Short or long scale

joe long · From: San Antonio, Texas

I've played both scales and sometimes I prefer the
the short scale. Just wondering what other players thought about it.

Joe A. Roberts · From: Seoul, South Korea

I prefer short scale (22.5”) personally because it makes slants on the lower frets easier. I also don’t use very low strings in my tunings which may need longer scale lengths to sound less flubby, but plenty of people sound great on short scales using tunings containing low B or C strings (pitched below the low E on standard armpit guitar.)
I think that heavy gauge plain strings on short scale sound good enough that the purported tonal benefits of longer scale lengths are not worth the difference in playability at the most spread apart frets at the nut.
People also say longer scale lengths are better for harmonics, this may be true, but I have not tested this myself.
Theres also a big debate about scale length and sustain which I again don’t find worthwhile to partake in, 22.5” steel guitars can have plenty of sustain. You see these kind of discussions a lot regarding standard guitars, Fender vs. Gibson; 25.5” vs 25” vs 24.75” vs 24” etc….
Even more incendiary are online debates about bass scale lengths: 30” vs. 34”! In that case I actually do prefer by a wide margin 34” even at the expense of the much greater playability of 30” scale basses.
That is why I suspect scale length is relatively more important for bass tones, so is less critical on steel. You really do hear it on bass guitars in my opinion. But then there are 32” “medium scale” and even 35” scale said by some to help the low B on 5 string basses a lot, and then theres multi scale guitars and basses! Scale length is a huge rabbit hole for sure, but nevertheless immensely fascinating.

Allan Revich · From: Victoria, BC

I have an affinity for small, portable, instruments, so definitely gravitate to the shorter 22.5” scale. I mean, we’re talking about a guy who’s main instruments are, harmonica, flute, ukulele, and lap steel!

As far as playability goes… I feel like I can get around faster on a short scale, but find the longer scale more forgiving for intonation.

I suppose, like many things, it all comes down to personal preference. I would certainly never think to criticize someone else’s choice.
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Current Tunings:
6 String | G – G B D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D (re-entrant)

https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database

Bob Stone · From: Gainesville, FL, USA

I started out playing short scale steels--Rics, Stringmasters, Supros. After playing only my two Sierras (long scale) for the last several years, I bought a 1953 Fender Dual 8 Pro (short scale) and love it. Slants are easier, and the tone is nicer on slants with rather severe angles. Plenty of sustain, too. The Fender may be a little harder to play in tune above the 12th fret, but at my skill level that is not a problem. Short scale means less travel between frets, and I welcome that. I am really enjoying the short-scale Fender.

There may be some advantage to long scale for easy and clear harmonics, but in my experience, practice yields excellent results. Kayton Roberts, Jerry Byrd and lots of others had or have no trouble with harmonics on short scale instruments.

My two cents.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

I’ve played and preferred long scale for years now, but I am gravitating back toward short scale for instruments with less than 8 strings.

Rob Fenton · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I personally prefer long scale. I have had several short scale guitars and could never really settle on string gauges. If I increased gauges to achieve the resistance I prefer I found the larger plain strings to have too much thud, and not enough sustain above the 12th fret.
I could get a nice singing tone with lighter strings, but found it difficult to pick them evenly without picking extremely lightly.

I am primarily a dobro player though, so although I pick a lot softer on electric steel, I am probably still heavier handed than many.

The deal breaker with short scale for me was also having a string-through pickup, which made me feel cramped on the fretboard, and when playing from my lap that the guitar was too far to the right in order to get my right hand into a comfortable position.
My favourite short scale steel I owned was a Gibson Console Grande. Shoulda kept that one...

Mark Mansueto · From: Michigan, USA

I only had 22.5 scale for a long time so that's what I was used to but now that I've owned some 25.5's for a while I think I actually prefer them. The main reason is that I like the increased string tension of the longer scale and my intonation is a bit better.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

The longer the scale, the longer the sustain. Very Happy

Erv

joe long · From: San Antonio, Texas

I really appreciate everyone's input. ⁴

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

For the style I play, I must have a 22.5” guitar.

I pull strings behind the bar and slant all over the fretboard constantly. In order for me to slant on two neighboring strings on the first and second frets without the notes buzzing (the most extreme slant angle you’ll ever have to play), or to pull a .018 gauge C string to D or a .020 gauge A string to B (without having to pull the string so far that you also pull the string below it sharp), you MUST have a short scale instrument.

Many of the perceived “limitations” of steel without pedals can be circumvented using these techniques, and they simply aren’t available in the same way on a long scale instrument. There’s not much point in having “tone and sustain” if your guitar isn’t capable of giving you the notes and voicings you need to be hearing in the first place… And if “loss of tone” is really a consideration, listen to “the master of touch and tone” Jerry Byrd and consider that he ALWAYS insisted on playing a 22.5” instrument.

I hope this helps,
~Chris Scruggs~

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

I’m not saying one is better than the other but longer scales seem to work better for me, and my slants suck on any scale anyhow 😂
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

Another vote for shorter (22.5") scale like my Supros, easier to execute slants and behind-the-bar bends. I also play 24" and 25.5" scale instruments, but the shorter scales has become my comfort zone.

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