Harley Benton’s ST-Travel guitar offers full scale-length playability at an insanely low $74 price tag By Richard Bienstock July 06, 2020 Basswood body, maple neck and fretboard and a trio of single coils round out the impressive package (Image credit: Harley Benton) Is it just my mind playing tricks on me, or can you learn to play any scale length… Now that you have a bit of neck length knowledge, get out and play some different model guitars to get a feel for what all of this means. In general, the difference in diameter on a given gauge string is going to have a more pronounced effect on the smaller gauged strings on your guitar. The new GT, which is short for “Grand Theater,” features a non-cutaway body that borrows the basic curves of Taylor’s Grand Orchestra model. Many beginners and people without large hands use these guitars, and there’s no reason not to, if it makes playing more enjoyable. However, the PRS has a longer scale length and, therefore, a tighter, somewhat brighter, sound. Enlighten me, please. It’s only a matter of an inch or two, but the difference is massive in terms of playability.. Fender’s Mustang bass originated in the 1960s, but this modern edition offers a fresh spin on the vintage feel and sound. So, there is a balance of scale length and playability. Scale has a relatively low impact on sound and playability of the guitar. Taylor Guitars Product Specialist Marc Seal defines common acoustic guitar terms like “action” and “scale length,” both of which affect the playability of the guitar. I can feel a little difference with the 25" scale length. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that a 1/2 gauge difference in the overall gauge of a set, so here I’m talking about the difference between a general set of 10s and a general set of 9-1/2s or 10-1/2s, that 1/2 gauge difference, which of course would be balanced out over the entire set by the manufacturer, is going to be good enough to account for about a 1 to a 1-1/2 inch difference in scale length. I have mostly 24.75 scale guitars and a Strat with 25.5. SHOP STRINGJOY: https://www.stringjoy.comSUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/stringjoy?sub_confirmation=1DESCRIPTIONHow does your guitar's scale length … Shares (Image credit: Harley Benton) To recap - Scale length, playability versus tone. PRS opted for a scale length of 25", which is also found on Dobro and National guitars. Marcus: I’ve found that scale length does not really alter the sound much, at least not with my own guitars, in the context of say 640, 650, or 660 scale lengths. The scale length of a guitar is, in common parlance, the distance from the nut to the saddle, and, more precisely, the distance from the nut to the 12th fret multiplied by two (don’t miss our post on measuring scale length if you need to take this measurement on your own guitar). I bought a new Strat-type body for my guitar, to replace the old one. ABOUT STRINGJOY Stringjoy is a boutique guitar string company located in Music City—Nashville, TN. 24” (610mm) to 25.5” (648mm) Scale Lengths. This is often referred to as “twang.” Shorter scale guitars also have trouble accepting heavier gauged strings because the slackened tension causes wider vibration and fret buzz. Both of these guitars have a 1 11/16” (43mm) wide neck, but the scale lengths vary slightly. When you think about it, it’s fascinating how much a fraction of an inch in scale-length difference can affect an acoustic guitar’s tone. Whereas, if you have a 27-inch scale guitar, you might be able to get away with something like 12s. This is a good question and there are many levels of complexity to answering it. Tony Nuccio Your email address will not be published. Therefore, the standard method to determine a guitar’s scale For example, Stratocaster and Telecaster scale length is the standard 25.5-inch length as you can see in the picture below. In effect, if you went with something like a 9-1/2 on the top end of your 26-1/2 inch scale length guitar, it would feel fairly comparable to a 10. The two pickups, arranged in … Required fields are marked *. String tension and length operate together to determine harmonic content, as well as feel. If you want to warm up a 25.5" scale guitar, you can try tuning down a half step, which thickens up its overtones and makes it sound a little closer to a 24.75" scale guitar. That means that it’s just going to be a little bit more natural feeling to you, you’re not going to have to make that big compensation to having a way heavier set of strings on your guitar, but you can still effectively hit that tuning and keep everything under proper tension. This measurement represents the distance between ... Playability Different scale lengths are characterized by different string tension at a given pitch. If you send an email to support@stringjoy.com somebody will really work with you to help you dial in exactly what your particular guitar needs on it in order to sound right at a given scale length and a given tuning. Is that a potential problem? Beyond tonal and tension considerations, hand sizes differ! A full-scale classical guitar has a scale length of about 650 mm, but this is not comfortable for some players, so scales ranging down to 630 mm also available. One advantage of less string tension is a “looser” feel, making bending and vibrato more fluid. A scale length of a guitar can be defined as the distance between the nut and the saddle. Although it’s very rarely considered when buying an instrument, the guitar’s scale length (or neck length) is an integral ingredient in shaping an instrument’s tone and playability. That’s where things can get a little bit more complicated. So you can see how that variation can affect a guitar’s “feel.” A guitar’s feel is also affected by the tension of the strings. It’s going to have not nearly as much tension as it would on a standard scale guitar. The treble strings are not only easier to bend than on a 25 … We talk about the effect of different scale lengths as well as how to adjust your strings to balance it out. You may or may not remember that PRS some years ago was tagged as a nu-metal brand. Does scale length really matter? And voila – you’ve established the scale length. This is a good question and there are many levels of complexity to answering it. Absolutely not. As mentioned in the introduction, scale length is the distance between the bridgeand the nut of a guitar. Let's start with the basics. Scale length has nothing to do with playing scales and everything to do with the length of the strings from the nut (that white thing the strings go over, up there by the headstock) to the bridge. If you really like to feel the difference in how your different guitar’s scale lengths affect the playability, keep your strings the same and just experience that difference for what it is. The capo acts more-or-less like a new nut, shortening the effective scale length of the strings to roughly that of a Les Paul. The difference between a 9 and a 10 is far more pronounced in terms of tension than the difference between a 46 and a 47 or something like that. On the other hand, a longer scale length comes in handy when shredding and playing leads in some styles (like those of Malmsteen, Vaughn and Atkins) because it keeps you from “tripping” over your own fat fingers when getting all acrobatic. If you get all the way up to something like a 28-inch scale length or more, you’ll want to go a whole gauge down, all the way down to, like, a set of 9s. What is small scale? Learn how your comment data is processed. The lower the pitch you need, the longer a string you want. Different scale lengths for other guitars Fender. Many times people prefer one over another for playability and of these many speak of having more room on the fretboard. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Maybe it does have something to do with the set up. Imagine you took a Strat in standard tuning and capo'd it at the first fret. The two most common scale lengths for electric guitars are 24¾ inch, found on many Gibson-style guitars, such as the Les Paul, and the longer 25½ inch, found on many Fender-style guitars, such as the Telecaster, Stratocaster and Jazzmaster models. Here’s a chart of some common models and their scale lengths to help you along. Re: Scale Length Playability I have both 25.5" and 24.75" scale guitars and play both regularly. What Are Balanced Tension Guitar Strings? [QUESTION] Does shortening the scale length affect the playability? Good luck on finding that next “special friend.” And, when playing guitar, remember that, just like in life, it’s always best to stick your neck out, no matter what the length. I … Re: Scale Length Playability The scale length won't make much of a difference in playability. Don’t confuse scale length with a smaller bodied guitar necessarily. How does your guitar’s scale length affect guitar string tension & playability? Scale length can be a confusing topic. The screws are the right size and have the right spacing, but if I want to install the neck on it, the screws are a bit off, meaning I'll have to drill new holes and shorten the scale length by about 2 cm. The plain steel strings are the best example here. When I am playing a note on the 19th fret and going to the 20th fret the note sounds a little dead. As an example, let’s compare a Fender Stratocaster (25.5″ scale) and a Gibson Les Paul (24.75″ scale). Honestly, I don't notice the fret spacing at all in the upper frets, but rather in the first 5 where I sometimes can feel myself stretching harder on my 25.5" guitars. So, then, why aren’t all guitars built with a shorter scale? (Compared with other parameters such as strings or pickups). Luckily, it’s not really important unless you’re building your own neck from scratch. A guitar’s scale length is length of string between the nut and the bridge. The width at the lower bout (15 inches) is nearly the same as the Taylor Grand Concert, but with a shorter length. Its mahogany neck features a comfortable V profile and its rosewood fretboard has a 24.75-inch scale length and 12-inch radius. YOUR “FEEL” STARTS HERE. Longer scale length sound and playability characteristics: quick response, crisp … Shorter scale guitars, though, tout that beautiful buttery tone which make Les Pauls and Jazz boxes such invaluable tools. Measuring Scale Length. Your email address will not be published. Keep in mind that guitar scale lengths are typically measured in inches. As of right now I can’t decide between a telecaster or an SG. Les Paul + SG - 24 3/4" While some electric guitarists use a shorter scale instrument to achieve less string tension and easier playability, others see it as an opportunity to get a "thicker" tone utilizing heavier gauge strings. There is the occasional PRS with 25.5" scale length. While you may … A scale length of more than 35” begins to be uncomfortable to play unless you have huge hands. Found on Stratocasters ®, Telecasters ®, and the huge variety of instruments inspired by them as well as the replacement, and custom parts available for them. Now, the good news is you don’t really have to worry about becoming a math expert or really trying to dial everything in perfectly, because most guitar string sets are already constructed in a way that’s going to echo this basic mathematical principle when you just go down a gauge. Obviously we’d all benefit from that slinky feel, right? Bradford’s small scale guitar from the video: check out my article and video on my new small scale guitar: My new 2018 Small Scale Douglass Scott Guitar. Not a big difference, indeed, but this subtle increase of … If you get all the way down to, like, a 22-1/2 or another really, really short scale length, you’d want to go all the way up to 11s, again, if your desire is to overall balance out all the tension between all of those different scale length guitars in your arsenal. This is true, as long as both are strung with the same gauge strings. The tension of the strings plays a big part in playability. String For example, if you wanted to tune a 25-1/2 inch scale guitar down to, like, B to B baritone tuning, you might have to use something like a set of 13s. Fender’s Mustang bass originated in the 1960s, but this modern edition offers a fresh spin on the vintage feel and sound. A short scale guitar has a shorter scale length, making it more comfortable to play if you’re an adult with small hands or you’re shopping for one for a child. However, you rarely hear a guitar player mention scale length, and scale length has a significant impact on both playability and tone. Scale length tends to be thought of as the distance from the nut to the bridge saddles – string length. Basic physic principles of wavelength and frequency dictate that the 12th fret of a guitar, which marks a pitch one octave above the open-string note, falls at the halfway point of the free-vibrating section of the spring. That’s totally fine. In addition to the two most common scale lengths, many guitars have been built using other scale The screws are the right size and have the right spacing, but if I want to install the neck on it, the screws are a bit off, meaning I'll have to drill new holes and shorten the scale length by about 2 cm. A guitar with a shorter scale length (like the Gibson Les Paul) requires less tension to reach concert pitch than a guitar with a longer scale (like the Fender Strat). 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