Scale length

[Guest HRB853370]

Looks like all Heritages are 24 3/4 scale length? Any variations over the years? Can a different scale length be custom ordered?

[Ned]

Sweet 16s are 25.5. Think this is true of some of the other hollow bodies as well. My 575 is also 25.5 as a customization....but on an employee instrument. Might not really address your question.

[Ned]

Looks like all the Eagles are 25 1/2 too.

[Keith7940236]

My Eagle is 25.5

[Gitfiddler]

Johnny Smiths are 25 scale.

 

I've heard of at least one custom ordered 535 or 555 with a 25.5 scale.

[Guest HRB853370]

Longer scale length=more difficult to play?

[H]

Do you find it harder to play a Strat after playing your Heritage GT?

[H]

I remember MartyGrass talking about a Heritage (Johnny Smith perhaps?) with a 25" scale length. The usual scale lengths are 24.75" and 25.5" unless you start bringing basses and baritones into the picture.

[Guest HRB853370]

Do you find it harder to play a Strat after playing your Heritage GT?

 

Oh yes. What is a strat scale length?

[111518]

Like most structural choices re guitars, there are trade offs. Longer scale does mean more tension at pitch, but, most would argue that also translates to more volume, esp. for flat top guitars (and, traditionally, archtops, which were all about producing volume so a guitar could cut through a big band, in the days before electrics had evolved.) 25.5 scale means stretches are longer, but also that there is more space to position your fingers on some chords. Most Fenders, and Martins, are 25.5; most Gibsons (other than the L-5/Super 400 etc.) are 24.75. Part of the different character and feel of the guitars, but hard to say one or the other is necessarily harder to play. (all of course my 2 cents.)

I sort of like the idea of a 25 inch scale, but then, I also like to use a favorite quote from an economist I admire ... "truth is not the midpoint between right and wrong". So, if a 24.75 scale is right for you, it is right.

[H]

Oh yes. What is a strat scale length?

Teles and Strats are usually 25.5". I say 'usually ' because I've never personally seen either in any other scale length but you can often be proved wrong on absolutes

[Guest HRB853370]

Like most structural choices re guitars, there are trade offs. Longer scale does mean more tension at pitch, but, most would argue that also translates to more volume, esp. for flat top guitars (and, traditionally, archtops, which were all about producing volume so a guitar could cut through a big band, in the days before electrics had evolved.) 25.5 scale means stretches are longer, but also that there is more space to position your fingers on some chords. Most Fenders, and Martins, are 25.5; most Gibsons (other than the L-5/Super 400 etc.) are 24.75. Part of the different character and feel of the guitars, but hard to say one or the other is necessarily harder to play. (all of course my 2 cents.)

I sort of like the idea of a 25 inch scale, but then, I also like to use a favorite quote from an economist I admire ... "truth is not the midpoint between right and wrong". So, if a 24.75 scale is right for you, it is right.

 

 

But how would we know?

[H]

 

 

But how would we know?

Play lots of guitars!

[MuDBoNe]

The Gibson Byrdland is 23.5". I always wondered what that would be like to play. Maybe a tighter fit for my hand, but better ability to stretch the fingers to make extended chords. It would be a cool custom build idea too.

[Kuz]

Seems like the new trend in jazz guitar is laminated tops, smaller bodies 14.5-16", and short scale length 24.75" (ie Jimmy Bruno, Jim Hall, George Benson, Pat Metheny, ect)

[111518]

The Gibson Byrdland is 23.5". I always wondered what that would be like to play. Maybe a tighter fit for my hand, but better ability to stretch the fingers to make extended chords. It would be a cool custom build idea too.

 

I had a very nice Ibanez copy of a Byrdland for a couple of years. I enjoyed the guitar, but the big body (17", but a thinline), with the short scale neck gave it a sort of peculiar feel, and it was not easy to play up the neck. I'd recommend playing one before buying one -- unique enough that I don't think it would necessarily fit all. However, I do miss that guitar ... I have small hands, and it was nice to be able to make some stretches easily that are really hard on standard scale guitars. Bring on the boogie in "F." On the other hand, for those jazz chords that require tucking fingers under other fingers, it was not so cool.

 

I think the smaller-bodied modern jazz guitars that Kuz mentions are more comfortable, and logical, since the huge guitars evolved for the sake of acoustic volume. I've decided that 16", 24.75 is the ideal for me. However, that is what fits me -- I'm just not a big enough guy to be comfortable with an 18 inch guitar, or even a Gibson-depth 17: guitar. But, if you have Netflicks, watch the vid of Stuff Live at Montreux: Eric Gale on his Super 400 is a joy to watch --great great playing on that vid-- and the guitar fits the player.

[FredZepp]

You'd normally expect a big hollowbody to usually have the longer scale... (unless it's a Byrdland.. )

 

 

[Gitfiddler]

My basses are 35 scale and I have no problem going back and forth with them and my multi-scaled gitfiddles.

 

It's like going from a violin to a cello in my mind. And I can't play them worth a dime either!!

[Guest HRB853370]

OK experts, so what denotes a short scale versus a long scale gitfiddle? Anything shorter than 25 is a short scale? and vice versa for long scale?

[H]

My basses are 35 scale and I have no problem going back and forth with them and my multi-scaled gitfiddles.

 

It's like going from a violin to a cello in my mind. And I can't play them worth a dime either!!

Same for me - my hands work fine with all scale lengths, fat and thin necks, ebony, maple and rosewood boards. I'd trade that versatility for a bit of honest to goodness talent though

[Keith7940236]

AMEN

[tulk1]

Try going from Mandolin (13" scale) to Guitar, whether its 24.75 or 25.5. Weird for the first few chords/notes. But on guitar, no problem moving from scale length to scale length. I think it's a matter of getting used to it, tho'. At times, it used to bother me. But not now.

 

Isn't PRS a 25" scale?

[brentrocks]

i would love to have a thinline super eagle in 23.5 scale

[111518]

OK experts, so what denotes a short scale versus a long scale gitfiddle? Anything shorter than 25 is a short scale? and vice versa for long scale?

 

Neither an expert, nor have I stayed in a Holiday Inn lately, but...

In my days around guitars, I've mostly heard "Long Scale" and "Short Scale" applied to bass. The standard scale on Fender P's and J's is 34", usually called long scale (any thing longer, like modern 35 and + scale are extra-long scale), and the standard Gibson EB series 30.5 scales were called short scale. (nothing is simple, there were longer-scaled EB's, but the classics were short-scaled.)

 

For guitar, it was more common to hear for acoustics Martin v. Gibson Scale, or for electrics Fender v. Gibson scale ... in both cases, 25.5 v. 24.75. But, 24.75 is still a standard scale, so not usually called short, which would be reserved for guitars like the Byrdland, or the 3/4 sized guitars manufacturers have made over the years or modern travel guitars. And, I'm pretty sure Tulk1 is correct that PRS guitars are 25".

 

On any given gig I usually have a 535, a strat or tele, and a bass in the rack, so, different tools/scales for different jobs. My comment about liking 16"/24.75 was for the specific job of an electric jazz archtop. Variety is the spice of life, and, as others have said, you become accustomed to switching. ...

[AP515]

 

And, I'm pretty sure Tulk1 is correct that PRS guitars are 25".

 

 

You both are correct....or at least you were for a while. Most PRS are still 25 inch but there are now variations. There are some single coil PRSi that are 25.5 (for Fender lovers), and they have a couple 24.5 humbucker models (for Gibson and Gretsch lovers, although Gretsch also has 25.5 models). So which ever string tension you are used to, you can get it on a PRS. There are even two models of PRS that are 25.25. Go figure...