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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | OK..OK...you're all probably tiring of my dumb questions but here's another one. Again, it's something I should know.......but I don't.
Exactly what is scale length. The Ovation website tells me my 1860 has a scale length: 25 1/4" and scale:???
What's the difference between scale length and scale and why aren't there any specifications for my guitar re scale.
Also, I have a very limited knowledge of guitar bracing. My guitar has Ovation bracing according to the website. Can anyone enlighten me? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Scale length is the distance from the nut to the bridge saddle. Different scale lengths produce different string tensions for the same string gauge and pitch, with longer scales having increased tension and a tighter feel. Acoustic guitar scale lengths for standard tuning can vary from 24.75 to over 26 inches.
Bracing is a huge topic. Try a search on some luthier websites. Ovation has used a ton of bracing paterns over the years, some good, some not so good. The original Ovation pattern was a modified Martin-style X-brace. The current LX pattern is an X-brace also. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | "A guitar’s scale length is calculated by measuring the distance from the front edge of the nut, where it butts against the end of the fingerboard, to the center of the 12th (octave) fret, then doubling that measurement.
If your 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 be closer to 24-7/8". Compensation varies for different strings, and that’s why your saddle is placed at an angle. " |
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Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | I have a guitar that the manufacturer has changed the current scale length. They went from a scale length on the old model of 25.4 to the new model having it at 25.5.
What could possibly be the reason for such a small change?
Steve |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | So they can say... New & Improved??? Bigger & Better??? Now more guitar for the money?? All our other guitars were off and we finally got it right??? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | It was more likely a tooling issue with a manufacturer or a math conversion issue with the metric/linear/US:UK data.
Did you realize that statistically 50% of us are below average? |
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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | Originally posted by MWoody:
It was more likely a tooling issue with a manufacturer or a math conversion issue with the metric/linear/US:UK data.
Did you realize that statistically 50% of us are below average? I only half believe that. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | im sure to be far under the 50% mark.....jason |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | This poses a problem for me as I am exactly average... if 50% are below average and 50% are above average then I must not exist... :confused: |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | It's all in the rounding. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | It's all in the rounding. Well that explains a few things... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | We're all above average. It's those other guys that are below. |
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scale length