String gauge VS scale length.
- Thread starter Artie
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
My kid has one of those 3/4 strats. I put 11s on it and it felt lighter than the 10-52 I use on my 25.5" Strat.
I use 10-52 on my Les Paul, also, but 23.5" is pretty short. I'd go pretty heavy on it. Those 11s were fine for my son when he was 10, but I would probably need 13s on that guitar.
My kid has one of those 3/4 strats. I put 11s on it and it felt lighter than the 10-52 I use on my 25.5" Strat.
I use 10-52 on my Les Paul, also, but 23.5" is pretty short. I'd go pretty heavy on it. Those 11s were fine for my son when he was 10, but I would probably need 13s on that guitar.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
My luthier friend said the same thing. I don't know why my brain says, light guitar, light strings.
I guess I'm going to try something heavier. This should be interesting.
My luthier friend said the same thing. I don't know why my brain says, light guitar, light strings.
I guess I'm going to try something heavier. This should be interesting.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
What do you use on a 25.5" guitar?
What do you use on a 25.5" guitar?
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
I generally use 10's on my Fender/Gibson-ish axes. 25.5/24.75 respectively. But I played the Danelectro Baritone in the store the other day, and it had heavy strings on it. That's what got me to thinking that maybe I should put lighter strings on my short-scale axe.
I generally use 10's on my Fender/Gibson-ish axes. 25.5/24.75 respectively. But I played the Danelectro Baritone in the store the other day, and it had heavy strings on it. That's what got me to thinking that maybe I should put lighter strings on my short-scale axe.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
Go with at least a 12 set. I'm into fighting bolt on guitars a little, though. My new Strat was easy to setup really well and feels a little too easy after dealing with crappy necks for years, and I'm thinking of going to 11-52 on it.
The 11-48 set on my kid's short scale squier feels like butter, so if you dig that, 11s !at work.
Go with at least a 12 set. I'm into fighting bolt on guitars a little, though. My new Strat was easy to setup really well and feels a little too easy after dealing with crappy necks for years, and I'm thinking of going to 11-52 on it.
The 11-48 set on my kid's short scale squier feels like butter, so if you dig that, 11s !at work.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
Shorter scale lengths require or at least allows the use of heavier strings. I believe that baritones only appear to violate the rule because the relationship between string gauge and tuned pitch is more significant than that of string gauge and scale length. My baritone is tuned to B, and that is a lot of missing tension to overcome.
Shorter scale lengths require or at least allows the use of heavier strings. I believe that baritones only appear to violate the rule because the relationship between string gauge and tuned pitch is more significant than that of string gauge and scale length. My baritone is tuned to B, and that is a lot of missing tension to overcome.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
I would try 11's or 12's personally.
I would try 11's or 12's personally.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
If you go with a heavy gauge set, beware the plain G. Ernie Ball makes an 11-54 set I love, minus the stupid .022 G. The tension is way heavier than the rest and it's way louder than the others. Daddario puts a .019p G in their balanced 11 set and it's not bad.
If you go with a heavy gauge set, beware the plain G. Ernie Ball makes an 11-54 set I love, minus the stupid .022 G. The tension is way heavier than the rest and it's way louder than the others. Daddario puts a .019p G in their balanced 11 set and it's not bad.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
Not to mention a heavy-gauge 3rd can also serve as "piano wire" for those "pest removal" operations that certain Family Men are wont to engage in
And they can slice open a finger pretty easily, too.
If you're going over 10, find a wound 3rd. It feels weird at first, but the wraps aren't as likely to hack off a finger unless you're doing that 'Family Man pest removal' I mentioned earlier.
Not to mention a heavy-gauge 3rd can also serve as "piano wire" for those "pest removal" operations that certain Family Men are wont to engage in
And they can slice open a finger pretty easily, too.
If you're going over 10, find a wound 3rd. It feels weird at first, but the wraps aren't as likely to hack off a finger unless you're doing that 'Family Man pest removal' I mentioned earlier.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
Disagree. I use an 11-50 set and the 18 G string is really nice.
Not to mention a heavy-gauge 3rd can also serve as "piano wire" for those "pest removal" operations that certain Family Men are wont to engage in
And they can slice open a finger pretty easily, too.
If you're going over 10, find a wound 3rd. It feels weird at first, but the wraps aren't as likely to hack off a finger unless you're doing that 'Family Man pest removal' I mentioned earlier.
Disagree. I use an 11-50 set and the 18 G string is really nice.
Rockstar216
New member
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
I currently Run 8's on my Super Strat with a 25 scale length and I've used everything from 10-52s and down on it and this has a Floyd on it. As for big strings give "better tone" I say it's BS. Do thick strings give a different tone yes they give more note fundamental from what I find but that changes once you change tunings. For the shorter scale I'd try either 10's or 9's myself.
Also just some FYI I use 8s with a wound G it's a 17 gauge the lowest i've found from D'addario.
I currently Run 8's on my Super Strat with a 25 scale length and I've used everything from 10-52s and down on it and this has a Floyd on it. As for big strings give "better tone" I say it's BS. Do thick strings give a different tone yes they give more note fundamental from what I find but that changes once you change tunings. For the shorter scale I'd try either 10's or 9's myself.
Also just some FYI I use 8s with a wound G it's a 17 gauge the lowest i've found from D'addario.
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
I've used 8s to 11s on my Strats and Teles. I prefer 8.5s or 9s. I like, however, 10 - 52s on my 25.5" scale Schecter.
I've used 9s to 10.5s on my LP types. I prefer 10 - 48 (some of them have 9 - 48).
I, personally, would start with 10s on the short scale and see how you like the tone and feel (keeping in mind that tone and feel can vary dramatically with brand and type even in the same sizes).
I've used 8s to 11s on my Strats and Teles. I prefer 8.5s or 9s. I like, however, 10 - 52s on my 25.5" scale Schecter.
I've used 9s to 10.5s on my LP types. I prefer 10 - 48 (some of them have 9 - 48).
I, personally, would start with 10s on the short scale and see how you like the tone and feel (keeping in mind that tone and feel can vary dramatically with brand and type even in the same sizes).
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
+1. I use 9's on all of mine, which are 24.75 scale, and would move up to 10's for a 23.5 scale.
+1. I use 9's on all of mine, which are 24.75 scale, and would move up to 10's for a 23.5 scale.
Inflames626
New member
Re: String gauge VS scale length.
In my experience, string gauge and scale length depend on four things.
1) Tuning
2) Feel
3) Bends
4) Subtle tone differences
For most of my playing life, I preferred playing metal on 25.5" guitars. I was sold on the increased scale length/more strings marketing of the mid-late 90s, when I thought I could get better tone out of lower tunings on baritone guitars with longer necks, since a lot of B tuned and lower bands sounded like mud on 25.5" 7 strings.
Then a few years ago, I started playing 24.75" guitars with thicker strings (12s) and, in some ways, I like them better. The thicker string mass is offset by the shorter neck, and I can often get 2-2 1/2 step bends whereas on a 25.5" I'm struggling to get 2. I'm tuned to B standard so in a lot of ways it feels looser than 9-10 gauge strings in standard on a 25.5" guitar.
As far as tone, to me longer scale lengths sound slightly darker, whereas shorter ones have slightly sweeter intervals. This is offset by a lot of 24.75" guitars having 22 frets and having the neck pickup closer to the headstock than a 25.5" 24 fret guitar. It's all slight trade offs.
So, here's my advice:
1) Identify your tuning. The lower you go, the longer scale length you need, although for most tunings a 25.5" will be perfectly fine.
2) The lower you go, the thicker strings you need to get, but increase gauge conservatively in order to maintain playability. My rule of thumb is go up a gauge in thickness for every step down you tune (E=10, D=11, etc.).
3) If a guitar feels stiff, try a shorter scale length with thicker strings instead of a longer scale length with thinner strings.
4) Focus on the feel and playability, especially bends and vibrato. Longer scale lengths can be nice but if the strings feel like cables and kill your expression, it's perfectly okay to compensate by going with thicker strings on a shorter neck. The only annoyance is that most capstans are not drilled out well for really thick strings (12 and above).
In my experience, string gauge and scale length depend on four things.
1) Tuning
2) Feel
3) Bends
4) Subtle tone differences
For most of my playing life, I preferred playing metal on 25.5" guitars. I was sold on the increased scale length/more strings marketing of the mid-late 90s, when I thought I could get better tone out of lower tunings on baritone guitars with longer necks, since a lot of B tuned and lower bands sounded like mud on 25.5" 7 strings.
Then a few years ago, I started playing 24.75" guitars with thicker strings (12s) and, in some ways, I like them better. The thicker string mass is offset by the shorter neck, and I can often get 2-2 1/2 step bends whereas on a 25.5" I'm struggling to get 2. I'm tuned to B standard so in a lot of ways it feels looser than 9-10 gauge strings in standard on a 25.5" guitar.
As far as tone, to me longer scale lengths sound slightly darker, whereas shorter ones have slightly sweeter intervals. This is offset by a lot of 24.75" guitars having 22 frets and having the neck pickup closer to the headstock than a 25.5" 24 fret guitar. It's all slight trade offs.
So, here's my advice:
1) Identify your tuning. The lower you go, the longer scale length you need, although for most tunings a 25.5" will be perfectly fine.
2) The lower you go, the thicker strings you need to get, but increase gauge conservatively in order to maintain playability. My rule of thumb is go up a gauge in thickness for every step down you tune (E=10, D=11, etc.).
3) If a guitar feels stiff, try a shorter scale length with thicker strings instead of a longer scale length with thinner strings.
4) Focus on the feel and playability, especially bends and vibrato. Longer scale lengths can be nice but if the strings feel like cables and kill your expression, it's perfectly okay to compensate by going with thicker strings on a shorter neck. The only annoyance is that most capstans are not drilled out well for really thick strings (12 and above).
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