2
26/3/2016 Stewart-MacDonal d ht tp:/ /w w w .ste w mac.c om/Ho w-To/Online_ Reso urces/ Lea rn_ About Guitar_and Instrument_ Fre tt ing_and_Fretw/Sca le_ Length Ex plain ed. html 1/2 Related Items Home Ho w- To Onlin e Resou rces Le ar n Abou t Guitar and Instrument Frettin g + Fr et wo rk Scale Length Explained  A-SCALE LE NG TH Scale Length Explained Finding your scale length, how it affects tone, and more. IN THIS A RTICLE • What is sc ale l ength? • How scale length affects tone • Common scale lengths WHAT IS SCALE LENGTH?  A g uita r's scale le ngth is calcula ted b y measu r ing the distance from the front edge of the nut, where it butts against the end of the fingerboard, to the cen ter of the 12th (octave) fret, then doubling that measurement. If  yo ur 1930's Gibson L-OO, for example, measures 12-3/8" at the 12th fret, then your guitar's scale length is twice that—a 24-3/4" scale. For good intonation, the guitar's saddle will be placed so a little extra string length is added. This extra length is called "compensation," and it means the actual string length is  longer than its 24-3/4" scale measurement. At the center  of the saddle it will b e closer to 24-7/8" . Compensation varies for different strings, and that's why your saddle is placed at an angle. Need help computing or laying out a fret scale? Our online Fret Calculator  will do the math as well as help you locate your bridge correctly. HOW SCALE LENG TH AFFECTS TONE Fender One of the most common s cale len gths is the Fender 25 -1/2" gui tar scale. Found on Stra tocasters , Telecasters , and the h uge variety of instruments inspired by them as well as the repla cement, and custom parts available for them. The 25-1/2" produces a rich, strong, bell-like tone, and defined low-end. Gibson The Gibson 24-3/4" scale is also very common, but it is also the most confusing of all scale lengths—this is because it rarely ever measures out to be 24-3/4 inches! This scale has gradually changed over the past fifty or so years due to changes in production equipment.  Being shorter than the Fender 25-1/2" scale, the Gibson 24-3/4" scale has a lower tension/easier to play feel, and a warmer tone. PRS, Dobro, & National When luthier Paul Reed Smith was developing his now highly desirable guitars, he was looking to capture the harmonic richness of the Fender electric's tone as well as the fullness, warmth, and playability of the Gibson electric guitars. PRS opted for a scale length of 25", which is also found on Dobro and National guitars. The bass strings on a 25" scale are fuller sounding than some 24-3/4" instruments, which can sometimes sound muddy. The treble strings are not only easier to bend than on a 25-1/2" scale, but also have a warmer, and fuller tone. COMMON SCALE LENGTHS ® ®  Luthier's Digital Caliper Fret Scale Rule StewMac Fret Scale Templates Saddlematic Friendly Custom er Service 800-848-2273 9AM-6PM ET, M-F  Your order will ship: Monday CART 0 Luthier Tool s Hardware + Parts Pickups + El ectronics Material s + Suppl ies How-To earch for...   100% GUARAN TEE FRE E CATALOG QUICK ORDER CONTA CT US SIGN IN

Stewart MacDonald

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Stewart MacDonald

8/17/2019 Stewart MacDonald

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/stewart-macdonald 1/2

Page 2: Stewart MacDonald

8/17/2019 Stewart MacDonald

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/stewart-macdonald 2/2

26/3/2016 Stewart-MacDonald

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Learn_About_Guitar_and_Instrument_Fretting_and_Fretw/Scale_Length_Explained.html 2/2

Customer Service

Track Order 

Contact Us

Shipping

Returns

Payment & Order Forms

Customer service FAQ's

Product FAQ's

800-848-22739AM-6PM EST, M-F

© 2016 Stewart-MacDonald

Shopping

New Items

Closeouts

Quick Order 

Free Catalog

Gift Certificates

Free Information

Trade Secrets

Video: Tool Demos

Fret Calculator 

Wiring Diagrams

 All Instructions

Conversions

Your Account

Your Account

Wishlist

Order History

Privacy & Security

About Us

Our Guarantee since1968

Site Map

Employment

Guitar  # frets scale

Classical short 20 650 mm

Classical long 20 660 mm

Fender 25-1/2"

Stratocaster & Tele caster 

21 - vintage

22 - modern

25.500"

Fender Jaguar 22 24.000"

Fender Duosonic &

Mustang

19 22.500"

Fender Bajo SextoBaritone Telecaster 

24 30.1562"

Gibson 24-3/4" 22 Varies, see

above

Gibson 'Byrdland' 22 23.500"

Gibson long scale

(used on acoustics)

20 25.300"

Guild acoustics

25-5/8"

20 25.625"

Guild electrics

24-3/4"

21 or 22 24.750"

Martin s tandard

25.4" (Dreadnought, OM)

20 25.340"

Martin short

24.9" (0, 00, 000)

20 24.840"

National 20 25.000"

Paul Reed Smith 22 or 24 25.000"

Bass # frets scale

Fender 20 34.000"

Fender short scale

(Musicmaster, Bronco, & Mustang)

20 30.000"

Banjo # frets scale

Gibson

26-1/4"

22 26.250"

Long-neck

32-1/4"

25 32.250"

Tenor 

22-1/4"

19 22.250"

Vega

27"

22 27.000"

Mandolin # frets scale

Gibson F5 29 13.875"

Gibson A model 22 14.125"

Dulcimer  # frets scale

Short 18 25-26"

Standard 18 26.5-27"

Long 18 28-30"

Ukulele # frets scale

Standard 12 13-14"

Concert 18 14-15"

Tenor 18 16-18"

Baritone 19 20-24"

Strat , Stratocaster , Tele , Telecaster are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments

Corporation. Les Paul and Byrdland are trademarks of Gibson Guitar Corporation.

® ® ® ®

® ®

Search for...  

Facebook

YouTube