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Topic: Scale length - does it really matter? |
Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 7 Nov 2007 12:21 pm |
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Howdy
I am new to the forum and have until now been mostly reading. I've been playing on 22.5" scale for about a year and a half. Three days ago I switched it to a 24" scale. Easy to do since it had been originally designed as a 24. I was really surprised at the tonal changes and the increased sustain. It was more sensitive to where I picked the strings ( more or less treble for instance)than the 22.5. My wife comented that it sounded better.(Not sure what that means) So I'm wondering if I'm just imagining the change or does an inch and half make a difference? What are your experiences on 25" and 26"?
Thanks for the feedback.
I'll leave the size matters jokes up to you guys. |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 7 Nov 2007 12:24 pm
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OOOPs
I wanted to post this under Steel without pedals - any idea how to move it? |
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Gary Shepherd
From:
Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 7 Nov 2007 4:25 pm
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Doesn't matter where you posted it. Longer scale is certainly easier to play. More room for error. Has a different sound too.
_________________
Gary Shepherd
Carter D-10 & Peavey Nashville 1000
www.16tracks.com |
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Jude Reinhardt
From:
Weaverville, NC
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Posted 7 Nov 2007 5:01 pm
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If you used the same tuning and the same gauge strings you increased the tension on the strings when you lengthened the scale. Same strings, same pitch but more tension. I'm thinking if you used lighter strings on the long scale, the difference in tone wouldn't be as pronounced.
Just for the heck of it, put your bar across the first string an inch and a half from the nut. Now retune the string down to it's pitch when played open. Notice that you loosened the string when tuning it down. Does it sound and feel different? That's the tension you had when you had the 22.5" scale.
Jude
_________________
"If we live in fear of banjos, then the banjos have won".
"Man cannot live by bread alone, he must have Peanut Butter". - Kruger Bear |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 8 Nov 2007 8:47 am
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| I didn't think about the added tension. What is the effect of added tension to sound, positive or negative? I have .016 on the high e string so its pretty tight. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 8 Nov 2007 9:42 am
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In terms of the sound, for the same note, a longer thinner string will have more sustain, volume, and richer overtones than a shorter thicker string. That's why concert grand pianos are nine feet long. On steel or regular guitar, play a note on a lower string up the fretboard, then go to a higher string and drop back on the fret board to play the same note. You should hear quite a difference. The longer vibration on the thinner string will sound twangier, and the shorter vibration on the thicker string will sound duller.
If you can use the same pitches and same string gauges on a longer neck without breaking strings, then on the shorter neck your string gauges probaby were not optimally heavy for maximum tension. Going to heavier strings on the short neck would improve the volume and tone, but it will never have the sustain and richness of the longer neck.
But, many players prefer a shorter neck because slants work out better on the lower frets. So tone and sustain are not everything. |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 8 Nov 2007 1:35 pm
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Thanks for your response. It makes sense to me as far as what you said about short and fat verses long and thin sustaining more. I am wondering what is the ideal gauge for a string ( high e for example )on a 24" scale and a what point does a heavier gauge not help the sound. I will eventually play with other gauges but I was wondering what others use on 24".
Mark |
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Marty Smith
From:
California
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Posted 8 Nov 2007 2:26 pm
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I like long scale better as long as the frets line up good for slants, also I use a 18 on the E.I asked Herbie what he used on that early he said 18 on the high E so I have been using that. It sounds better for non pedal I use the 18 on long and short scale.
Marty |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 8 Nov 2007 4:25 pm
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In general, long scale laps steels have better sustain and tone, noticeably better in my opinion. However, bar slants are tougher on long scale, particularly on frets 1 through 5 because the frets are so wide in that area. A shorter scale lap steel (22 ½”) is excellent for slants. The tone/sustain may not be the same, but consider this: Jerry Byrd played 22 ½” scale for most of his career, and his sound didn't suffer any! I am now playing a 25” scale English Electronics lap steel and I’m enjoying the great sustain, although slanting on adjacent strings is a little painful.
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