baritone scale length for B or below.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

The most common tuning i play apart from standard is drop c. Does scale effect downtuning stability?

IMO yes, if you drop the tuning very low on a "standard" scale length you'll have to put a thicker guage or the strings will be like loose rubber bands. If you're going to drop very far I'd probably look at a 7 string or a baritone 6.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

I thought most baritones were 27" The yamaha drop 6's were, and there's a dinky27.. I'm pretty sure I've seen a few others that are 27 too.

Very well could be, I've never even really given baritones a glance so I don't know much about their finer details.

 

[Bob Zombie]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

Iommi played an SG in C so you could use a shorter scale guitar for down tuning. It just feels more like a clump of limp noodles.

~サンチョ~

 

[FretFire]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

Iommi played an SG in C so you could use a shorter scale guitar for down tuning. It just feels more like a clump of limp noodles.

~サンチョ~

He might have just used thicker strings, like 12s for example, to keep the tension up. C isn't too bad on "normal" scale lengths, but if you want to go down any lower I'd probably go baritone.

 

[theodie]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

Iommi played an SG in C so you could use a shorter scale guitar for down tuning. It just feels more like a clump of limp noodles.

~サンチョ~

Besides Iommi, it usually sounds like a lawnmower on top of feeling like limp noodles!!!

 

[proxy]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

He might have just used thicker strings, like 12s for example, to keep the tension up. C isn't too bad on "normal" scale lengths, but if you want to go down any lower I'd probably go baritone.

He probably went for something beefy for him like 10s. If I recall he used some pretty light strings in standard, like 7s or 8s.

 

[Bob Zombie]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

He might have just used thicker strings, like 12s for example, to keep the tension up. C isn't too bad on "normal" scale lengths, but if you want to go down any lower I'd probably go baritone.

I was under the impression that he tuned down origionally to loosen up his strings because of his accident. Maybe Im wrong Im not a huge Sabbath fan but what you said about 12 gauge string is true aswell. I've got a friend who uses 13s in C.

~サンチョ~

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

He probably went for something beefy for him like 10s. If I recall he used some pretty light strings in standard, like 7s or 8s.

10s? Beefy?:laugh2:

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

I've posted this before on this board in another thread but at the risk of repeating myself;

There is a "square" or exponential relationship between pitch and tension.

If you drop the pitch by 10% then you are dropping the tension by the square of that, 21%.

There are fixed increments in the form of intervals however. A drop of a semitone is 5.95%; a tone is 12.25% a minor third, 18.93%. These equate to tension reductions of 12.25%, 26% and 41.45% respectively, so that extra semitone makes a big difference to the performance of the string.

 

[SepultuRick]

Re: Guitar neck scale??

I don't think baritone is for me as i will mostly be usuing standard. i think 25.5 seems the best way to go for me. maybe anyway. i have never actually played a guitar with a 24.75 scale neck tuned to drop c