Scale Length and Sound

[vinlander]

For me the scale length has way less effect on my playing than the neck width. I can easily switch from the Joe Pass 24.74 to the Regent and now Tal 25.5. I can feel a slight difference in tension, but not to really affect my playing.
Regarding the tone itself, it is more apparent; the 25.5 guitars are a bit brighter, the bass strings seem to have more definition which I like. Regarding the thunk question, it is obvious both scales are capable of thunk depends on the guitar construction itself 24.75 175, 25.5 Tal ...

[Greentone]

I first noticed the scale difference in my teenage/college rock days, when I was principally playing a Stratocaster and a Les Paul. The Strat had a stiffer scale than the Les Paul--for identical strings--but I never had difficulty negotiating either instrument. The bass strings on the Les Paul sounded "shorter" to me--sort of like they were put on a short-scale bass (like an EB-0), as compared to a Precision--when compared with the Stratocaster. It was no big deal, but the sonic difference was plainly audible to anybody.

When I started playing archtops (a '38 Gibson L-50 and a mentor's '38 L-5), I could also hear and feel the difference in the scale lengths. The L-5 had a fuller bass (in part due to the 17" body). Of course, the necks were mahogany/rosewood (L-50), versus maple/ebony (L-5). The feel of the strings (same sets) were different, with the L-5 being stiffer. Again, there was no problem negotiating either instrument, in terms of playability. (My hands are not small--I am 6' tall.)

When I moved to electric archtops, later on, the differences in scale length really became apparent, in terms of sound. The L-5CES class guitars all exude a different tone than do the ES-175 class guitars. Again, this is the guitar version of the short-scale bass vs. long-scale bass concept. To me, the 175-class guitars sound like baritone EB-0 basses on the lower two strings. This is not at all a bad thing. I have absolutely loved the ES-175 sound for 50 years now. By comparison, the L-5-class guitars sound more pianistic on the lower two strings, much as the Precision Bass does vs the EB-0.

In terms of string tension/playability, the ES-175 feels like an old shoe--pure comfort. You can simply _fly_ on a 175/335/Les Paul/SG. Fenders/L-5/Super-400/Heritage Eagle/Super Eagles require more deliberate approaches to playing...but not that much more. They reward the effort, however.

[Woody Sound]

It all depends on the string length from the tailpiece to the bridge.

[Herbie]

"ES-175 is like an old shoe" – great slogan for a guitar ad!

[339 in june]

It all depends on the string length from the tailpiece to the bridge.

Best post I've ever seen on that forum !

Thanks and congrats, Woody !

[RClegg]

Thanks for the input and opinions. To me, I don't have a problem with string tension so much as reach on certain chords. Neck width may have something to do with that, but to me the guitars do feel different. It isn't much of a difference percentage-wise, but you do notice it.

Russ