Quote:
Originally Posted by yanks4life
How does it differ from a regular scale one? Are there less frets? shorter neck? smaller differece b/w frets?
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The answer to your questions are that both the nut-to-saddle distance is shorter, and each of the frets are a bit closer together with a shorter scale length.
The number of frets built into any guitar does not at all specifically relate to scale length.
When measuring scale length for a guitar you have in-hand, one general (and fairly accurate) approach is to measure from right at the front edge of the nut to the middle of the 12th fret. Doubling this number will get you pretty close to the scale length on that specific guitar.
Assuming one wants a guitar tuned to standard pitch, the shortest scale I have seen (for this purpose) is 22.75", which is what the CA Cargo uses. Anything shorter, and a standard EADGBE tuning would be a bit floppy, but this also depends on what gauge string you are using.
So "short" can be as short as this, and even shorter if you consider 6 string instruments such as the Tacoma Papoose a "guitar." The Papoose scale is in the 19.1" range, but you do have to tune up from standard pitch (3 full steps).
Where "short" becomes "standard" is an undefined number. Gibson's old standard scale (and current short scale) is 24.75. Martin's regular scale used to be 24.9" and now this number is considered their "short-scale."
A handful of builders use 25" even as their standard, and some use 25-1/4" as standard.
All of the above are of course shorter than the 25.4" and 25.5" numbers that are what most manufactured guitars get built at, today.