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Poll: what scale length's do you use you the most? Vote for as many as you like.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Since StewMac makes a point of mentioning that the true Martin scale length is 25.34" for what is commonly referred to as 25.4", I assume the StewMac templates are 25.34"

But, what scale length does LMI use in their SPFS2 25.4" templates? Are they really 25.4", or are they also 25.34"?

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

In addition to the 24.9" and 25.34" for steel string, I also use what is probably the most common scale length in the world 650mm, for classicals.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Dennis,
Good point. I have been through this before with LMI and John Watkins. Yes, Martin's 25.4" is actually 25.34". LMI's and John Watkins' 25.4 are exactly that. I had John Watkins make me a couple 25.34" fingerboards because my jig is set up for that. He had to do a special run of 25.34". So, don't assume that 25.4 is really 25.34 because it may not be...

I mainly use 25.4 but I've also made a few with 25.6 for those who like drop tuning.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I use 25.625. I made a few 24.5 but the low string gets a little floppy.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

I use 25and 11/32" on my steel strings.And 25" on my electrics the most.But have used 23.5 on electrics before.

Thanks, Steve, that's good to know. I have a new LMI 25.4" template that I have not used yet, and my CAD drawings were done at 25.34"... So, I need to make the appropriate adjustments.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

I haven't built yet - but I play a 650mm scale Spanish guitar, 25.5" scale electrics and my favorite steel string uses the 25.7" scale.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

I build my "Quatre" model with a 25.7" scale and have one in the finish booth now that will be 25.9. It's for a fellow that wants to tune to D flat (standard tuning intervals) It's not really a baritone, so I'm calling it a tenor-6.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Now that I have the SM template .. 25.34 for the Martin long. 24.9 for the short (same as I did before) I also use 28, 28.5 (and one 29) for baritones. I alos do multiscales, and they are all over the place 25.25/26.25, 25.5/26.5, 25.5/26.75, I have an order for a 24.9/25.4, and on a baritone, I used 27.5/28.625. I also made two 8 string monsters, 25.5 to 29.

My students have mostly used 25.4/25.34 and 24.9, but a couple have done mulitscales, and on electrics 24.625, 25, 25.25 and 25.5. Classicals 650mm, and one student a multi 7 string, high A, 630/650.

oh, I almost forgot .. I made a mini, 1 piece black walnut SG - 23 inch or so years back.

So .. there are no stds per se in my shop .

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Lmi now has what is called a "25.34 Martin Replacement" which is a 25.34 scale length (Catalog #SPFS14).

The SPFS2 from Lmi is a 25.4 scale. This is the one that I currently use. Now that I see they have the 25.34 though, I'll probably get that one too.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Rod,

I asked this question before... if a longer scale length would make drop or slack tunings better because one can get more tension with a longer string (for the same key on a more standard 25.4) But does 0.2" make that much difference?

Mike

Others: Just HOW exactly did/does anyone arrive at any particular number? (say 25.4)

I'm not a historian, so I'm not going to say with any authority, but I would guess that the "standard" lengths (25.4", 24.9" etc evolved much the same as many of the design standards we take for granted today (x bracing, etc) with significant credit going to Martin.
As for drop tunings & scale- the advantage to longer scale is that the greater tension needed to bring the longer string up to pitch helps cancel out the lower tension required by the lowered tuning thereby resulting in a "feel" that is in the acceptable range for a guitar. E.G. a 25.4 (or shorter) scale instrument tuned to C or D will feel "floppy" unless you use a heavier gauge string. It will also lose a significant amount of volume. When you use heavier strings the notes aren't as "quick" since there's more string mass to get into motion. Heavier strings do, however, improve sustain... It's all a trade off...
And yes, .2" or .4" does make a difference.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

As a guitarist, I voted for the longer scale lengths. All the guitars I have built so far have been 25.5

I use bluegrass strings (lower 3 mediums, high 3 lights) on a 24.9" scale in open G tuning. Strings aren't floppy, and volume is as loud as in regular tuning.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

650mm (but I think that 25.5" is 647.7mm, so I almost could have said 25.5.) Another classical guy.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I've used 25.4" and 25.5" for acoustics so far. For electrics I've used 25.5 almost exclusively. For the two acoustic bass guitars I used the 34" scale, and for electric basses I've used 33", 34", and 35". The two electric uprights both have a 41" scale length.

--Steve

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---Steve

650 mm for flamenco/classical.

Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Also 650mm for classical.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I on occasion, by request use Martin scale of 25.4 (25.34) but for my guitars I use a true 25.40

648mm (25-1/2") for short scale length and 670mm (26-3/8") for long scale length. This is what is used on Selmer/Maccaferri style guitars.

Regards, Peter

24.84, which Martin calls 24.9

-jd

Hi Lance,

650mm for me

Luc

25.34" for dreadnoughts and OMs.

650mm for classicals and flamencos.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)