Scale length? Will it make a difference to me?

[Duster]

Hey everyone. I'm looking at getting my first electric guitar. At the moment, I'm pretty sold on the Hagstrom Swede-type guitar. But that could change any moment, last week I was all obsessed with an Epiphone Les Paul Custom.

My question is about scale length. The Hagstrom comes in the Swede model at 24.75" scale length, and the Super Swede at 25.5" scale length. I understand, academically, what the difference is. My question though, is whether it will make any practical difference to me?

I'm a beginner still, having played acoustic guitar for just over a year. My acoustic has a scale length of 24.88". What is the actual difference in playing a guitar with a longer or shorter scale length, and will I actually notice the difference? Does it make any difference to the playability of the guitar? The sound of the guitar? The flexibility of the guitar in playing different styles of music or achieving different tones?

I'm sure that for accomplished guitarists it makes a huge difference to their sound, but will I notice a difference, and should I even consider this distinction in my purchase decision?

Thanks in advance.

--- D

[hollowbody]

My question is about scale length. The Hagstrom comes in the Swede model at 24.75" scale length, and the Super Swede at 25.5" scale length. I understand, academically, what the difference is. My question though, is whether it will make any practical difference to me?

I'm a beginner still, having played acoustic guitar for just over a year. My acoustic has a scale length of 24.88". What is the actual difference in playing a guitar with a longer or shorter scale length, and will I actually notice the difference? Does it make any difference to the playability of the guitar? The sound of the guitar? The flexibility of the guitar in playing different styles of music or achieving different tones?

Yes, it will make a difference. A shorter scale guitar, while seemingly easier to play because your fingers won't have to stretch as far when shaping awkward chords or during scales, actually causes your fingers to stumble over themselves when you're playing above the 12th fret because the frets are so close together. Though, once you've become an accomplished player, this might help you play faster, it might be detrimental for a beginner.

Having said this, I first started playing on an SG, which has the shorter scale, and I can't honestly say if it affected my ability to learn to play at all, but when I eventually did buy a Strat, the difference was immediately noticeable. Playing the same song on the Strat and the SG is totally different. Some songs I find I play better, and therefore sound better, on one than the other.

Regarding the actual sound of the guitar itself, that is more dependent on lots of other criteria such as wood, body type, pickups, and of course, your fingers, rather than just the scale.

The transition from a shorter scaled acoustic to a short scale electric might be easier for you, and make more sense, but honestly, it boils down to which one feels best in your hands.

Also, FWIW, the Swede is a great guitar, I'm sure you'll love whichever one you end up with.

[Paul]

I play a Byrdland with a 23.5" scale, short by most standards. I find it allows me to reach chord shapes that I cannot do on a Stratocaster length scale, and I have no issues above the 12th fret.

Finger size and finger span are two considerations in a comfortable scale length for the player.

Neither guitar you are considering is out of the ordinary in terms of scale length, so I'd recomend you pick the one with the most knobs & switches. Chicks dig guys with guitars with lots of knobs & switches.:smile:

[elindso]

I play a Byrdland with a 23.5" scale, short by most standards. I find it allows me to reach chord shapes that I cannot do on a Stratocaster length scale, and I have no issues above the 12th fret.

Finger size and finger span are two considerations in a comfortable scale length for the player.

Neither guitar you are considering is out of the ordinary in terms of scale length, so I'd recomend you pick the one with the most knobs & switches. Chicks dig guys with guitars with lots of knobs & switches.:smile:

Neither should be a problem.

You'll get used to which ever. I've got Gibson and Fenders and can go between then with reckless abandon, with little or no bruising, bleeding or chafing.

He's right about the chicks too. Which ever one you get you should put some fakes knobs and switches on with labels like Synth, Flux, Rudex and other things girls don't understand:smile:

[zontar]

For the most part it works out to personal preference & taste.
Yes, you hand & finger size do affect it.
But over time you should get used to different scales.
Most of my guitars are 24.75 in scales--or at least thereabout.
Then there's my Mustang, which is shorter. But I have no problem picking up a Strat and playing that.

I've never had trouble switching back & forth between the Mustang and my other guitars--and I got the Mustang when I'd been playing about 6 or 7 years.
What I like about a short scale is using it to practice playing tough songs or techniques on it, but when I get it done on the Mustang I can transfer it to a longer scale guitar with little trouble.

However I do believe your question is looking at now--I would say get whichever scale feels the most comfortable now, and worry about adapting later.

Some people end up choosing to only play one scale--others it doesn't matter.