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September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | How noticeable is the difference between these 2 scale lengths? I don't get out and play other guitars much, because I hate going into GC.
Its just pure chaos, with the 17 year old "Emo" kids with liprings and eyebrow rings playing full distortion on the Crate stacks. Although I love the place for its huge selection, I don't spend any more time there than I have to. Even if I was to try a few guitars, I wouldn't be able to concentrate enough to hear myself think.
The problem is that my O has a 25.5 but most of the electrics Im interested in have 24.75's. Will I have trouble going from one to the other? Should I reconsider my electric choices to include only 25.5's so they match my O?
What would you do? |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | it all depends on you.
I have no problems switching scale lengths. but then again I am not that great of a player.
I know many players that absolutely can only play one scale length or one size neck width.
it all depends on your personal preference |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Get a solidbody Viper - same scale length - 25.5" |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I notice that things seem a little more scrunched up on a short scale neck. Also short scales are more sensitive and difficult to tune accurately. Also a shorter scale is going to have a bit less sustain.
On the plus side short scales are under less tension so they require less effort to fret and bend strings.
But in reality the differences are so slight most people wont notice the difference.
If I had a choice I would choose a long scale guitar, but if I really liked other things about a short scale guitar I would still buy it. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Not a big difference. I find that after playing the longer ones for a while going to the short is nice because everything is closer and you don't seem to have to work as much, it's not as big a stretch. |
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March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | i like the 25.5 scale length (also used on most fender electrics) because i like 24 fret(full 2 octave) necks and the frets aren't bunched together quite as tightly on the high end. the les paul standard of 24.75 seems a little too tight. allot has to do with hand size and whare you find yourself playing on the neck. bottom line is to go play all of the scales in a guitar store and buy what fits what you do.
hi bill---hows by you? |
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January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Yak, the first thing you need to do is go to the GC on a monday morning or week day afternoon. You'll avoid the noise makers. It all depends on the style, and sounds you want, that determines what guitar to use. That's why we need to buy additional guitars. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | What I do when I go to Guitar Center and I want to test out something, I demand headphones! It's the only way to block out the kids. What you should do is just take headphones from the guitar pedal racks, find the amplifier you want to play in the other part of the store, and then grab the axe you want to play. You're a musician God Dammit! and deserve respect. So F'em. Cop an attitude, and if you don't know what you're doing, pretend to know!
As to scale length, there is a difference in sound and playablity. The shorter scale has an effect of blending the strings while the longer has the effect of making each string stand out. You will not have any problem going from one to the other.
I find more importantly that the difference can be found in neck width and thickness.
If are playing Bo Diddley/punk/metal early rock choke over the neck thumb vamping and power chords, go with the 1 and 6/8 width and a thin neck.
If you are doing delecate finger picking go with a wide neck, like 1.75 or bigger.
Since you're new to electrics you might want a medium 1 and 11/16's width.
There now you know what you need to know. Go back to guitar center with attitude! |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 1320
Location: Round Rock, TX | Switching back and forth isn't too much of a problem. The trick, for me, is too keep switching. Scale lengths, fret size, neck width, neck shape. There's things I like about most all of 'em. Although, due to my stubby sausage fingers, I try to avoid neck widths less than 1 11/16 or wider than 1 3/4.
Good idea about the headphones. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Oops can't edit post, I meant 1 5/8 neck width, not 1 6/8 width for the skinny necks that get the choke hold grip. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Russ!!!
Long time no hear.
Things are fine.
I've recently been working on a song using the short scale Improv and I'm finding it lots of fun after working on the longer scales.
Like Wilblee says, keep switching. I've got about 20 guitars out and they are all different, some long scale, some short, std tuning, open D, G, high G, Dm. Each one makes you play a bit differently and a song that sucks on one comes alive on another. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Not sure scale length matters much when I only use the 1st 3 frets. Dave |
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December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Actually (in my best snobbish tone) the differences in scale length would be most noticed in the Moody Chords area! |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | My guitars are all alittle different. Lengths, widths, neck contours. I like the variety. But I gotta agree with these guys.
"I have no problems switching scale lengths. but then again I am not that great of a player." -alpep
"Not sure scale length matters much when I only use the 1st 3 frets. Dave" -Tupperware |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I have switched between the 25.5 Viper and a 24.0 Jaguar. Feels different, but no noticeable impact on playing. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | I have no probs switching between Strats and Les Pauls - the fret size isn't different enough to matter. With the same string gauge, if you play lead, the strings will bend easier on the shorter scale, because there is a little less tension, if you play more rhythm there will be a little less buzz on the longer scale neck when you strum chords hard. A bigger issue for me is the neck profile. To me, some necks are just uncomfortable. |
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24 3/4 ....vs....25 1/2 ..plus a rant!
