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Topic: Scale lenghths |
Antolina
From:
Dunkirk NY
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 3:42 am |
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Every so often I see steels for sale and some of them have differing scale lenghts. I really don't understand the whys and wherefores of it all nor do I understand how a scale length can be altered by changing the fret board.
Any help clearing the fog?
_________________
The only thing better than doing what you love is having someone that loves you enough to let you do it.
Sho~Bud 6139 3+3
Marrs 3+4
RC Antolina
Last edited by Antolina on 21 Dec 2007 4:35 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ron Castle
From:
West Hurley,NY
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 4:34 am scale length
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| Quote: |
| nor do I understand how a sacle length can be altered by changing the fret board. |
You can't change the scale length by changing fretboads. You actually need a different size neck from nut to changer. |
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Antolina
From:
Dunkirk NY
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 4:36 am
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That makes sense albeit an expensive modification. I saw someone over in WTB looking for a fret board so he could change his scale length...which leads me into the next question.
What's the difference?
_________________
The only thing better than doing what you love is having someone that loves you enough to let you do it.
Sho~Bud 6139 3+3
Marrs 3+4
RC Antolina
Last edited by Antolina on 21 Dec 2007 4:40 am; edited 1 time in total |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 4:39 am
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| Longer scale = less string breakage , better tone |
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Antolina
From:
Dunkirk NY
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 4:43 am
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Thanks John and Ron,
One question always leads to another but this will be it for now.
When did the mfgrs change their scale lengths?
_________________
The only thing better than doing what you love is having someone that loves you enough to let you do it.
Sho~Bud 6139 3+3
Marrs 3+4
RC Antolina |
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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 21 Dec 2007 8:17 am
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A longer scale length will cause more breakage unless you go to lighter gauge strings. Generally a longer, smaller gauge string has richer overtones and more sustain than shorter thicker strings. Play the same pitch on any two adjacent strings (at different frets) and you will hear the effect.
So generally a longer neck is better. But on E9, with the high G# pulled to A on the 3rd string, there is only so far you can stretch the neck without too much breakage - the gauge just gets too thin to be practical. Most pedal steels with keyheads have settled on 24" or 24 1/4." Even that little 1/4" makes a difference in breakage and tone. Some models can handle it, some can't.
Keyless heads have less string length behind the nut, which has less stretch on raises, which requires less rotation of the changer finger and less string breakage. Therefore, they can go to a longer scale length, usually around 25", resulting in higher tension but not more string breakage (maybe even less).
At the other extreme, for better slants on the low frets, many lap steel players prefer shorter necks, around 22 1/2". The classic Fender Stringmaster came in three neck sizes: 22 1/2", 24 1/4", and 26" (or something like that, not sure exactly).
So over the years, each manufacturer has made his own decision about neck length, based on his own design ideas. |
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Antolina
From:
Dunkirk NY
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 9:00 am
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Thank you David.
_________________
The only thing better than doing what you love is having someone that loves you enough to let you do it.
Sho~Bud 6139 3+3
Marrs 3+4
RC Antolina |
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