To be super precise, it is the distance from the edge of the nut where it meets the fretboard, to where the string contacts the 12th fret when pressed down — multiplied by 2. To keep using the Stratocaster above as an example, if you were to measure from the nut to the 12th fret you would hopefully! Pretty easy, right? So now you know the most common scale lengths, as well as how to accurately calculate them.
But what effect do the variations actually have on how your guitar feels and plays? The distance between each fret will become greater as scale length increases. On a I played that thing exclusively for a month solid. The first time I picked up my Les Paul again, it felt like an absolute toy!
Thanks to the lesser distance between frets, many players with smaller hands will gravitate towards shorter-scale guitars such as a Fender Mustang or Gibson Les Paul. Whereas players with larger hands may prefer the less cramped fretboards on longer scale instruments such as a Fender Stratocaster, 7-string , or even a big ole baritone. Check out the graphic below which shows the fretboards from various different scale length instruments. I made sure to perfectly scale each fingerboard so that you can see exactly how fret spacing is affected.
One of the biggest effects scale length has on the playability of your guitar is felt in the tension of the strings. An identical set of strings on a short scale guitar versus a longer scale instrument would feel very different to play. A short scale length instrument requires a lower tension to raise the strings to pitch, so the strings would probably feel very easy to bend.
Put that same set of strings on a longer scale guitar and they will feel much tighter, as additional tension is needed to reach the correct pitch thanks to the increased distance they have to span. It would likely feel easier to perform big bends and vibrato on the shorter scale guitar, while doing those same bends on the long scale guitar would most likely give you a good finger workout. In a nutshell, as scale length increases, so too does the tension required to raise the strings to pitch.
Using the same strings, a short scale length guitar in standard tuning will require less tension to bring the strings up to pitch than on a longer scale length instrument. So as a result, you may need to change up your strings in order to help raise or lower the tension to levels that you feel comfortable with. As a string becomes more taught it loses its flexibility, and in turn, this leads to less accurate intonation.
This is because higher tension will increase the degree to which the string deflects when being pushed against the frets, resulting in a slightly higher note than we want. Another issue related to tuning stability occurs when the strings are so loose that simply picking enthusiastically will cause notes to sound slightly sharp. This could occur on a shorter scale guitar that cannot provide adequate tension to keep the strings taught. Conversely, you can have a fret guitar with a short scale.
In contrast, a fret guitar will have more articulation and balance from bass to treble. Because this is similar to the distinction between short- and long-scale guitars, the two often get confused! To drive the point home, Barrett goes over examples of guitars with different frets-to-the-body and scale-length combinations and the characteristics of each, so you can get an idea of the interplay between them.
Some of the examples covered are fret short-scale guitars, such as the Collings CJ35 , fret long-scale guitars, such as the Santa Cruz Pre-War OM , a fret short scale, such as the Collings , and a fret long scale, such as the Santa Cruz D12 —all of which have unique characteristics due to their measurements and build.
As always, do contact us with questions about particular models you might be considering, and how tonewoods , body style, and other build choices affect their playability and tone. We can help you select the perfect instrument for your playing style and comfort! Confusion exists for two reasons.
Secondly, Gibson uses compensated string length to define scale length, while most other manufacturers, including Fender, give the uncompensated scale length. Compensated measurement seems a strange way to define scale length. Because all the strings on a guitar have a different thickness and different players prefer different string gauges, compensated scale length will vary across all the strings on a guitar and from player to player, depending on the guitarists string gauge preference.
When selecting a guitar, scale length should be a key consideration. Woods, thickness, body shape, type of neck joint, pickups, and electronics all have their part to play in influencing tone, but scale length defines the source harmonic content with which all other components interact. It is the longest scale length commonly used for electric guitars. It offers more sparkle, shimmer and brightness than shorter scale lengths. Fret for fret, notes resonate on a longer string length. Bass notes are firm, clear and bold.
Strings on longer-scale guitars will feel tighter and firmer than those fitted to one with a short scale. If you play 7 string guitar, the answer is maybe. Most 7 string guitars use a Such a long scale length creates high tension on the higher strings which you may or may not like. If you play 8 or 9 string guitar, the answer is probably yes.
While there are regular 8 and 9 string guitars out there, you will probably prefer the tension and feel of a multiscale guitar. The shorter scale length on the higher strings will make bends and vibrato easier. Read more about fanned frets in this guide. Here are some quick answers to common questions about guitar scale length.
If you have a question about scale length not covered above, ask it here. A: Metal guitarists tend to prefer longer scale lengths eg: Having high string tension makes it easier to create a tight and punchy rhythm. It all depends on what feels the best to you. Baritone guitars are often used for very low tunings.
Different brands and models use different scale lengths. The most common lengths are Table of Contents show. Find out more: Scale length and string gauge go hand in hand.
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