♪ ♫ ♬ Pros and Cons of Short-scale acoustic guitar? ♩ ♫ ♬

[Spats Davenport]

Most of my acoustics (I think) are at no longer than 25". I agree that the string tension will be less for a given string gauge, and I certainly notice this when I play an SG as opposed to a Strat (bending).

What I respectfully find difficult to understand, is that it can make much of a difference regarding ease of playing chords. Consider two guitars, a 25.5 and 24.75. The difference in distance between any two corresponding frets on each guitar will differ by a factor of 24.75/25.5, i.e. 0.97. This is quite a small difference.

I would find that once you play above the first fret, the difference becomes moot, and further that playing and barred F#7 on a D18 would be easier than an F7 on a 00018.

That's why I find the whole reachability thing tricky - there is no optimal fret spacing, because what might be considered comfy at one position would be less so up or down the neck.

Spats.

[Brent Hutto]

Originally Posted by Spats Davenport

Most of my acoustics (I think) are at no longer than 25". I agree that the string tension will be less for a given string gauge, and I certainly notice this when I play an SG as opposed to a Strat (bending).

What I respectfully find difficult to understand, is that it can make much of a difference regarding ease of playing chords. Consider two guitars, a 25.5 and 24.75. The difference in distance between any two corresponding frets on each guitar will differ by a factor of 24.75/25.5, i.e. 0.97. This is quite a small difference.

I would find that once you play above the first fret, the difference becomes moot, and further that playing and barred F#7 on a D18 would be easier than an F7 on a 00018.

That's why I find the whole reachability thing tricky - there is no optimal fret spacing, because what might be considered comfy at one position would be less so up or down the neck.

Spats.

I have a little inexpensive guitar that I call a "parlor" but it's really like a 7/8 size kid's guitar. It's an odd combination of 23.3" scale length but a full width fretboard and 1.75" nut.

Even thought I can't tell much difference in "reach" between normal short versus long scale guitars that 23.3" one definitely makes playing 1st position chords much easier. But at the cost of more crowded fingers if I need to fret two adjacent strings on the same fret up above the first three frets.

But I think your main point is correct. The "reach" difference is perceived almost entirely in 1st position unless we're talking seriously short scales. For comparing something like 24.7" to 25.4" scales there's not much in it when playing a few frets up the neck.

[MikeInBethesda]

Most of the guitars I currently own are short scale which I prefer in terms of comfortable playability, and they work well for my playing style as well. I agree that they sound warmer with less overtones which I also prefer. I do own a Collings dread that is full scale and good for strumming and coming through in a group setting, but I would give that guitar up before I'd lose my J-45 vintage or any of my 000 size guitars.