#1
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Preferred scale length for slide
Just curious what people think, I'm more interested in electric slide.
Also 22 frets vs 24 |
#2
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Isn't this the acoustic forum?
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#3
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I play a ton of slide. Always in open tunings. And that's the thing that should drive your decision. If you're doing single note lead in standard tuning it doesn't matter.
If you are tuning down to G or D or C tunings, you'll want 25.5 inch for the greater string tension. Sure you can tune to open E and A with an electric but I personally don't want to give up any low notes. But this is just my opinion based on a perfect world scenario. Meaning a world where I can choose the guitars I play, and I'm not limited to just one. Play what you have, and if you have the luxury of having more than one guitar, play the longer scale one for open tunings. Or don't. If it sounds good it is good, and 3/4 of an inch isn't going to determine that. I'm not the biggest fan, but I'm not a hater either, and George Thorogood has made a career playing Gibson Scale length. Of course he uses heavy strings, and jacks the action up a bit. Number of frets is irrelevant.
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I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#4
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In my mind the deciding factor is the guitar's sound. You want to choose a guitar that sounds the way you want to sound. I play electric in standard tuning and several others and use them for session work. My home base for bottleneck is the Gibson Les Paul because I prefer that sound - fewer overtones for less slide scratch and a stronger, sweeter midrange. I also use lap steels with much shorter scale. If I need the brighter sound of a Fender, I use a Fender.
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#5
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What about fret numbers?
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#6
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fret numbers don't mean much to me as you can slide up to the bridge if you wish.
play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |
#7
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Quote:
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
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"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." -Zig Ziglar Acoustics 2013 Guild F30 Standard 2012 Yamaha LL16 2007 Seagull S12 1991 Yairi DY 50 Electrics Epiphone Les Paul Standard Fender Am. Standard Telecaster Gibson ES-335 Gibson Firebird |
#8
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Assuming you're talking about exclusively playing slide on a guitar, scale length doesn't make any difference. Ditto number of frets. You can move the slide all the way past the neck end and up to near the bridge if you want to.
"Easier action" from a short scale in no benefit and higher string tension from a longer scale can be easily achieved on a shorter scale with a fatter, higher tension string set as string bending isn't an issue. I'll second what someone else pointed out, my lap steel is shorter than any of my regular electrics scale wise, and obviously it's only used for slide. I like higher gauge strings for the most popular open tunings regardless of scale length, but if you have a light touch, you can get by, but I don't have a light touch. I'm unaware of any overwhelming historic player preference for scale length one way or the other for slide.
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----------------------------------- Creator of The Parlando Project Guitars: 20th Century Seagull S6-12, S6 Folk, Seagull M6; '00 Guild JF30-12, '01 Martin 00-15, '16 Martin 000-17, '07 Parkwood PW510, Epiphone Biscuit resonator, Merlin Dulcimer, and various electric guitars, basses.... |
#9
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I think all Nationals are 25" scale.
Who needs to go higher than the 12th anyway?
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#10
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With modern NRPs Single cones are 25. Tricones are longer.
__________________
I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#11
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Quote:
It's fine to say it doesn't matter to you, but it definitely affects the way a guitar feels, and most importantly how aggressively you can play. If you're playing Layla, neither issue matters all that much. If you're playing Elmore James, they kinda do.
__________________
I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#12
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Quote:
I hear you on why you prefer the Les Paul. That's the opposite of the sound I want Kind of like with my Nationals. Most folks prefer a single coil. I prefer a tricone. Pretty similar to the Les Paul vs. Fender argument in terms of overtones and harmonics. We agree on the most important issue. If it sounds good, it IS good.
__________________
I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#13
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Quote:
Bob
__________________
"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#14
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That's exactly my point. Even on a lap steel, with the strings a half inch or more over the fretboard, string tension matters. Scale and string gauge matter.
__________________
I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators |
#15
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Figured this out
I use 7s for Open E Tuning but I lengthen the scale length from 25.5 inches to 28.5 inches using an interesting conversion neck.
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