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Post by kevmc1180 on Mar 24, 2014 15:27:10 GMT
I play (although not experinced 3-4 years i think) a 000 body guitar 650mm (25.4inch) scale, and a Travel guitar 23 inch scale. I have small hands and find the travel guitar really easy to play.
Although nothing compares to the tone of the 000 body full scale.
Do you think Scale size matters much or do you just get used to it, even with small paws like me....!!!!!
Its very hard to come across short scale acoustic with narrow nut 43mm
I have come across faith mercury and GS mini...
Am i worrying / fussing over nothing or would short scale help me progress?
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 24, 2014 15:31:12 GMT
For me (also with small hands) a shorter scale instrument does play more easily, and can sound just fine dependent on the instrument and set-up.
It so happens that the guitar I liked the sound of best had the longer/standard 650mm scale, so I don't play a shorter scale guitar. I don't think it matters that much unless the scale is hugely different.
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Mar 24, 2014 16:15:11 GMT
I think you will get used to and adapt your playing style to whatever you have in your hands. Having said that, I have a feeling that learning on a very short scale might hinder your playing later - kind of like learning to drive an automatic car and switching to stick later on. My guitars are standard scale dreadnoughts. I have short, chubby fingers. My main dread is 1 3/4" with a mod V neck that gets considerably fatter further up the neck. I also use a capo a lot and wrap my thumb around the neck to get the bass string. Make of that what you will. I would really love a short scale (24.9) J45, but it's more about the tone than the actual short scale.
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brianr2
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Post by brianr2 on Mar 24, 2014 16:18:25 GMT
I am also a member of the stumpy digit club.
I am in the process of replacing my 25.5 inch guitar with one of 24.75 inches, to make life a bit easier for my aged hands and wrists. It follows that I do think that scale length makes a difference: I find it very much easier to play my current guitar with a capo at the third and fifth frets, with even a marginal narrowing of distance greatly reducing aches and pains.
I also find that resting the guitar on my left rather than right thigh helps enormously.
Of course it would all have so much easier had I taken up the ukelele....
Brian
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Post by curmudgeon on Mar 24, 2014 17:24:24 GMT
Mmm, Scale length is a personal matter - obviously the shorter the scale the lower the string tension, and the lesser the distance between frets, but also there is less volume as the strings can exert less resonance on the body.
I think the OP has really answered his own question - sop if he/she finds the disadvantages acceptable then the shorter scale is the one.
He/she refers to using an 000 model and (I can only speak of Martin style guitars, the OM has a standard scale (25.4) whilst the 000 has a short scale (24.9)"
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Post by kevmc1180 on Mar 24, 2014 18:30:36 GMT
Im the OP. Well I play a 000 Size Sigma 000r-28v to be exact which is the standard 25.4 looking on the Sigma website and Martin website is the same length for both models. Obviously I play Sigma as Martin is way out of my price range. Anyway I also play a Sigma TM12 which is the same as a Little Martin 23 inch scale.
The little Sigma as I call it, is really comfortable to play hold and handle, but tone is nowhere compared to the 000 its only my muck about guitar that I take with me when working away, but when I swap back and forth guitars you can really feel the difference when fretting.
I don't really see any guitars out there that have short scale certainly not in the 400-600 price bracket..
Anyone know of any...
Nut has to be 43mm though...lol
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Post by earwighoney on Mar 24, 2014 18:40:25 GMT
I believe scale is quite important. Increases/decreases in tension have advantages eg I like shorter scales for playing solos and longer scales for using alternate tunings which on shorter scales can feel a little floppy unless you up string tensions.
Whenever I switch from my Gibson SG which has a 24.75" scale to my Telecaster which has 25.5" it takes me a little while to readjust.
There are a few smaller bodied guitars with short scales and 43mm. The higher end of the market has Martin 000-18 (old one, it's been updated with a 1 3/4") and for less than £500 there's a Epiphone EL-00 and the Guild M-120.
If you are more comfortable playing a guitar with a 24.75" scale to a 25.4"+ scale then go for the shorter one.
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Post by vikingblues on Mar 24, 2014 19:21:38 GMT
Shorter scale suits me - not needing to stretch so much when there are arthritic twinges in the finger joints is a good thing, and I see shorter scale as a way to prolong the years I can keep playing guitar. I see I am not alone in this battle with old hands Brian. I have two Tanglewood acoustics with a 43mm nut - one a 628mm (24.75") scale parlour size natural satin TW73, one a 650mm (25.6") scale super-folk size natural satin TW45. The TW73 has a string gauge one higher to counteract the lower tension that would otherwise occur. I'm more than happy with the sound of the TW73 for chords and lead / strumming and fingerstyle, despite it's shorter scale - I prefer it in fact. Seeing as how that model has now disappeared off the TW website - presumably discontinued - I'm maybe in a minority opinion (and that would not for the first time ). Anything that makes playing easier and enhances creativity gets my vote. Agreed there will be an effect on tone with the shorter scale but some thorough searching should make it be possible to find a tone you like on a shorter scale guitar somewhere. Mark
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Post by marcus on Mar 25, 2014 2:57:20 GMT
I only play short scales as I find they help with some tendonitis issues in my fretting hand. I also have small hands and narrow wrists... it seems to work much better for me having lower string tension and less stretching to do for chords. I suspect it would be easier for many folks with smaller hands and narrow fingers but if you have large hands then the frets may feel a little cramped.
I have been fortunate enough to order a couple of guitars with specs that suit me and they sound outstanding to my ears despite (or perhaps because of) the 24" scale. In production guitars the Larrivee Parlor is one that springs to mind with a 24" scale. I'm not sure what you'd pay for one in the UK if you can find one, but you could certainly get a used one in your price range from the USA.
All the best
marcus
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Post by kevmc1180 on Mar 25, 2014 9:56:49 GMT
Looking around for smaller scale acoustic guitars is near on impossible. I think i would be limitting myself to short scale in the future if i got to used to it. Although now it would help. Guess im just gonna have to start training my hands to stretch a little...lol.. Playing guitar is one of things where you need big hands and small hands at the same time. Depending on the chords you play tight together or stretched out...
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Post by andyhowell on Mar 25, 2014 13:05:05 GMT
I prefer a longer scale but that's because I used a lot of lower tunings — the extra length helps string tension. If I was playing in mainly standard I would happily use a shooter scale.
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Post by vicov on Mar 25, 2014 13:16:52 GMT
I prefer a longer scale but that's because I used a lot of lower tunings — the extra length helps string tension. If I was playing in mainly standard I would happily use a shooter scale. 12 bore?
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Post by andyhowell on Mar 25, 2014 22:28:41 GMT
Possibly :-)
Pesky iPad. Corrective text :-)
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