On instruments in which strings are not "stopped" or divided in length (typically by frets, the player's fingers, or other mechanism, such as the piano) it is the actual length of string between the nut and the bridge. The scale length of a string instrument is the maximum vibrating length of the strings that produce sound, and determines the range of tones that string can produce at a given tension. Guitars in the Hill Guitar Company’s Torres crossover series, for instance, are available in 640mm (25.2”) and 630mm (24.8”) lengths. A longer vibrating section of each string means that the strings have higher tension. Other guitars like travel guitars and parlor guitars also have smaller overall length, but their scale length is adjusted to full size. However, from the mid- 20th Century luthiers seeking increased volume have moved to a 26 inches (660 mm) scale, which is now the standard for such leading makers as Ramirez. Antonio De Torres (1817–1892) used a scale length of 25.6 inches (650 mm), and later makers have followed suit. (Tuning the guitar only one step lower, instead of two, would effectively shorten the scale length to 615mm.) A few Fender models such as the Jaguar and Mustang use a scale length of 24 inches (610 mm). Instead buying a shorter scale guitar, I just tuned my current guitar two steps lower and put a capo at the 2nd fret. According to Dave Hunter's Tone Manual (2011), each scale length has its characteristic sound and tone, which is individual from other sounds in the tone chain: strings, pickups, pedals, amplifiers, speakers, and cabinets. However, a few years later and I scarcely notice that my guitar which was previously "too large" is now a very good fit, I can make most reaches quite comfortably (for example index finger on 6th string g, middle finger on 3rd string d and little finger on 1st string b) The two most famous violin makers, Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737) and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù (1698–1744), both used an open string length of 12.8 inches (330 mm) for their violins, which had already been established a generation before by Jacob Stainer (c. 1617–1683). So, if your hand is big or small enough to handle such standard, go for 650mm. As with the violin, the Stradivarius scale is regarded as standard for orchestral work; This is about 27.4 inches (700 mm). Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Lutherie Info – Measuring Scale Length of Stringed Instruments", Liutaio Mottola Lutherie Information Website, http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Learn_About_Guitar_and_Instrument_Fretting_and_Fretw/Scale_Length_Explained.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scale_length_(string_instruments)&oldid=986563321, Articles needing additional references from January 2019, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "Fender's 3/4 Scale Guitars", a two-part article by Tim Pershing in, This page was last edited on 1 November 2020, at 17:02. Guitar sizes – The Classic shape: Dreadnoughts. Be careful to ask for kid's guitar. Cellos exist in a smaller range of sizes than violins, with 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/10 being reasonably common. A mahogany guitar with an ultra-short scale length will still sound crisper than a long-scale rosewood dreadnought. You will find more options for kid-size guitars in Classical guitars. Lengthening the vibrating portion of a guitar’s strings does not mean that more frets can be added, because the spaces between frets represent a certain percentage of the string’s vibrating length. Secondly, student sizes are not as often required, as most viola players who start learning at a young age start on the violin. That is why a Fender Telecaster (25.5” scale length) has very clean, clear bass tones and stinging treble, while a Gibson Les Paul (24.75”) is known for warm, full tone but some muddiness at the low end. Based on 26.inches or 660.04 mm , 7/8 scale would be 577.85mm when calculated mathematicly or 22.75 in. However, the tone of acoustic instruments is affected by so many other factors—the type of wood used, trueness of the grain, nature of the bracing, 2-piece vs. 3-piece back, etc.—that scale length is a very minor influence on their overall sound. On a modern bass guitar, 30" (76 cm) or less is considered short scale, standard (also called long) scale is 34" (86 cm) for a 4-string and 35" (89 cm) for a B-E-A-D-G 5-string, and extra-long scale basses of 36" (91 cm) also exist. Many guitarists mistakenly associate scale length with the number of frets on an acoustic guitar. Guitars that have a scale length toward the upper end of the spectrum of common lengths are called long-scale guitars, while those toward the lower end of the spectrum are called short-scale guitars. Add Jazzy Chords and Progressions to Your Tunes. Violas are commonly described in terms of their body length rather than—as with other violin-family instruments—by a fraction. A vintage classical guitar will generally have a scale length of 660mm—a whopping 26 inches, longer than any common steel string guitar. I will assume the best means playability for a student in learning classical guitar. A small one may also be preferred if you have small hands, and find it hard to play specific accords on a big guitar. The large bulky body allows for a lot of sound to bounce around inside it meaning we get plenty of low end. Scale length is the reason why (all things being equal) small string instruments like parlor guitars are easier to play than regular sized ones - the shorter scale length allows for strings to be relaxed and easier to fret. However, reduced string tension results in lack of sustain and loss of some of the high and low frequencies, which gives short scale guitars a warmer mid-range focused sound. Speaking of guitarists who do not specialize, “crossover guitars,” which have nylon strings but are similar in size and design to steel string instruments, are increasingly popular. Generally, a string instrument has all strings approximately the same length, so the scale length can be expressed as a single measurement, e.g., the violin and most guitars. 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