Scale length - what effect

[Will]

Just curious really, I use Gibson scale length, but had a play on a 76 tele today and stretching frets felt normal...
so:

Is it really that much difference about how it feels?

and how does it affect the sound?

[hooglebug]

only difference i really notice is the string tension. other than that i wouldnt know that i was playing a different scale length

[noodleplugerine]

Don't Teles have smaller scale length than Strats?

[hooglebug]

nope. 25.5 inch both of them

[Will]

I think it had 9-42 on it, or maybe the standard 8, I generally use 10-52, so couldn't feel much different.

I am sure Wez said something about scale length affecting the sound (relating to basses methinks)

[the_bleeding]

it effects string tension and resonant frequency. I like my 24.75" scale guitar, but the strings are never tight enough for me

[hooglebug]

will, you're talking about string gauge - scale length is the distance from the nut to the bridge

[Will]

yeah, I understand strings and all that.
I was mainly concerning the actual fret distance when you are playing it...

[hooglebug]

oh ok. oops sorry hehe. you'l notice very little difference in regards to the distance between the frets. the difference between a gbson scale and a fender scale will be fractions of mm's in terms of between the frets

[FELINEGUITARS]

There are some quite noticeable differences

Firstly the frets on a longer scale length guitar are further apart
Ok - it may only be a few mm and gets ever smaller as you go up but can affect ease of playability.
Players with short fingers often favour Gibson scale guitars

A set of strings of whatever gauge will be under more tension on a longer scale length guitar for the same tuning.

try it - fit a set of 10s to a gibson and the same to a fender
the Fender strings will feel tighter- its the basic laws of physics coming into play as ever.

On a gibson scale a 0.046" gauge string has 8.19kg of tension in it whilst a Fender scale has 8.78kg acting upon it (approximately)

This means that the string flaps around less on a longer scale guitar and the resultant tone is tighter - this can become very important when a dropped tuning is used.

This is why some guitars designed for drop tuning have longer scale lengths - like a baritone guitar - say 27" or more
To keep enough tension in the strings for a lowered tuning

[TwilightOdyssey]

For my playing style, and I was discussing this with PhilKing today, harmonic nodes are harder to find with a shorter scale neck. Some pinch harmonics I have no problems with on my s00per strats, but have real difficulty on the Blue Meanie.

[WezV]

Yeah, its quite a big difference even just from the 3/4" extra on a fender.

Just make sure you are comparing like for like, no good comparing a LP with 10's and a Tele with 9's because then other factors are causing the change.

Same with sound, its sometimes hard to judge the difference unless you use guitars that are identical other than the scale length - but it does make a difference!!

[badgermark]

I've found that the few mm make a huge difference. I'm a big fella with big hands, and after playing Gibson style guitars then moving to a Fender neck the difference is huge.

Seriously anything past the 12th fret was a nightmare for me on a SG or Les Paul, but on a tele or strat it's all gravy to the 21st fret.

[Ted]

I have a 25.5" scale on my SG neck, just so it could handle detuned stuff better and its taking some time to get used to.

[Orkestra]

I can't do Gibson length, my hands are stupidly wide and my hands feel squashed up.

25.5 is my personal choice.