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Chris Ensor
 Post subject: Scale Length
PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 7:25 pm 
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What is your go-to scale length(s) for acoustic guitar?

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SteveSmith
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 7:53 pm 
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Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
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Zip/Postal Code: 37772
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Focus: Repair
These days I build 000/OM style guitars so I’m using 25.4.

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meddlingfool
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:20 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
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First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Nanaimo
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
25” 1 3/4” 90+% of the time…
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bobgramann
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 10:00 pm 
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First name: Bob
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City: Fredericksburg
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Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Mostly 24.9”.
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GregHolmberg
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 10:02 pm 
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Here's an idea for scale length. I haven't tried it yet, so proceed at your own risk.

Figure out how far you can comfortably reach with your fingering hand on the sixth (top) string, from your index finger to your pinky. Call this l_reach. Set the scale so the distance from the first fret to the fifth fret matches this.

Code:
scale = l_reach / (2^(-1/12) - 2^(-5/12))

Put this in a spreadsheet.

For example, I have small hands, and I can only reach about 120 mm. So I get a scale 616.27 mm (24.26 in).

Greg


These users thanked the author GregHolmberg for the post: SteveSmith (Wed Dec 17, 2025 7:37 am)
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doncaparker
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:08 pm 
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25.4 inches.
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DennisK
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 1:06 am 
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First name: Dennis
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24.75-25.5" multiscale, 25" regular.
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SteveSmith
 Post subject: Scale Length
PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 7:37 am 
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I’ve built one multi scale and it’s my daily player. 25.4” - 25.15”. Just a 1/4” but that’s all at the nut, bridge is straight.

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johnparchem
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:55 am 
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I use both 24.9 and 25.4" depending on the size of the instrument and the body join fret. I use the longer scale on 14 fret joins and the shorter scale on 12 fret joins to put the bridge position within the range that I want it. For example my 00 is generally 12 frets to the body with a short scale. If asked to build one with a 14 fret join I switch to the longer scale. Basically for me it is about bridge position, not any preference for the actual scale length.

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These users thanked the author johnparchem for the post: Bryan Bear (Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:21 am)
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Brad Goodman
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:09 am 
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I mostly use 24.75", 25.25 and 26.5 depending on the guitar and customer preference.
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Colin North
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 12:00 pm 
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650mm (25.591")

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meddlingfool
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 2:55 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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At last, we can all agree on something!


These users thanked the author meddlingfool for the post: Durero (Thu Dec 18, 2025 9:10 pm)
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Terence Kennedy
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 5:37 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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25.4 for everything except my size 2 that’s 24.9

25” for archtops.

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Chris Ensor
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 12:06 pm 
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First name: Chris
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Thanks everyone for your input!

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Kbore
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 11:25 am 
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Koa
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Last Name: Borum
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Country: United States
Focus: Build
25.34" AKA 25.4

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bftobin
 Post subject: Re: Scale Length
PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2025 6:45 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:53 pm
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Depends on the the sound i want. Mostly 24.9 on smaller instruments. Sometimes 650mm on an OM and most classicals. I find many people are quite surprised when they try a 24.75 D shaped guitar, or a 24.4 with a large soundhole.

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These users thanked the author bftobin for the post: Colin North (Wed Dec 31, 2025 3:51 am)
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