Long and Short Scale Length Guitars
Question:
Typically, what is the effect on tone with a shorter or longer scale
length...all other things being equal? i.e. say between a Martin 000-28
and a om-28?
Answer:
Generally (all other things being equal which they never are) the
longer scale length is usually a little harder to play because the
strings have to be tightened more to reach the same pitch and the frets
are a little further apart. Because of this increased tension though,
the guitar may be louder. Sometimes a guitar with a short scale length
may be made with a longer body, thus making the tone different.
Bob, Gman ( o )==#
Answer:
This is a most difficult question to answer. After speaking with some
close friends and some personnel at the Martin guitar company, all were
hard pressed to give any personal opinions! You will just have to play
them!-was the standard answer. As you know a 25.4 (D-28) scale will
feel more stiff and the frets will be further apart than shorter
scales. However, the instrument can sound absolutely great. Some of the
best sounding 00/000 size guitars were the Santa Cruz guitars. They
would blow out most dreadnought sizes when A-B tests were done. I was
honored to meet Ren Fergerson (custom shop expert with Gibson/Bozeman,
MT), and he was explaining the problems of building a custom
instrument. The things that the luthier needs to know is:
a. Do you play standing with a pick and strap?
b. Do you sit on a stool with the guitar touching your leg and stomach?
c. Do play very dynamically in a recording situation or do you beat the
crap out of the guitar for maximum volume?
The best makers of guitars can build most any scale and make the guitar
suit your tastes. I also am sure if you compare guitars in the $1500
& up range your choices will be clear. If you test guitars
under $1000, the best dollar per sound ratio will probably be the full
scale dreadnought since all of the factories mass produce this style.
Donated by: Tim Lawson
Answer:
One thing that was not mentioned and may be a key consideration is the
string tension based on scale length; at least indirectly. The longer
the scale, the greater the string tension. The greater the string
tension required, the more the top has to be reinforced to support that
tension. The more reinforcement, the less sound from the top. But the
more tension in the strings, the more energy is imparted to the top
when they vibrate. If you find a guitar that can reduce the required
bracing at higher string tensions (i.e. Breedloves), it should result
in a better sounding guitar. The extra string tension at longer scale
length also buys you something when going to alternate tunings like
Open D or Open G where your reduce the overall tension. The longer
scale length allows you have extra tension at these lower tunings. In
fact Bob Brozman has a guitar named after him (I think Santa Cruz makes
it) with a 27.x scale length that is specifically designed for playing
in lower tunings to provide additional string tension. Longer scale
length guitars should sound better in open tunings. So the sound
benefit of scale length is an indirect one. The shorter scale guitars
should free the top to vibrate more; and the tops on these guitars
should be braced lighter. But the strings probably impart less energy
to the top because of the reduced tension....which is why getting a
clearcut answer is so difficult to come by...it probably depends more
on the overall guitar design.
Donated by: Paul Kucharsky