#1
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scale of guitar
what is the advantage of a short scale acoustic. is it good for people with small finger spread. are the frets closer together. i'm a newbie to guitar and have a short span and was wondering if it's good to use a smaller scale.
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#2
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Guitar scale is calculated by the measurement of nut to 12th fret multiplied by 2. The shorter the scale the smaller the distance between frets. A short scale also produces less string tension and therefore easier fretting of the strings.
The downside is usually volume.
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#3
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The only way to figure out what is right for you is to try them out. The downside is that most guitars have 25.4 or 25.5 inch scales. Once you get used to a shorter scale, it can be difficult to go back. Of course, some people have no problem switching back and forth between scales. Ed Last edited by Ed422; 02-11-2013 at 12:45 PM. Reason: Fixed typos. |
#4
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advantage
The advantage is the neck is not as long which makes finger reach and arm comfort very good. Add that to a smaller body(00-o-parlor) and you have an easy player. J.D.
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#5
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The short scale not only makes reaches easier, but it's easier to fret due to the reduced tension. Get yourself a Larrivee parlor, newbie. Nice sounding and easy playing.
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#6
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One advantage is that you can use heavier strings without them feeling too heavy. Fatter tone without having to work really hard.
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#7
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The typical dreadnought and OM design guitars from Martin have 25.4" scale length. In general, though not always, the 000 Martin modesl are shorter scale 24.9". For example, the Martin 000-18GE is short scale.
In Taylor's line most of their acoustic guitars have 25.4" scale except for the GC line which are shorter 24.9" scale. And then there is the GS mini which has an even shorter scale. As has been mentioned, for the same gauge of guitar strings the tension is slightly lower in 24.9" scale guitars for the same pitch. So if you use light gauge strings on your guitars as a rule, as I do, then the shorter scale guitars have a little softer feel to the strings, and the frets are slightly closer together making it a little easier to play the guitar if you don't have really large hands and fingers. The longer 25.4" scale guitars for the same gauge strings have a little more punch and volume at the same pitch. And of course the frets are slightly further apart. I have a decent number of guitars, all have 25.4" scale length except for one, a Taylor 12-Fret, which is similar to the GC8 but with a 12-Fret design. It's very easy to play but lacks the volume of my other guitars. But it would be a good guitar to learn on, particularly if a person has smaller hands. Also, some people like the sound of shorter scale guitars. I have read the opinion here on the AGF many times that most people can't tell the difference, but it's pretty obvious to me. The shorter scale guitars have a much softer sound to the string attack because of the lower tension. - Glenn |
#8
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There is certainly a difference that can easily be explained using math, physics or simply pure common sense logic -- but I honestly can't hear it (not that I ever got the chance to play the exact same guitar with two different scales) and I can only feel it when I play specific parts of certain pieces. Last edited by JoeCharter; 02-11-2013 at 10:59 AM. |
#9
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In the Martin paradigm, guitars are either 24.9 or 25.4 inch scale lengths. These are generally referred to as short scale or long scale. Any other length is possible technically. Gibsons are traditionally 24 3/4", though some like the AJ are longer, and some, like the Birdland, are shorter at 23.5"!
A guitar which is built by a sensitive builder to be a specific string length is unlikely to have much of a difference in volume, all other things being equal, but is very likely to have a different tonal character. This is because a given string produces a very different tonal signature at a higher tension than the same string at a lower tension. Higher tension produces a more pronounced overtone sequence, whereas lower tension will produce a more fundamental tone. This is why a LS OM sounds brighter and has more projection and clarity (generally) than a SS 000 which will tend toward a sweeter more harmonious but less incisive tonal signature. This sweetness is often favored in the treble register, but makes the bass overly vague. Conversely, the OM bass is usually considered beyond reproach, while the treble may seem a bit harsh to some ears. It is possible to have the best of both qualities on one guitar, it's called a MultiScale. |
#10
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I noticed that I found my Mini much easier to play than my full-scale Martin, but never knew why until it finally dawned on me and I took a ruler to the two. The short-scale would definitely corrupt me if I played it all the time. Therefore, I make an effort to do most of my practicing on my full-scale guitar, and use the Mini only for camping, traveling, or the occasional lesson. |
#11
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I could be wrong, but I think that because you tend to use heavier gauge strings, you are changing the tension equation. Just guessing, of course... - Glenn |
#12
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We know that you meant 25.4" and 25.5" as the scale that most guitars are built with today. Variations occur, obviously, and we have some choices going all the way down to 22-3/4" for "standard tuned" guitars (not elevated in pitch to compensate for the short scale). I have evolved (devolved?) to using a 24" scale as my *only* scale length. If it doesn't have the 24" scale, I 'm not even interested. Properly built guitars with this scale length can go beyond just "parlor" sizes, and I have played some darned-fine sounding (world-class, that is) guitars with this scale that have been OM sized and larger.
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#13
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Ed |
#14
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Up until fairly recently, all Godin acoustics (Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Norman, Art & Lutherie) had a 24.84 inch scale ... even the dreadnoughts.
According to Godin, now all dreads and what Godin calls the Mini-Jumbo, will have 25.5 inch scale. Folk and Grand (parlor) sizes will retain the short scale. They say when asked, that their research has shown them that the longer scale improves tone. Take it for what it's worth. Like many here, I don't think I could tell the difference in the sound of two guitars identical except for scale length. I'm pretty convinced that the short scale is easier to play, however.
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#15
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My BTO GS was built with a short scale neck. I like it allot, but Taylors short scale is not a huge leap from 25.4, as posted it is just 24.9.
Someone else spec'ed out my BTO so it was not my choice, but I really like it. Volume wise I dont think there is a difference, at least not when comparing it to a standard scale GS. I swap between it and my other guitars which all have 25.5 scale necks, and dont have any trouble. Perhaps its just because it is such a small difference.
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