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Author
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Topic: Scale length
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Pete Blakeslee
Member From: Nebraska, USA
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posted 29 June 2005 07:10 AM
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I am having a guitar rebuilt,and will be using the hardware (the wood warped). The guitar was made with the same string spacing at the bridge as at the nut. The scale was 24.25. Can someone summarize the pros and cons of scale length and string spacing so I can make a judgment as to whether to have the original setup changed? Thank you. |
Steven Cearley
Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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posted 30 June 2005 06:19 AM
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Jerry Byrd in his teaching video stated he preferred the short scale (22.5) for bar slants. Cindy Cashdollar in her videos uses a long scale (24" or 26") but still does some bar slants. If you like Jerry's style of playing I would use the short scale and vice versa.------------------
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Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 30 June 2005 07:45 AM
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A few things off the top of my head...Short Scale:
1. slants less severe (string spacing assumed constant)
2. less bar travel between notes
3. Jerry Byrd played it
4. cute Long Scale:
1. supposed better sustain (this is probably imperceptible short of a side by side comparison, all things being equal besides scale length... the 12th fret and beyond is usually where this stands out)
2. bigger "sweet spot", greater "margin of error"
3. harmonics easier due to #2
4. intonation easier due to #2
5. many native Hawaiian legends played it |
Mark Vinbury
Member From: N. Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
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posted 30 June 2005 10:20 AM
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Back a couple years I researched this on the Forum and ended up with 23" as a compromise for the following reasons----Shorter scale length was reported to be less "tonefull". I believe this makes some sense and is often made up for by the use of exotic "tone" woods in some of the higher end steels available. --Longer scales,while giving good tone,were reported to be "string breakers".This also made some sense to me,particularly if string gauge is not paid attention to as might be the case when cranking up and down between E and C6th. As for string spacing --I started with 11/32" thinking most buyers of my kits would be heading toward Pedal Steel and I was told this was universal in the PSG world. Needless to say this thinking didn't fly and I quickly switched to 3/8" at nut and bridge which I feel is a pretty good compromise.
It would be great to hear from others and reexamine these subjects. |
Ricky Davis
Moderator From: Austin, Texas
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posted 30 June 2005 12:31 PM
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I strongly prefer a perfect 24" scale with 3/8" spacing at bridge and nut.
You will have all the sustain and tone and the slants anywhere are a piece of cake.
Ricky |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 30 June 2005 05:11 PM
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One thing that I have never seen mentioned in these "scale debates" ... is vibrato.Slants, tone, sustain ... yes ... but never how scale length plays a role in vibrato. Take a 40 cent/6 Hz vibrato ... on a 25.5" instrument vs a 22.5" instrument.  Obviously ... to achieve the same "extent" on the long scale ... the bar needs to travel further. Also ... that bar needs to be traveling faster ... to cover that greater distance ... in the same amount of time. (Hz = # of waves per 1 second). So although I do enjoy playin' my A25 ... to maintain the vibrato I enjoy .. well, its alot more work ...  On the other hand ... its more difficult to "go too wide and too fast" ... on the long scale instrument. So a long scale is ... "safer" ... for folks who enjoy a more subtle vibrato.
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Aiello's House of Gauss
My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield
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Bill Creller
Member From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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posted 30 June 2005 08:03 PM
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Mark, the National New Yorkers had 23 inch scale, at least the '50 I have does. I have built a few with 23 inch scale, mostly because I had the spacing copied from my National. |
Joe Delaronde
Member From: Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
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posted 30 June 2005 09:05 PM
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23" scale sits good with me. I use it on 2 of my steels.Joe |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 01 July 2005 07:41 AM
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Mark, I love my 23" Dynalap, and would have a tough time with any string spacing under 3/8"; it's a luxury to me.Couple of questions--but I think I'll save them for email.
Charlie |
Pete Blakeslee
Member From: Nebraska, USA
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posted 01 July 2005 08:26 AM
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Thanks for the many responses. Many of you have the luxury of owning guitars with different scale lengths, and to one who doesn't your shared experiences are helpful.
Pete
Lincoln, NE |
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