How is scale length measured on a guitar

The high amount of tension would mean that a lot of force would be required to bend its strings. A thinner set of strings would thus resolve this issue, as their tension would be lower when brought up to pitch. Fitting heavier gauge strings would therefore create more tension, giving the guitar a stiffer and more controllable feel. But scale length is an important tonal factor too! With more string tension present in a guitar with a longer scale length, this means that it should produce a strong and focused sound with great low-end clarity.

This is why Stratocasters and Telecasters are known for emitting bright and snappy tones, which can be attributed to their Guitars with short scale lengths tend to sound warmer and a tad fuller than guitars with longer scales, as the lower amount of tension allows their strings to vibrate more freely.

This is part of the reason why Les Pauls are known for sounding thick, harmonically rich and generous in sustain. But what if you want a guitar that offers the crisp note definition of a Fender, combined with the fullness and forgiving playability of a Gibson? PRS has joined the conversation.

The rest is history, as they say. Almost all Gibson and Epiphone models will have the former, while the majority of Fender and Squier guitars will feature the latter. For instance, a lot of brands that create Gibson-inspired instruments will still adhere to their shorter scale lengths. Short answer — yes.

But as we also explained, scale length affects how an instrument sounds too. And lets face it, us guitarists are very particular about our gear — so scale length definitely matters! Of course, scale length is just one of many things to consider when looking for a new guitar. Woods, construction, hardware and electronics are all just as essential, so make sure to do plenty of research before you buy something; especially if shopping online.

Find your dream guitar using the helpful filters on our website , which includes searching by scale length! Interested in finding out more about music gear and expanding your knowledge? Click here to view all of our Learn articles!

For more information on the other topics mentioned in this guide, check out our related articles:. You must be logged in to post a comment. Understanding Guitar Scale Length Does size matter? View Elliot's Profile. Why is that? Well, generally speaking, guitars with a shorter scale needs less tension to bring the strings to pitch, so short-scale guitars are generally considered slightly easier to play. The number of frets can be the same, even on a short-scale guitar. However, the short-scale tends to emphasize the mid-range a bit better.

The long scale guitar also tends to have more volume, especially strumming. A long scale guitar can sometimes lend itself more to flatpicking i. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The result is that the tension of. Alongside string tension, you must also consider string flexibility. Thicker strings are less flexible, as are shorter lengths of string.

As a string loses its flexibility, it starts to exhibit less accurate intonation, which is once again why the thick low strings require greater compensation than the thin high strings. Low bass notes, therefore, are better reproduced with long strings than with short ones, as the length allows a thinner, more flexible string to be used. Treble strings, on the other hand, can sound thin, harsh, and unpleasant if the tension is too high, and many players favor the warm, thick tone of the trebles on shorter scales.

Therefore, the builder and player must find the happy medium between clean, well-behaved bass strings and pleasant, musical trebles by choosing the best combination of scale and string gauges. The ideal example of this is the grand piano, which uses a much longer scale length for the low bass strings than the treble strings. Imagine how different the strings would need to be in order to make that range work with a single scale length! In an attempt to improve bass-string response without compromising the quality of the high notes, some modern makers offer multiscale or fan-fretted instruments, which have longer bass string scales and shorter trebles.

Such instruments have frets that are not parallel, which can be a bit intimidating at first glance, but this design is gaining popularity with players who appreciate the more even tension and response it can offer with extended-range tunings. California luthier Ralph Novak is widely credited with proving and popularizing this innovative approach in the custom guitar world, and larger manufacturers are now following suit with production multiscale instruments.

Paying attention to scale length when shopping for a guitar can be very helpful. Some guitars will just feel right, and the scale is often a big part of that.