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Author
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Topic: 24" versus 24 1/4" scale length
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David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 30 October 2006 09:11 AM
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A couple of months ago, somebody asked what is the most common scale length. I erroneously answered that 24 1/4" seemed to be the most common. But then I took some real measurements and discovered that while Emmons, Zum and Fessendens are 24 1/4", Sho-Bud, Carter and MSAs (at least the Millennium) are 24". So maybe manufacturers are evenly split on this.My question is, does anyone really notice a difference in tone, sustain, playability, or string breakage with this small difference on a keyhead pedal steel? I do feel slightly cramped on the shorter scale at first, but quickly adapt. I don't notice any tone or sustain differences beyond what is expected with different brands. The 3rd string on E9 does tend to last a little longer on the shorter scales. Please don't digress to keyless and overhang issues, my question only addresses keyhead guitars. |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 30 October 2006 10:26 AM
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I prefer the longer scale, because it's easier for me to play it in tune. |
Chris Lang
Member From: Muskogee
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posted 30 October 2006 11:35 AM
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well i know one thing and that is the shorter scale does not break those 3rd stings as much as the long scale ones. Must be because the strings are under less tension, since the strings is shorter from end to end. |
Joe Smith
Member From: Charlotte, NC, USA
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posted 30 October 2006 12:00 PM
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I have to pay a little more attention when I play up high on the neck on my Carter with the 24" scale to play in tune. The Mullen and Fessy are a little more forgiving with the 241/4" scale. As far as the tone and sustain, I can't tell any difference. I also can't tell any difference as far as string breakage. ------------------
My playing sounds more like it did before than it does now
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chris ivey
Member From: sacramento, ca. usa
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posted 30 October 2006 02:25 PM
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what's a 1/4 inch here or there the way i play...? ! |
Mike Wheeler
Member From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
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posted 30 October 2006 03:11 PM
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Dave, add my Dekley S12U to the 24" scale list.I had a Fessy S12U and compared the two to weigh the differences. I never have had string breakage problems, but I think I noticed a very slight tonal difference in the strings (not amplified). I know the guitar/string interaction is quite complex, yet the shorter scale strings had a (geesh, how do I describe this) "looser" sound and feel. That appealed to me since I like to use a medium touch...I felt that it gave me more room to produce dynamics. I hope this is communicating, 'cause words are failing me here. Amplified, I didn't hear any specific difference that I could say were due to scale length...but acoustically I heard nuances that I liked |
Dennis Detweiler
Member From: Solon, Iowa, US
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posted 30 October 2006 03:27 PM
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Is it my imagination, or is intonation a little more accurate above the 12th fret on a 24 inch scale? I'm not talking about bar placement accuracy over the fret. Rather, the intonation of the strings to each other in a major chord (A/B pedals up or down)? |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 30 October 2006 05:45 PM
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Well, I was a little worried that my intonation would suffer on the shorter neck. But I can't really say that it matters. Just for perspective, the difference in overall scale length is about 1%, and the difference between the frets is about 2.4%. Generally anything less than 5% is considered to have no practical intonation relevance. Another thing to think about is that we don't consider intonation any more difficult in the key of A, than in the key of G. So I'm thinking any intonation differences may be psychological.I'm thinking a 25" scale makes a real difference, but maybe just a quarter inch makes no practical difference. I was just wondering if others thought it makes enough difference to consider in a purchase decision. |
Mitch Ellis
Member From: Mississippi, USA
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posted 30 October 2006 09:19 PM
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I've had the exact same experience as Joe. My LDG is 24, while my Fessy and Zum are
24 1/4. For me, playing from the 17th to the 25th frett is a little easier on the
24 1/4 scale.
Mitch |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 31 October 2006 05:07 AM
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The differences in fret spacing (at the upper frets) on these two scale-lengths are probably less than the width of the fret marking itself on many guitars! I sort of concur with David, in that any advantage of that extra 1/4" is probably more psychological than anything. |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 31 October 2006 07:38 AM
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The scale lengths on the non-pedal guitars vary all over. I have guitars that vary from 22" all the way up to 26". With a little practice, it really doesn't make much difference.  |
Dennis Detweiler
Member From: Solon, Iowa, US
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posted 31 October 2006 08:28 AM
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I was refering to intonation rather than being able to hit the fret accurately with the bar. Another angle: Are uneven harmonic overtones more prevelant in the 24 1/4 scale above the 12th fret that causes the fine ear to hear more slight inaccuracies in chords in that range? And maybe that's why the octave scales in a piano change in hz as you move up the scale on the piano? Maybe I'm too picky or just nuts? |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 31 October 2006 10:02 AM
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I don't think the string knows how long it is!  The harmonic overtones would probably be more affected by construction of the guitar than they would by a small change in string length, and 1/4" is a very small change. (A 1" change might be a different story.) |
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