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RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
I voted 660, but it's not so important to me. The "tacto", feeling or stifness of the guitar is more important. The reason I said 660, is that I play med. tension strings and I like them a little tenser than a 650 scale would give me.
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to Guest)
I have no idea the scale length the guitar Anders made for me. Who cares? It's just a guitar...and a very good one! Just getting to know it ..and it's fun!
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
There is one factor often overlooked in thinking about scale length. A couple of years ago I turned down the offer of the only great Conde I have ever seen: it was 670mm and I could not play it in the open position.
I have often regretted this because virtually noone sings in the open position: alegrias and solea 5 por arriba or even 6, tangos, bulerias, cantiñas 3, granaina 2. When you are playing at 5 or 6, such a long scale would give much more room.
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to Guest)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Sean
There is one factor often overlooked in thinking about scale length. A couple of years ago I turned down the offer of the only great Conde I have ever seen: it was 670mm and I could not play it in the open position.
I have often regretted this because virtually noone sings in the open position: alegrias and solea 5 por arriba or even 6, tangos, bulerias, cantiñas 3, granaina 2. When you are playing at 5 or 6, such a long scale would give much more room.
Sean
I agree Sean and I have passed up guitars for the same reason.
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
Tom probably cares because he's trying to become a builder, Ron. But I guess it's just too much to ask for feedback for someone trying to become the next Aaron Green. Oh well. As far as my scale, I don't really know either so you have to ask someone else, Tom.
:)
Actually, Patrick knows the scale of my Tezanos, so you could ask him! It plays like a dream...
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria
Tom probably cares because he's trying to become a builder, Ron. But I guess it's just too much to ask for feedback for someone trying to become the next Aaron Green. Oh well. As far as my scale, I don't really know either so you have to ask someone else, Tom.
:)
Actually, Patrick knows the scale of my Tezanos, so you could ask him! It plays like a dream...
Your absolutely right Mike. I'm just trying to get a feel for what people like. Your TP is probably a 650mm.
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
I've got 2 guitars - 650 and 655. My hands aren't big and the difference is noticable. Eg the intro to Callejon de la Luna has a fairly big stretch at the beginning and playing this on the shorter scale is somewhat easier for me.
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
I wasn't being cheeky or dismissive, Tom...it's just that I honestly didn't know that guitars were made in different scale lengths before I started to read about it on internet forums!! So I can't say I've noticed any difference in any guitars I've ever tried..duh!
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
Tom,
Yes, Miguel's TP is 650. My Green is 655 as is my Sigurdson. My new DeVoe (due next week BTW) will also be 655. I don't notice much difference between 650 to 660, but I really could with my old 664 Ramirez 1A negra.
Lester DeVoe told me (in his opinion), 650 has become the standard, but he preferred to build 655.
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
I have a 65.5 Bellido and a 65.0 Ferrer. Without capo the 65 cm are a dream (the guitar is also somewhat narrower, 51mm or so width). BUT with capo from 2nd fret upwards its gettin really difficult for me because the distance between frets, and strings, becomes too small for my personal taste. Had a 66something Conde before which really was too much even though i dont think i have particulary tiny hands.
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
I have said this before, and I will allow myself to repat myself.
I think this scale length versus playability is highly overrated and one of the parts that influences the least on playability. The stiffness of the guitar (pulsation) the setup, the nutwidth and the string spacing at the bridge are factors that changes the feel of a guitar a lot more.
A longer scale does make the same string feel a little tenser (I said a little)
This with playing with a 660 scale is a lot easyer to play with a capo is another religious thing. more believing than facts. Facts are: The difference between 5th and 8th fret on a 650 scale is 77,5mm .................................................................660 scale is 78,5mm
So. a difference of 1mm over 3 frets. Do you think this is very noticable and that it will give you a lot more room for your fingers?
I personally build 655mm scale when the client does not ask for something else. This is the case of Ron's guitar. (I'm glad you like it) The reason i chose 655 is that it's a good compromise, and especially psycologically wise.
There are so many factors influencing the feel of a guitar, that it's very difficult to say that this is the reason for that. I generally advice small players to use 650 and big players to use 660 scales, but a change to a 54mm nut and a 60mm stringspacing changes the feel of the guitar a lot more.
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
Anders,
quote:
Facts are: The difference between 5th and 8th fret on a 650 scale is 77,5mm .................................................................660 scale is 78,5mm
So. a difference of 1mm over 3 frets. Do you think this is very noticable and that it will give you a lot more room for your fingers?
thats very interesting, a lot less than i would have expected! The said problems dont usually arise between 5th and 8th fret though; whats the delta, lets say, between first and fifth?( I know one fandango falseta where you have to do an F and little finger goes to fifth and i used to have problems with the conde)
RE: Which scale length do you prefer? (in reply to TANúñez)
Paco
The difference between 1st and 5th is
650: 126,5mm 660: 128,5mm
2mm. You can feel it, of course, but it's not much. This stretch you mention is a killer on all guitars. You'd have to do stretch exercises to be able to play it on a 650mm guitar as well.
PS. I play two guitars. A 660, 54mm nut and 60mm stringspacing, and one with my standard: 655, 52 and 58mm. Icannot feel anything difference according to scale length, but the other two meassures make a lot of difference.
My conclusion is that big hands like 54mm nut, and that high quality players with a very "correct" flat right hand position like a wider string spacing at the bridge
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