25" scale vs 25.5" is there a difference in fret

[gemini8026]

Im curious because I want to order a string thru carvin now. But I notice most manufacturers have their guitars with a 25.5 inch scale.

Carvin offers a 25" scale. Why is this, i emailed them about their DC series and they will not change it. Where does a person see the difference? In the length between frets, does it make the higher frets even harder to play...



Thanks for any help!

[darren wilson]

Gibson typically uses 24.75" for their scale length and PRS uses 25" as well. Ibanez has models that use 27", 25.5", 25.1" and 24.75".

The difference in fret spacing is minor, except in the lower register of really long-scale guitars. (Chords get a little harder to play in first position.)

[Two hands31]

And then there's Mr. Mushok and his 28"-er.

[gemini8026]

thanks for the response Darren.


Essentially your saying that a person wouldnt really notice?


I used to have an Epi Les Paul, and I cant remember it being very much difft then my current Wolf gang

[Rich]

Shorter scale length guitars require less tension to get a certain guage sting to pitch. A 24 3/4" scale is easier to play than a 25 1/2", and a 25" is inbetween.

[gemini8026]

Thanks Rich,

But im curious, on a 25" are the frets closer to eachother, or is the neck closer to the bridge??

[Rich]

Yes and Yes

[EKG]

The shorter the scale, the closer the frets, which makes it a little more difficult to play the upper registry. Some will notice the difference...others won't.

[dex]

That's Yes and Yes next to a Fender and No and No next to a Gibson.

The difference between Carvin and Fender is .5" and between Carvin and Gibson .25" and that is not much.

I just did some calculations and If I'm not wrong the 21-22 fret distance is

Fender _________________Carvin__________________Gibson
0.425499"______________0.417156"______________0.41 2984"

23-24 fret

Fender__________________Carvin_______________Gibso n
0.379076"______________0.371643"____________0.3679 27"

I don't think I've taken intonation into account.
P.S. to get metric legths multiply by 2.54

[Bigpops]

To be honest, i there's very little differnce in playing a 25" scale guitar compared to a 25.5" one.

On the pro 25" side, stretches on the lower frets ar easier, and string tension is obviously slightly less (IMO, 9's are too light for anything less than 25.5").
On the cons side, the frets are a little too close for me when you get above fret 17 to play chromatic runs (with 4 fingers).

The difference it far less dramatic then going from 25.5" to 24.75"