shorter scale guitars--do you notice a difference?

eljayski · July 2nd, 2009, 06:26 PM

many of us on this forum have guitaxes besides stratocasters and perhaps have experienced what i have:

it seems like the 24-inch scale of my jag and the 24.75 inch scale of my gibbies are noticeably friendlier to my lead riff efforts than the 25.5 scale of my strats.

it stands to reason that shorter scales and the resulting shorter stretches might make a difference to someone with average-size hands.

not a diss on stratocasters, mind you, just an observation.

anyone care to share a thought? thanks, eljayski

tready · July 2nd, 2009, 07:19 PM

my westone thunder is short scale and its probly the easeist guitar iv got to play

AllroyPA · July 2nd, 2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tready

my westone thunder is short scale and its probly the easeist guitar iv got to play

How do you like the Westone ? They actually made some of these for us lefty's.

maddog444 · July 2nd, 2009, 08:28 PM

If the Jag is the only guitar you have the short scale is great. It's just not easy though to switch back to a guitar that "standard". The short scale is great for smaller hands though I agree.

tready · July 2nd, 2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllroyPA

How do you like the Westone ? They actually made some of these for us lefty's.

yeah its great guitar iv owned it since 82 there solid well built guitars by Matsumoku japan got a good reputation seems ppl are always after them on ebay.

orcslayer · July 2nd, 2009, 10:45 PM

I built a short scale Strat partscaster. Neck was 24.75" Gibson scale "Conversion Neck" made by Warmoth to fit a Strat body with only saddle adjustments needed to intonate properly. Everything else same as Strat.

It is easier to play near the head but tighter for fingers higher up. I was ulitmately disappointed in the sound because it lacks that "snap" that Strats & Teles both have.

ThreeHands · July 3rd, 2009, 12:40 AM

Being that I've been a long scale strat guy for over 20 years, I have a lot of trouble trying to play a les paul. I find I need to really watch what I'm doing and it all feels very wrong. My soloing style combines alot of bending and vibrato, with the shorter scale end up all over the place and drifting out of key.
It's makes me feel a little down thinking about it as I really want a les paul hanging in my studio, I just can't justify the dollars if I'm not going to be playing it. Might just get a poster (Grin)

StratmanNick · July 3rd, 2009, 01:43 AM

I've long fancied a Jaguar for the different tone, shape and that short scale. But didn't realise that playing up the neck gave a 'tighter' feel with the shorter scale.

Played a few Jags over the years but obviously hadn't noodled up the dusty end

jgillard · July 3rd, 2009, 05:57 AM

I have a godin LG P90 with the 24.75 inch scale. It is easy to play which I really like.

Strat-Man-Do · July 3rd, 2009, 06:38 AM

I have a short scale Tele amoung my Gibsons.

I like the Tone better on the longer Fender scale. Just seems more edgy and raw to me. Where the shorter scale has a more refined tone to it.

I also like what PRS did and invent its own scale 25, which is in the middle. Yet it still seems more of a Fender scale to me.

Many Custom electrics use even a slightly longer scale aka Terry McInturff guitars.

GuitarSmithTN · July 3rd, 2009, 06:55 AM

I use 24.75 conversion necks and love them. There's not that much difference and I can switch comfortably to 25.5. If your hands are not too large you can definitely rip on the shorter scale. EVH once commented: "You should hear me on a 335!" (24.75) You MUST bump up a string gauge (which is nice because you can use heavier strings with the same feel). If you use 10s on a 25.5, bump up to 11s and it will feel/sound the same.

sarge117 · July 3rd, 2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orcslayer

It is easier to play near the head but tighter for fingers higher up.

That has been exactly my experience as well.

For some reason on the smaller scale guitars I have played on, I also could never get the great hammer on pulloff past the 15th fret that I can on the standard scale guitars.

jgillard · July 3rd, 2009, 08:00 AM

If you have fat fingers it will be harder higher up the neck. My fingers are not fat at all so its easy for me. I actually have the weirdest "hands". I can thank my parents for that. I have large palms but short stubby fingers that I would say are disproportionate to my palm size. It makes stretches a little difficult, but it can be done.

I like both scale guitars.

thaus · July 3rd, 2009, 08:18 AM

I have a Gibson SG and an Epiphone Les Paul. I really do not notice that the stretches are easier on either but again, I haven't really paid attention. It would be interesting to measure the actual distance of the first 5 frets on a strat and on the Les Paul. What kind of difference are we talking about here?

Offshore Angler · July 3rd, 2009, 08:54 AM

I don't really notice a difference in scale length when I switch. But I've been doing it so long I probably wouldn't.

The only time I have an issue is when I play a 335 and the neck is so far out compared to a Fender I'll occasionally land on the wrong fret.

GuitarSmithTN · July 3rd, 2009, 09:45 AM

There's really not much difference. I can stretch about the same (a 4th or 5th) and you can play well with your thumb wrapped over the neck. I mainly like that I can use heavier gauge strings with the same feel/tension. Anytime someone says 24.75 feel "flabby/loose/not snappy" it's probably because they have not bumped the string gauge up. It feels about like tuning down a half-step. That's why guys who are comfortable with 10s on a 25.5 will bump up to 11s and tune down a half step. I had a guitar I put 13s on (just for fun) and...yep, I tuned it down a fourth and it felt the same...

I've always wondered how/why Shawn Lane used 24.75 necks (with 8s)...

How Hendrix (and Van Halen) used 9s tuned down a half step...

How Yngwie uses 8s tuned down a half step...

BTW, I tell people that the neck FEEL is the most important thing which determines if you "like" a guitar. I prefer to have my necks consistent in feel. For me, I like a 24.75 with a 1 5/8" nut width, 6100 frets, 10-16" radius (I do have a 16" radius I like), light Satin finish, slim "C" shape (.800 - .880 approximately), 10s tuned to A440. No matter what body style, I'd just buy a Warmoth neck and slap it on and be ready to go...

jgillard · July 3rd, 2009, 10:00 AM

My godin has a 16" inch radius. Seems very comfy to me.

I need to get some 10.5s on it to match up with my strats and teles in the tension department.