24.75 or 25.5+ scale

[Djentlover666]

Should scale length be the reason I choose a guitar over another? I have 7, 8 and 9 string and I want a 6 string for shits and gigs. For drop c and maybe drop Bb. I'm used to long scale lengths so that's not a factor. Any input would be great. More detail the better. I just don't get the difference between 24.75 with 22 frets vs 25.5 with 24 frets. Why?
Thanks in advance!

 

[spudmunkey]

I just don't get the difference between 24.75 with 22 frets vs 25.5 with 24 frets. Why?
Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure what you mean. There are lots of 24-fret guitars with shorter than 25.5" scale, and 22-fret guitars with 25.5" scale. Scale length and fret count don't have anything to do with each other.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Play some guitars.

 

[Winspear]

" Scale length and fret count don't have anything to do with each other" - this!
However I will say the difference in tension and tone between 24.75 and 25.5 is massively exaggerated, if all other elements were the same. The tension difference is less than that between a set of 10s and 10.5s.
I'd say either are fine for Bb with a 62 or 64 gauge. 24.75 will be very slightly darker sounding (less than the difference in tone between two adjacent frets)

 

[Pat]

If you already have a 25.5" scale guitar, tune it down a step and then put a capo on the first fret - this will give you a similar feeling to playing a shorter scale that may help you make up your mind

 

[Winspear]

^ Good idea but do 50 cents instead of a semitone

 

[c7spheres]

Shorter scale length makes it easier to do those big complex chord voicing's. Sometimes that little extra bit is all you might need to play them without feeling like you're contorting your hand to badly.

 

[cult]

Shorter scale length makes it easier to do those big complex chord voicing's. Sometimes that little extra bit is all you might need to play them without feeling like you're contorting your hand to badly.

That's why I've always enjoyed the 25" scale of my PRS SE 7 string.
It really helps a lot!

 

[USMarine75]

^ Good idea but do 50 cents instead of a semitone

Dumb idea... Then his tuning will change depending on the exchange rate.

 

[Chris Bowsman]

Dumb idea... Then his tuning will change depending on the exchange rate.

The point was to see what the tension would feel like. So no, not dumb.

 

[Mathemagician]

The point was to see what the tension would feel like. So no, not dumb.

He was making a currency joke. $0.50, exchange rate, etc.

 

[Chris Bowsman]

He was making a currency joke. $0.50, exchange rate, etc.

Wow... that went right over my head

 

[USMarine75]

Jokes are funnier when you have to explain them lol....

 

[Djentlover666]

I was mainly curious of my post because I want an esp viper for drop c and maybe drop Bb. I know it's been done and is still being done with 24.75 but for some reason I just want 25.5 or longer.

 

[budda]

Do both.

 

[Djentlover666]

I wish. I gotta break fingers, pull legs and pull teeth and cry and hope that works to get stuff. I have one of those wives that says I don't need more than 1 guitars. I have 3 though. A 7, 8 and 9 string. The 7 is ok(26.5 scale) ,the 8 (28 inch scale) and 9 (30 inch scale) are amazing though. With like 909x emgs in the 9. The 8 has blackouts.

 

[Hollowway]

Fortunately for you, your wife has one of those husbands who knows how to hide guitars he buys in the future, ifyouknowhwatimean.

 

[USMarine75]

I wish. I gotta break fingers, pull legs and pull teeth and cry and hope that works to get stuff. I have one of those wives that says I don't need more than 1 guitars. I have 3 though. A 7, 8 and 9 string. The 7 is ok(26.5 scale) ,the 8 (28 inch scale) and 9 (30 inch scale) are amazing though. With like 909x emgs in the 9. The 8 has blackouts.

Tell your wife about your married friend that does drugs and cheats on his wife and gave her Hep C.

A couple too many guitars won't seem like a deal breaker anymore.

 

[JSanta]

Tell your wife about your married friend that does drugs and cheats on his wife and gave her Hep C.

A couple too many guitars won't seem like a deal breaker anymore.

Yeah, that one doesn't work on my wife at all haha!

 

[wedge_destroyer]

Fortunately for you, your wife has one of those husbands who knows how to hide guitars he buys in the future, ifyouknowhwatimean.

Strange how that 25.5 inch scale 6 string sits so nicely in that 7 string case....