Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

[Evan Skopp]

I know that all guitarists relate to their guitars in different ways. For some people it's the neck joint. For others it's the wood selection. For yet others it's things like fingerboard radius. Here today, let's talk about scale length.

I've always been a 25.5" guy. I know some people say 25.5" means you end up fighting with the guitar. But for me, sometimes a drag out fight leads to the sweetest make-up, er, music.

Where do you fall on the scale length scale?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

No overall preference.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

I started out with a Squier Strat and played for ten years before getting my first guitar with a 24.75" scale. I guess I consider the 25.5" my normal; anything I can do on a guitar, I can do on that. A Les Paul, let's say, is a deviation for me. I love them, and I can't picture myself not having at least one, but my fingers are just pudgy enough that I start to trip over them in the upper octave if I'm not careful. If I'm going to get the lead out and open 'er up, I want a 25.5". I know lots of players can shred a Les Paul into ribbons, but I'm not one of them. Sorry. I consider it a shortcoming of myself as a player, rather than a fault in the guitar. I use the tool that helps me get the results I want.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

well almost all my gutiars are 25.5 including the ones i build. I do however have a charvel fusion with a gibbo scale and it shreds. I bassically just make do with whatever i am using at the time.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

A lot of it depends on string gauge and tunings.
I learned on Gibsons. But now play mostly Strat-type guitars, my PRS and the Eclipse.
It all comes down to doing what's the best tool for the job at hand. (pun intended)

PC

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

My first guitar was a strat so i'm more comfortable on a 25.5" scale but have no problem with a shorter scale. I started out with 10-56 then 10-46 and now use 9's so the long scale length isn't really a issue. Now if you were to bring up the spacing at the nut and bridge that will throw me off.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

Usually 25.5. Tighter feel and tone, like the little extra space between frets.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

My guitars are 25.5, though I don't really give a damn.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

The longer the better.

 

[Vajazzled]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

I was "raised" on 25.5"
First guitar, and most favored, Squier Strat.

I want to try 25" just to hear and feel what advantages it has

Little to no interest in LP 24.75" scale

 

[aleclee]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

I've never owned a Gibby-scale guitar. While I played primarily PRS guitars for a good long while, I now prefer 25.5. With a 25" scale on my preferred string gauge, the low strings are a little floppy for me. Going up in gauge messes with the feel, too.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

I started out with a Squier Strat and played for ten years before getting my first guitar with a 24.75" scale. I guess I consider the 25.5" my normal; anything I can do on a guitar, I can do on that. A Les Paul, let's say, is a deviation for me. I love them, and I can't picture myself not having at least one, but my fingers are just pudgy enough that I start to trip over them in the upper octave if I'm not careful. If I'm going to get the lead out and open 'er up, I want a 25.5". I know lots of players can shred a Les Paul into ribbons, but I'm not one of them. Sorry. I consider it a shortcoming of myself as a player, rather than a fault in the guitar. I use the tool that helps me get the results I want.

how about this beauty : http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/eg...&cat_id=1&series_id=27&data_id=254&color=CL01 25.1" scale

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

seriously
its like three quarters of an inch over a length of over two feet

that makes it three eights of an inch to the 12th fret (I was gonna spell it out, but couldn't)

with that said
all mine are 25.5

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

I dont get too wound up about it. I have guitars from 24.75 to 27 and going from one to another is pretty seemless. If you put a gun to my head and made me choose probably 25.5 just cause its like the defacto standard

 

[elelpe]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

I have two 25.5" guitars and two 24.75" guitars with different string gauge (10s for 25.5" and 11s for 24.75"). I enjoy playing both scales. Recently I've been intrigued by shorter 24" guitar and considering to build one.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

I've learned on 25½ and that's what I'm used to. But I'm flexible enough that no practical scale length could stop me from having fun, whether it's a bass or your kid's half-sized ax.

 

[LLL]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

I have 24.75, 25 and 25.5

Depends on the mood I'm in and they all have their own nuances.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

Given my range of guitars, I'd have to think it makes next to no difference to me. That said, I've never tried anything shorter than 24.5", so who knows.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

Maybe you guys can help.
I use 9,11,15,24,36,48. I use that gauge as I think it helps keep my trem in tune better with the extra thick bottom strings, the bridge seems to snap beck in tune much better that way.
I understand that maybe all of you think I am nuts, but hey, it "seems" to. And no I don't believe in Carl's Angle claw theory.
The question I was thinking of is that I would like to up my gauge to D'Adarrio 9.5,11.5,16,24,34, 44. It comes in sets like that. I like the balance but as a life time 9,11,15 user it just is uncomfortable to go up even to 9.5.
SO: Would a reverse headstock with the 9.5 on the close to the nut tuning peg and the 44 on the farthest tuning peg make the 9.5 feel easier, like my .009? I do feel the difference, and can't seem to get used to it on the longer Strat scale.
Thank you,
SJ

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Scale Length: Where do You Measure Up?

25.5" for me. I do own one lone Les Paul at 24.75" and I can play it just fine but given the choice I'm used to 25.5".