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Post subject: Scale lenght
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:57 pm
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I play about 1,5 year and i figured out with that, the 24 inch scale is much better for me then 25,5. But, i am not really convinced to that because i like metal and hard rock music si i am not sure if this is the right way. I know it's not matter what kind of guitar it is because it's matter how you play on it, but i wanna know one day to play more technicly so i wondering if i will not miss the space on the frets. I dont have hands like paul gilbert etc. but i am also not a midget so my fingers are average.


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Post subject: Re: Scale lenght
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:24 pm
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24 is a bit shorter than usual.
The typical Gibson scale is 24.75, while the Fender scale is 25.5

Most "other than big three" guitars, particularly those of the "Superstrat" type designed for metal, use the Fender scale.

Playability? There is no difference.
Take a Fender with a 25.5" scale and put a capo on the 1st Fret.
That is a 24" scale. Frets 2-21 on a Strat are positioned exactly the same as frets 1-20 on a Brian May model Guild.
Now, you'll also notice that you'll have to tune down 1/2 step to maintain tuning with the 24" neck. Yes, the string tension is reduced on a 24" neck, which means a couple of things... you'll either have to raise the action to avoid fret buzz, or you'll need to move up to heavier strings.

Stick with me...

So for metal and hard rock, lowered tunings are common. Drop-D, Drop-C, or simply tuning down 1/2 or even one full step.
This works well on the 25.5" scale, but doing it on a 24" scale compounds the problem described above.
Buckethead uses a custom Baritone Les Paul with a 27" scale length.

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Post subject: Re: Scale lenght
Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 5:09 am
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Yep, i notice that its imposible to play drop c on 24 inch scale only if you use really heavy gauge because of the buzzing and the softness of the strings. I also have a 25,5 superstrat so i am not probably decided yet.


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Post subject: Re: Scale lenght
Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 12:39 pm
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And unless you intend to go through your life modifying Guilds and student models with locking tremolos and hot humbuckers, anything off-the-shelf is going to have a 24.75-25.5" scale.
For the most part, other than the Brian May Guild and Fender Jaguar, the 24" scale is used only in "student" models intended for children who don't have the fret reach for a "C" chord and who need the reduces string tension, normally on reduced-size bodies such as the Mustang, Duo-Sonic, and the little Squier series "Mini Strat"

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Post subject: Re: Scale lenght
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 4:08 am
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as a 65 year old player with small hands, I can appreciate shorter necks. my early 60's musicmaster I recently sold was so easy to play, but didn't have the versatility of my other guitars. as I get older, I can also see a point where it would be nice to not have to stretch so much, but I guess i'll worry about that when it happens.


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Post subject: Re: Scale lenght
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 5:29 am
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The Nu-Metal guys extensively used dropped tunings on PRS guitars, which are generally 25" scale.

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Post subject: Re: Scale lenght
Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 3:03 pm
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Here's a visual on the difference between 24.75, 25.5 (and the 28-5/8 baritone neck)

Seriously... there is not a significant difference between the Gibson, PRS, and Fender scale. Lowered tunings would generally lead to slightly heavier strings on any of the three scales, but they will all work.
It just happens that most more modern manufacturers (Ibanez, Washburn, Dean, etc...) have opted to go with the Fender scale for bolt-on necks, possibly for neck compatibility? No idea why really.
Look at the attached image... I defy anyone to tell the difference in fret spacing and "reach" above the 12th fret. The Gibson scale might be SLIGHTLY more playable for people with small hands above the 5th fret, but someone with large hands is not going to feel crowded on any of the frets.
Extended to a 24 fret neck, you are literally looking at a difference of 3/8" difference from the nut to the 2th fret, and 3/16 difference from the 12th to the 24th. Your string height is ~1/16-2/16

Dropping down to the 24" scale... ya... now you have a significant difference (as I said, capo a Fender neck at the 1st fret, tune down, and you have a 24" scale guitar)

Image

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