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Post subject: People come in DIFFERENT SIZES so why not guitars?
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:42 am
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Location: St Helens, Merseyside, England.
I am a repair luthier and guitar / bass tutor based in the UK. I have often voiced an argument that there is a need for a 24" scale guitar that has serious quality. The reason is very simple. There are a lot of small handed players (that are not children), who are trying to compete with the big boys on long finger stretch techniques. Many are women guitarists who's hands will never grow any bigger. So why not cater for them?

I applaud Fender/Squier for introducing their new Vintage Modified Jaguar HH model which sports a 24" scale neck. Although I haven't had a hold of one yet, I am expecting the quality to be quite fair.

I occasionally buy the odd used guitar, do some work on it and then resell it, which is often a labour of love (usually only recouping my labour charges). One such guitar was a Squier Telecaster Custom II with Seymour Design P90 type pickups. I set it up to professional playing standards and re-cut the nut slots as they were a little haphazardly done. When I had finished my tweaking, it was nothing short of excellent! I mean REALLY good! I would expect that the new Vintage Modified Jaguar HH will be something of a similar quality build as this Telecaster Custom II, which is great if you are someone like me who can finish them off.

It is quite reasonable to assume that many aspiring players have desires based on their guitar hero's choices and look toward owning a top end instrument. The point that I make about smaller hands is very real and Fender should/could consider making a few popular models like the US Strat & Tele in a 24" scale. If these instruments were marketed seriously it would be a breakthrough for the smaller handed person. I personally do not have small hands, but having taught hundreds of pupils in my 35+ years as a guitarist, I have seen this problem many times. Of course people can have custom guitars made, but people come in different sizes all the time, why not guitars?

Martin Gerrard.


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Post subject: Re: People come in DIFFERENT SIZES so why not guitars?
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 4:04 pm
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You make a good point. I have fairly small hands and find the Gibson 24.75 scale to be slightly more comfortable the the Fender 25.5. I still play a strat because the overall balance and feel out weighs the small benefits of the 24.75 scale. I did not know that the Jaguar had a 24 inch scale. I might have to try it out.

Some Gibsons have horrible balance. I've owned SGs and Les Pauls that were 'heavy' on the neck end. If I took my hands off the guitars and just let them hang by the neck strap the head would drop down. I was constantly having to hold both those guitars up.

My Strat however is well balanced. If I take my hands off it stays where it should - ready to be played. :P

Regards,

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.


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Post subject: Re: People come in DIFFERENT SIZES so why not guitars?
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:43 pm
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another guitar that slips under the radar is the Squier Vintage Modified Thinline Telecaster
(not the Classic Vibe) it has a 24 3/4" scale.

You have a good point but unfortunately there is just not enough demand for them to dedicate many models Fender Jags and Jazzmasters have always been short scale but this Telecaster is Truly a One Off. Many kids want the Real Deal and not a Kid's Size version of their Favorite Guitar Hero's Axe even if it meant they could learn easier and faster. Squier's 3/4 size strat was discontinued due to lack of sales


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Post subject: Re: People come in DIFFERENT SIZES so why not guitars?
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:05 am
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Joined: Wed May 12, 2010 4:05 pm
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Location: St Helens, Merseyside, England.
You are unfortunately not looking outside the box on the 24" scale issue. It's because of narrow minded views that a 24" scale is purely for kids and concequently only budget guitars are made in this scale. What about women? I suppose they don't figure in the male guitar world? I am not shouting for the suffrajets but its a fact and just as a point of there being no market for them, here is a link to a site that has started to build just 24" scale guitars for just such persons...

http://durangoguitarworks.com/about.html

Fender just haven't taken the smaller size issue onboard and educated the public to it. I may add that I am not a user of 24" scale guitar, nor do I need them, but I have come across an awful lot of people that I have taught that would have great benefit from one that was built to professional standard in a style that was their choosing.


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Post subject: Re: People come in DIFFERENT SIZES so why not guitars?
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:52 pm
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While not a Tele/Strat, I feel that Fender Japan has already addressed this. I sold my Fullerton made 1984 CBS Tele, to fund a MIJ Jaguar Special HH and a MIJ Mustang. Both guitars are of exceptional build quality and blow my USA made Tele away. The new Pawn Shop series Mustangs look to be a great option for someone who wants more traditional, 3-way switching. I only wish I could purchase a MIJ Thinline Tele w/shortscale neck. I may have Fujigen build me one someday through their custom shop.

At any rate, you bring up a great point. I have been playing for 26 years, and only within the last ten, have I realized the 25.5" scale to be a source of my playing struggles and a real limitation given my small hands. I very much love my shortscale Japanese Fenders.

I hope Fender will soon consider expanding their line to include more shortscale options.

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1986 Squier Bullet
2002 Competition Mustang
2004 Mustang Bass
2005 Jaguar Special HH


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