guitar scale lengths

[tryandgetme]

Anyone have a gibson scale length guitar and a fender scale length guitar sitting around? Could you grab a tape measure and measure from the 22nd fret to where the string touches the bridge on the high E string on both guitars? I'm designing another guitar and I'm curious about possible interchangability. My guess is a no, that measurement is different.

[Joshua Pattersnap]

Fender Strat/Tele: 25 1/2"

Gibson Les Paul/SG: 24 3/4"

[tryandgetme]

Fender Strat/Tele: 25 1/2"

Gibson Les Paul/SG: 24 3/4"

thanks,

I don't need the scale length though, I need the distance between the last frets (22nd) and the bridge.

OH OH, idea: I'll put a second set of bridge mount holes so I can change scale lengths just by changing necks...

[Joshua Pattersnap]

Oh, I follow.

Hmm...this sounds like an interesting project!

Post some pics if you have a chance.

[davkatreb]

You need to be careful here. The two necks may require different shaped neck pockets. That would make swapping back and forth a bitch.

And even two necks of the same scale length may not interchange. Example-Tele and Strat. Same scale lenght; same manufacturer. But the neck pockets are different.

Besides, constantly removing and reinstalling necks creates its own problems. Eventually (soon, maybe) the screw holes will start to blow out and will require repair. This usually is not a big project, but consider: Most guitars are made of wood. Optimum tone, sustain and playability are extremely dependant on the equilibrium of the neck joint. Constant swapping of necks is bound to dreate issues if you disturb that equilibrium often enough.

Sometimes it's better to just leave well enough alone.

[tryandgetme]

You need to be careful here. The two necks may require different shaped neck pockets. That would make swapping back and forth a bitch.

And even two necks of the same scale length may not interchange. Example-Tele and Strat. Same scale lenght; same manufacturer. But the neck pockets are different.

Besides, constantly removing and reinstalling necks creates its own problems. Eventually (soon, maybe) the screw holes will start to blow out and will require repair. This usually is not a big project, but consider: Most guitars are made of wood. Optimum tone, sustain and playability are extremely dependant on the equilibrium of the neck joint. Constant swapping of necks is bound to dreate issues if you disturb that equilibrium often enough.

Sometimes it's better to just leave well enough alone.

good points. I'm building the necks, so neck pockets arn't a problem.

On my last guitar, I used blind nuts under the fretboard and used good solid countersunk allen key bolts through the body. I was worried it would affect sound by going atraditional (to make up a word), but I think it had a positive effect in that I can crank it down real tight and make that neck joint really solid. it was maple/maple and I used wide backing plates, so there wasn't much wood crunching. it's so solid I have a hard time cheating with neck bends...

actually dave you're probably right, I can't even remember the reasons for wanting to try two differnt scale lengths on the same guitar. maybe it was a design problem, I'm basing the body shape loosly on a drawing of a les paul, but I want to use F spacing and a floyd rose bridge. the less redrawing I have to do to move the neck, the better.

and then I thought, since I'm making the neck, why can't I use a gibson scale length (I like that scale length), with F spacing? hurray I think I got it figured out...

I kinda wanna do a through-neck design too...

[BMAC]

I wish I had the experience to build a guitar,some pictures would be nice.I did finnish my Carvin bass kit a couple of weeks ago but thats about the limit of my woodworking abilities.

[tryandgetme]

its simple, just take a piece of wood, and remove anything that's not guitar ;)

joking aside, there's a TON of great resources out there for buidling your own guitar from scratch, starting with stewart mcdonald (http://stewmac.com) for parts, howto books, articles, etc...

the neck was the hardest part, one thing you can do is buy a neck blank from them that includes frets and all, and just shape the headstock, and make yourself a body. I think they even have body blanks with the pickup holes and neck joint routed, and you shape the rest.

All you need is patience. Wood is one of the easiest and nicest materials to work with, if you have patience. the only way you get experiance at building guitars is to build a guitar :) there's a few things I'd do differently this time around, thats why I want to build #2.

[BMAC]

I may try a through neck with walnut sides later but the Carvin BK4A kit which is active/passive makes the sound I was hoping for.Swamp ash body shaped to fit my fat gut,H50 neck pickup,HB bridge with coil splitter,lite coat of maple with tung oil finnish on neck and body with black hardware and Ernie Ball power slinky's.Next stop is a half stack.

[AM Radio]

I may try a through neck with walnut sides later but the Carvin BK4A kit which is active/passive makes the sound I was hoping for.Swamp ash body shaped to fit my fat gut,H50 neck pickup,HB bridge with coil splitter,lite coat of maple with tung oil finnish on neck and body with black hardware and Ernie Ball power slinky's.Next stop is a half stack.
I carved up a solid body with the help of a Carvin neck thru blank. It was fun. One humbucker @ the bridge and single coil/hum toggle and a mid range booste toggle via Torres engineering. It's in the closet w/ a Marshall Super Bass head waiting for the day me son get's the urge. I don't play anymore cause I'm tone deaf and I found other things to stroke.
P.S. Get a good router
~P90

[wigger thomas]

I carved up a solid body with the help of a Carvin neck thru blank. It was fun. One humbucker @ the bridge and single coil/hum toggle and a mid range booste toggle via Torres engineering. It's in the closet w/ a Marshall Super Bass head waiting for the day me son get's the urge. I don't play anymore cause I'm tone deaf and I found other things to stroke.
P.S. Get a good router
~P90

This thread is a bit too crafty for me. But AM,you are going to have to play a little to set an example. So pick that fvcker up and start playing!!!!

[davkatreb]

This thread is a bit too crafty for me. But AM,you are going to have to play a little to set an example. So pick that fvcker up and start playing!!!!
Leo Fender could not play a single note. Just sayin'.

[rusty68]

Is there anything davkatreb isn't an expert on? I'm impressed! I actually own three guitars and I'm having trouble following this thread.

[davkatreb]

Is there anything davkatreb isn't an expert on?
Yes.

hopethishelps

[phlatlander]

This thread is a bit too crafty for me. But AM,you are going to have to play a little to set an example. So pick that fvcker up and start playing!!!!

Yeah this is way over my head but interesting. I just bought a nearly new Alvarez RD20SC w/case off craigslist for $200 and it's keeping me busy enough. Lulls the kids to sleep at night and I get my practice in. I'd have preferred the natural finish, but it don't sound too bad in Johnny Cash black.

Pics would indeed help me make sense of this thread! ;)

[tryandgetme]

http://www.igdb.co.uk/pages/beginners/images/parts_of_guitar.jpg

see illistration:

Scale length is the distance between the bridge and the nut. Gibson and Fender both have different scale lengths.

http://lawsie.com/i/ebay/Gibson-Grabber-Bass/Gibson-Grabber-Bass-neck-jointS.jpg
and that's a typical bolt on neck joint.

I solved my problem though: I'm buying a shed to build a guitar in now, and building the guitar later. I also wandered into the guitar shop helping my brother buy an amp and accidentally bought a nearly new Schecter Damien. Damn. Oh well, it sounds great.