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Topic: Scale length |
Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 30 Aug 2007 12:06 pm |
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Please forgive my ignorance in asking what is probably a basic question.
Is the scale length of a lap steel standard?and what length is it.
I had a look at a very cheap lap steel once and the scale length seemed very short,the owner had asked me to tune it to C6 for him and when I finished the strings seemed quite slack.
Best regards
Billy |
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2007 12:12 pm
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it would be too broad to say standard.
typically, the early lap steels I have come across (pre 1960) have been short scale. and that is 22.5 inches. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2007 1:58 pm
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| Fender Stringmasters came in 3 different string lengths: 22.5", 24.5" and 26". |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 30 Aug 2007 3:51 pm
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| 22.5" would be the "Preferred" scale length for the Hawaiian stylist, whilst the longer scale lengths would seem to be more for the Country or Blues players who generally use fewer slants. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 Aug 2007 7:41 pm
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National lap steels are usually 23 inch scale. I wonder where they came up with that length when most others were 22.5 inches  |
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Chuck Fisher
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Sep 2007 1:13 am
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Dobros are 25" I believe, I play 22.5 and I found something that I like in 22 7/8", I read some interesting stuff on scale length and harmonics in different uages on the Novax website, very techy and esoteric, http://www.novaxguitars.com/info/concept.html
Mainly I like short scales and wide spacing. Fast access AND easy slants lower on the neck is the reason. I get nice low D from my 22 7/8 Benoit reso AND my Guldan Lap steel which is just a hair under 23". You do need bigger guages on shorter scales and this can affect sustain negatively, but my lapsteels sustain so well its never been an issue for me. |
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