Guitar Scales; what do you like, and why?

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm wondering what the more guitar-oriented folk here think about scale lengths on their instruments. Doesn't have to be an Alembic, but I'm especially interested in the scales of Alembic guitars.

In what ways does the scale length affect your playing?
How much does it matter to you?
Can you switch between different scales without issue?
Can you set up two or more guitars of varying scale lengths so they feel somewhat alike?

Logically, my brain is telling me, Greg, just quit worrying about it and play the stupid guitar, but my hands tell me the shorter of two more common scale lengths feels better. Can't describe it, just feels right. The longer scale is more difficult to play and make it do what I want. It can't be just my imagination. I bet it's easier for someone else though, the other way around.

(Just so we're talking about the same thing, I'm comparing 24.75" to 25.5... of course I realize there are more, say Martin at 24.9" or PRS at 25.0")

*and anyone who wants really meltdown their warpdrive core, go read up on the 24.625" scale. [splutter] If I wasn't afraid Mica would put out a hit on me, I'd spec my guitar for it... jus' beecuz...


 

[gtrguy]

I don't notice much disparity with various scale lengths. I set up my guitars myself and adjust them to feel pretty much the same as possible.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I couldn't tell you scale length on any of my instruments (except the harmonica, kazoo, and nose flute, of course).

I do know that they feel different - but I'm not sure any feel easier.  Well, beyond that the 12 has twice the tension, and the resonator is set up for slide, and the classical has nut about a mile wide, and..........

Peter (who will now have to pullout a tape the next time he goes upstairs where they are)

[dannobasso]

I find that each instrument affects how you play. Strat like ones inspire me to bite in more and be aggressive . The 24 fret Mockingbird I have plays different than the Les Pauls, and the Pertucci 7 is also different. I find that ebony boards sound better to me than rosewood and I enjoy graphite necks to wood ones. Something else that influences the playing is Sustainer pickups. I have 4 guitars equipped eith them. A Steinberger, Schecter Tele deluxe, Japanese Strat and Kramer Sambora, all graphite necked. Each one behaves differently in how the sustain colors the sound, the strength and harmonic. So how you play to get the desired effects from the unit directs your choices. So 21 , 24 frets, Ebony, rosewood, graphite, trem or hardtail, sustainer or no, Active or passive pups all have nuances that affect my approach to each instrument. That also holds true for the basses as well. But alas no sustainers on the basses. I did hear Peter Steele had them installed on his Washburns.

[jazzyvee]

I have never considered the scale length of any guitar i have bought, nor could i tell you without checking the scale of any of mine. I just go with how it feels to play. The neck width and profile is more important to me.

[lbpesq]

I’m with Jazzy on this one.   I have both medium scale and Fender scale Alembics (‘76 Series I MSG, and a Further), as well as several others of each scale.  (Strat, Tele, Les Paul, 335).  I also played a PRS that had a 25” scale for a few years until I found an Electrum at the guitar show and ... well you all know how it is ... enthusiastically jumped on the Alembic bandwagon and have been aboard ever since.  Each guitar is its own entity.  Kind of like driving different cars.   I notice neck carve and width far more than scale length.

Bill, tgo

[glocke]

I read the title and thought it would be a question about modes   

[edwardofhuncote]

Interesting, and a bit surprising replies. I would have thought guitar players thought about these things more, but as a bass player, I have to admit, I really don't care what the scale length of the bass is I happen to be playing. My Alembics happen to be 32", but I have no problem with the extremes of 35", or a 30.5", or a 42" upright for that matter. It's just about adjusting my posture for the job. That 34" scale Hyak fretless is a wrestling match with gravity, but worth it.

Hmmm. Neck profiles. I know more about what I don't like. No teeny-tiny slender necks. I tend to like the wider necks. Probably a product of having played Martin guitars with 1-3/4" nut width for years. I tend to gravitate to guitars with larger necks. I like how the LP's taper.
 
I agree about the guitars all being their own entity... man, they sure are. Every single one is an individual with its own attributes. I had accepted that beforehand, but I'm trying to zero-in on what makes me like this or that about one or the other of them, and one commonality I keep landing on is a weird preference for a shorter scale. Just trying to understand why. I've tried string gauge changes, even mixing string gauges within sets to fine-tweak tension, action adjustments to compensate for it. My guitars all play great, no complaints, and I can make them so if they don't. Seems like no matter what though, this group is easier to play.

Maybe it's simply the lack of experience. I'm getting there.

Thanks for the insight fellas... the next experiment is underway.

[edwardofhuncote]

I read the title and thought it would be a question about modes   

Have at it, anybody who wants... not qualified to comment here.

[the_home]

I prefer the longer scale length necks on 6 strings. Prefer the necks to be on the wide side, too. Easier to play cleanly even with fat fingers.

[gtrguy]

I will say that I don't like guitar necks with a sharp edge at the fretboard sides, like Fender did on some in the 1970's. I also am not crazy about the Gibson 'fretless wonders' I have played, as the frets are so low it takes a lot of getting used to. I also had a friend back in the 60's who had a Hagstrom III where the action was able to be set too low for my taste due to the amazing necks they used to have.

[StephenR]

Add me to the list of people that never paid much attention to scale length of my guitars or basses. Either I like the instrument when I try it or I don't. But over time I realized that I do have a preference for long scale instruments and now would not buy another bass or guitar with a shorter scale. I love playing my Strat, Martins, and other guitars with a longer scale and over time have come to feel really uncomfortable with the guitars I own with shorter, what I refer to as Gibson Les Paul, scale length. I have larger hands and the lower registers of short scale guitars and the medium scale basses I have owned feel good to me but the upper registers always feel cramped and uncomfortable. I would not feel comfortable playing a short scale bass, that I am certain of. Over time I have also grown fond of wider necks for both guitar and bass.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I read the title and thought it would be a question about modes   

That was my first thought, too.

Peter

[cozmik_cowboy]

....one commonality I keep landing on is a weird preference for a shorter scale. Just trying to understand why.

The same strings on a shorter scale require lower tension to come to pitch; mayhap that's where your preference comes from.

Peter

[edwardofhuncote]

....one commonality I keep landing on is a weird preference for a shorter scale. Just trying to understand why.

The same strings on a shorter scale require lower tension to come to pitch; mayhap that's where your preference comes from.

Peter

True statement, and I kinda' knew that from past acoustic guitar experience, but for some reason I underestimated the effect of this on electrics. I just had one gauge of electric guitar strings in the shop, and a bunch of 'em, so that's what I was using for all the guitars. They felt floppy on the Gibsons, so I switched from 10's to 11's, and then customized a bit further in an experiment. Then the light went on and suddenly it just started feeling right, and so help me I can't make the longer scale guitars act the same way.


And to Stephen's point... maybe that's some of it too. I don't have particularly large hands, and I'm kinda' average build at five-eleven, and a buck-sixty before supper. Could be they simply fit me better. I had a Gibson 'Nick Lucas' Signature one time... beautiful guitar, like an extra-deep body L-00. Maple sides and back, spruce top, style 2 pearl inlay, gold on everything. That thing sounded amazing and played like a dream, but I couldn't reach around it. My ribs hurt and my arm went to sleep trying. Swapped it for something. I forget what now.


If anyone wants to wade out into the deep end, here's where I ended up: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/24-625-scale-or-24-562-scale.171960/


And there's plenty more where that came from. I'm just trying to play awhile this afternoon.