Scale ?

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Scale ?

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yc.flamenco

Posts: 13
Joined: Sep. 7 2008
From: California

Scale ?

I recently bought a guitar with 53mm at the nut and 660mm scale length and been having trouble with some cords . do i just have to get used to it or stick with standard 52mm 650mm? my hands are average size, is there a guideline for hand size and guitar scale.

Thanks Andrew

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 4 2008 21:53:27

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: Scale ? (in reply to yc.flamenco)

I don't think the scale length can make much difference.
After all, its only 5mm over 12 frets and that's not much.
But the width makes a bigger difference I think.

But the things that really matter are the profile (rounder or flatter )and thickness of the neck. If there is sufficient wood in the neck the thickness/profile can be changed by removing wood to make a thinner/rounder/flatter profile

Whats it like compared to any other guitar you use?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2008 0:05:55

yc.flamenco

Posts: 13
Joined: Sep. 7 2008
From: California

RE: Scale ? (in reply to yc.flamenco)

The guitar i have is a Benito Huipe Blanca, I just cant get used to the neck. I own a couple of Negras, standard 52mm 650mm and a student blanca and can play all night with no problems. I love the huipe it just doesn't love me.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2008 10:09:55

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Scale ? (in reply to yc.flamenco)

In my opinion and this I base on a lot of guitarists trying my guitars, Scale length is close to be unimportant.

Nut width can be be important, but 1mm is very little. Try with a different nut with the strings a little closer.

Neck shape, some importance to some players, but my experience is that if you like the guitar, you adjust to the neck. This if the neck is more or less "normal"

What I find is very important in the overall feel of the guitar, is its stiffness or pulsation. If its to stiff, it feels uncomfortably when playing. Also in the left hand and when you are not relaxing, everything becomes more difficult.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 6 2008 0:07:22

Ricardo

Posts: 14841
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Scale ? (in reply to yc.flamenco)

Can you lower the bone saddle at all? IMO, just a little bit goes a long way for the left hand, where as scale length is hardly noticeable. Low action guitars are always easier to play. A short scale guitar can be a real bitch if it has a high action.

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 10 2008 21:49:31