View Poll Results: What is your favorite Scale
- Voters
- 126. You may not vote on this poll
-
24.75 like on Les Pauls, 175 ...
45 35.71% -
25 like on PRS, Benedetto ...
19 15.08% -
25.5 like on tele, L5, Tal ...
52 41.27% -
others
10 7.94%
-
The last years I became a huge fan of the 25.5 scale mostly because of my former Emperor Regent, obviously my Tal Farlow but also lately my franken tele build.
I had been playing exclusively 24.75 for 20 years and the 25.5 scale was a revelation. For me the main appeal of the 25.5 scale is the way the notes have more snap, more assertion and overall to me the instrument have better articulation. I don't find it just a matter of tension, because even by going up in gauge on the 24.75 doesn't make it sound like 25.5; it is different; the chime somehow.
On 24.75 scale instruments, I find the extended chords less defined and mostly for the bass notes.
I also think the difference of 3/4 of an inch is apparent only when fretting on the first 4 or 5 frets and my average size hands are absolutely not bothered my that difference.
I find far more gain in the tone and feel of the instrument by going 25.5, then the minimal additional stretch required in some chords, but of course it is a personal thing.
Others might feel different about it, after all, the iconic 175 and many other instruments have the 24.75 scale...Last edited by vinlander; 02-11-2019 at 06:42 AM. Reason: precision
-
12-01-2017 08:23 AM
-
I envy You! My revelation was about seven years ago when I realised why my gigs were mostly frustrating experience (for me, I don’t know the rest of the band nor the audience...). The reason was the long scale of Emperor Regent. I had been in the believe that the scale don’t matter but when I read somewhere that ER had ’longer’ scale I realised that it is the reason that I can’t play on gigs what I plan to play at home. Fingers miss too many notes.
In 1990 I had changed from telecasters to Les Pauls. And during these LP-years my short fingers had accustomed to that scale snd playing ’Fender’-scale instruments loosed their charm.
So I sold the ER and ordered an ES165 from Ebay. Now I have an ES175 VOS. My playing is better on gigs too, I hope nobody gets frustrated anymore!
Sticking in one scale might seem sad, but from the GAS view it is a huge relief: the most admired, most respected – and most expensive – archtops have usually the longer scale. But I cant think them so I’ll stick to the guitar I have!
-
I actually don't have one, and regularly go back and forth. A guitar either feels right to me or not, scale length doesn't really make or break it...although the idea of a short scale tele makes me shudder.
-
I'm mostly a 24.75" guy, but have been dabbling with a 25" that is quite lovely. That is probably as long as i can go, 25.5 makes my tendonitis flare up... My short scale tele is just fine, thank you very much!
-
I was going to say the Major Scale...wrong gig.
25.5
-
Same here. Voted "others" before wondering whether it is a multiple choices poll.
Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
-
I prefer 25.5” usually, for similar reasons Vinlander
has stated , but even with small hands I can cope .
having three different scale lengths on guitars,
23.5”, 24.75” and 25.5” it is not too difficult to adapt
between each, only a moment or two is required to
adjust to the differences. ( there is a 25” Custom
build on order for 2018 )
-
Life is short, our time is limited and so I have only guitars I love. And because tele is one of them, some years ago I bought an used Warmoth conversion neck (strat headstock...) to my tele body.
Don’t know about snapping or sustain but I love it!
-
Generally 24.75, except when the instrument has a narrow neck and tight radius. then I prefer the longer scale
-
Physical issues forced me to abandon 25 1/2" scale.
Like Herbie, I have Warmoth conversion necks on my Strat and Tele.
The only non 24 3/4" I have are my Eastman T184 and my Peerless Monarch 16. Both are 25".
-
Same here. I go back and forth mostly between my Tele (25.5) and my Ibanez (24.7), and it doesn't make that much of a difference to me. Of course, they're vastly different sounding guitars for more reasons than just the scale length, so it's kind of hard to isolate what difference that might be. It doesn't confuse my fingers, though. Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
I would love to A/B a Tele with a regular neck and a 24.75 conversion neck.
-
I have no global preference, only a preference for each different application.
I have some 24.75", some 25" , and some 25.5". They feel and sound different. If they were all 24.75" they'd still feel and sound different. Their feeling and sounding different is why I have more than one guitar.
-
Looking at the thread title only asking about scale, when I first read this I began thinking 'whole tone, diminished, augmented, pentatonic, chromatic.., what would it be?', then I read the OP. I like them all.
-
+ 1 Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
I have a 25.5", a24.75", and a 24.84" (those whacky Canadians ...). They're all so different from each other in other ways that I can't isolate scale length. One thing I do find is that if I've been playing one for a while and I switch to another it always feels easier to play than the one I switched from.
John
-
The 25" scale length is perfect compromise. However, I still have small hands and believe it or not, the 1/4" does make a difference for me. So, when I close my eyes and pick up a guitar, the one that feels best to me, is the 24-3/4 scale guitar.
Joe D
-
Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
Add me to that list of don't have one. I switch back and forth constantly even during the day. Sometimes if I play one for a long time (a few months) then feels good to switch.
-
I have really large hands so does not make a huge difference but I guess after thinking 25.5 I would say 25 fits the bill. Interesting that none of my guitars have that particular scale length. The Hollenbeck is a 25.4 the exact as a Martin D guitar. My Barkers have 24 27/32 scale length which is pretty nice no complaints. The 37 D'a New Yorker is 25.75 but again I really do not notice a large difference. The 49 D'a has a 25 3/8 scale and it feels really nice.
I really like Les Pauls over Fenders to play if I play solidbodies but I find the shorter Les Paul scale length a bit scrunched. But frankly as much as scale length makes a difference I really believe the shape of the back of the neck and the fingerboard radius are more important. How your hand sits on the neck and how an individual player has the hand positioned I think, is more of a telling sign of play-ability than scale length. If I pick up a guitar that the neck feels uncomfortable or clumsy it never has to do with scale length.
I think the ultimate compromise is the Johnny Smith 12 inch radius and 25 inch scale. This combined with a true ( no cheating) 1 3/4 width at the nut is the guitar for me. So now that you all know this....... I want my next guitar to me a custom acoustic Super 400 with the standard 18 inch body and a Johnny Smith neck specs. While your at it drop on it a Dearmond 1100 pickup and ship me the guitar. Make sure it has plenty of flame maple and red sunburst..........
-
Yup. I like 'em fat and chunky myself. (Giggity) Originally Posted by deacon Mark
My upcoming partscaster build will have a compound radius fretboard. First I've ever owned. Kind of excited about that. And I'm using the "boatneck" profile.
-
I can't really tell the difference. Honestly.
-
for acoustic flat tops i definitely prefer 24.75..for electrics i have no real preference...been mixing them up for too many years for it to matter..
same with bass..30"ss to 34"..each has its own thing
i even like the 24" scale fender jaguar..hah
cheers
-
yes that is the way I like them on the fat side with more of a D than C shape. My 37 New Yorker has a real nice chunky neck that is wonderful to play. It is like my hand just sit right in sweet spot. It is wonderful for full rhythm playing and single line stuff. My worst nightmare are those necks that start out ok at the body but taper to narrow. Not only does the narrow throw me but the drastic change. I think many of the late 60's gibson ES series seem to have this characteristic. I just cannot handle them drives me crazy and I want to get far away from those guitars. Originally Posted by Boston Joe
-
Only 2 pcs of 24.75 are with me still (ES175 and an old 1951 L4). The others are 25.5. For a reason unknown to me, I seem to grab more accurate 4 (sometimes 4 different) chords in a bar blind with the 25.5 scale. I find that a good reason.
-
I own and play guitars from 24" to 25 5/8". I prefer the 25 1/2 scale for some of the same reasons mentioned by the OP. That said, I do like the rounder or sweeter trebles of the 24 3/4" scale so my latest guitar which is now being built by Chris Forshage will be a mutli-scale going from 24.75 -25.75.
-
How does that work? Is that one of those fanned frets things? Originally Posted by rob taft
-
Yes it will be a "fanned fret" with a snakewood bridge and fingerboard and will be a headless hollow body guitar. A few years ago I played a Lowden Multiscale which has about a 1 1/2" difference between the two E strings and I not only found it easy to play but I also like the tight deep bass with the sweet trebles. That guitar had a custom string set to take advantage of the scale difference. Had I a need for another flattop I would have bought it on the spot. Originally Posted by Boston Joe
Reply With Quote
Calling you Framus folk
Yesterday, 09:38 PM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos