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How do we measure a guitar's scale length?   You are logged in as Guest
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rombsix

Posts: 7816
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

How do we measure a guitar's scale l... 
Can someone show me on a diagram or in words how we actually measure a guitar's scale length? Say I had a guitar of unknown origin and I wanted to measure its scale length, from where to where do I measure?

Cheers!

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 4:57:56
 
Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
Bridge to nut is my understanding. All the parts of the string that vibrate.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 5:03:10
 
estebanana

Posts: 9372
Joined: Oct. 16 2009
 

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
Measure from nut to 12th fret and multiply by 2

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 5:57:00
 
Stephen Eden

 

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
measure from the nut to the middle of the 12th fret as Stephen says. The reason being is that the bridge should be further away as compensation for the string bend. Saying that I have heard of some compensating the nut end too!

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 8:13:06
 
Jeff Highland

 

Posts: 401
Joined: Mar. 5 2010
From: Caves Beach Australia

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
Nut to 12th by 2 then plug this into a fret calculator to find what the nut to first should be and check for any nut compensation
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 9:41:36
 
Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
quote:

The reason being is that the bridge should be further away as compensation for the string bend


Crazy, can someone elaborate on string bend? I'm imagining it does not exist with electrics?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 14:02:47
 
Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
Yes what the two Steven's said, there is string length and scale length.
On an electric look at the bridge, you will notice each individual saddle is adjustable for compensation and they're set different from one another.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 18:37:50
 
Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
So on an electrical the adjust-ability of the saddle makes up for string bend you see on nylons? To state it differently, if I understand correctly, string length and scale on electrics are the same due to the ability to adjust the saddle?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 18:59:25
 
Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
Basically a maker decides on a scale length, with that he calculates all the spacings for the frets and gets the uncompensated position for the saddle. Compensation is a slight tweak to the string length so fretted notes play a little more in tune.
Adding a mm or two to the string length doesn't change the scale length because you're not changing the position of the frets.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 19:40:59
 
Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
Orale pues! Thanks Sean!
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 1 2012 20:00:53
 
constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
Yes, do what Jeff said, because some makers shorten the distance between the nut and the first fret as compensation--in addition to moving the bridge farther from the nut than the scale length, which everyone should do.

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Ethan Deutsch
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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 2 2012 1:45:50
 
estebanana

Posts: 9372
Joined: Oct. 16 2009
 

RE: How do we measure a guitar's sca... (in reply to rombsix) 
Yeah thats a good idea to check although not as many commercially made guitars will have scales that finely tuned up.

there is an online fret calculator or two out there, just plug in the numbers and see if they match up.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Aug. 2 2012 2:37:41
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