Playability in Different Scale Lengths

[JohnSacrimoni]

Thinking of adding a 7 string to my arsenal. Ive had a couple Schecter ones in the past but could never get along with the 26.5 scale. That being said, I have improved alot as a player and might not mind now. My question is, how does the playability/fret size compare on a 25.5, a 25.5-27 multiscale, and a 26.5 ?? Would the multiscale feel harder to play than the 26.5? I find most of the bands I like that use 7s just use straight 25.5 scale. Is it correct to say that extended scale is pointless when not tuning super low? I think its just the larger frets that bug me. My hands arent small but not big either. Thanks

 

[Isaiah04]

I have a multiscale Jackson with a 25.5 to 27 inch scale length, the playability is a bit to get used to and the stretches on the lower strings are a bit longer, but it depends on the model as the straight fret is different for different brands. If you play less technical stuff it'll be easy to get accustomed to fast, but more technical stuff will take a bit getting used to

 

[bostjan]

Playability is a function of too many variables to boil down to a statement as simple as "x scale length is easier to play than y." One of those variables is scale length, no doubt, but the optimal scale length for you depends on your preferences and also what you intend to play on it. If you want to do some crazy Buckethead/Jesus-Lizard stretches, then you might find even a 25.5" scale to be too long. If you want to do a bunch of soloing up in the XVIIIth position, then you will likely welcome every extra bit of scale length.

But, in my opinion, the overall ergonomics of the guitar's design is just as impactful on playability as any of those things. I've played guitars with dumb designs a lot, and, well, a Fender Bass VI with a 30" scale is more comfy to play than a shitty Silvertone with a 25" scale. Why? Because one was built with some rudimentary sense of what features make a guitar more comfortable to play and the other was designed with the plan of making the guitar as inexpensive as possible and looking unique enough to get your attention.

I personally prefer longer scale lengths, the longer the better, if I'm going to be tuning down at all. Even in standard tuning, I'd prefer 27" to 25.5". But I've spent years playing around with microtonal tunings where the frets get really close together, so my hands have gotten accustomed to the bigger stretches, maybe. IDK.

I guess, if you think you don't like 26.5" specifically because the stretches between frets are too much (which I honestly doubt that's the sole issue, since that extra 1.5" works out to less than 6% extra space between frets, which ought to be closer to just noticeable than gamechanging), then just stay away from those guitars you don't prefer.

 

[JohnSacrimoni]

H

Playability is a function of too many variables to boil down to a statement as simple as "x scale length is easier to play than y." One of those variables is scale length, no doubt, but the optimal scale length for you depends on your preferences and also what you intend to play on it. If you want to do some crazy Buckethead/Jesus-Lizard stretches, then you might find even a 25.5" scale to be too long. If you want to do a bunch of soloing up in the XVIIIth position, then you will likely welcome every extra bit of scale length.

But, in my opinion, the overall ergonomics of the guitar's design is just as impactful on playability as any of those things. I've played guitars with dumb designs a lot, and, well, a Fender Bass VI with a 30" scale is more comfy to play than a shitty Silvertone with a 25" scale. Why? Because one was built with some rudimentary sense of what features make a guitar more comfortable to play and the other was designed with the plan of making the guitar as inexpensive as possible and looking unique enough to get your attention.

I personally prefer longer scale lengths, the longer the better, if I'm going to be tuning down at all. Even in standard tuning, I'd prefer 27" to 25.5". But I've spent years playing around with microtonal tunings where the frets get really close together, so my hands have gotten accustomed to the bigger stretches, maybe. IDK.

I guess, if you think you don't like 26.5" specifically because the stretches between frets are too much (which I honestly doubt that's the sole issue, since that extra 1.5" works out to less than 6% extra space between frets, which ought to be closer to just noticeable than gamechanging), then just stay away from those guitars you don't prefer.

Thank you! Im thinking now that alot of the perceived difference was largely psychological

 

[animalwithin]

H

Thank you! Im thinking now that alot of the perceived difference was largely psychological

I'm thinking this is the same with me as well. I would also say that perhaps guitar shape influences how the longer scale length feels. I have some guitars at 25.5" that feel like I have to stretch for some notes whilst others of the same scale length feel not much different than my Gibson scale guitars. The only difference between the guitars is the shape so I'm assuming the guitar is sitting a bit differently on my body and is resulting in the different feel between the two same-scale-length guitars. Perhaps this is also what is happening with the 26.5" for you (and me).

 

[Wiltonauer]

If the 26.5” scale bothers you everywhere on the neck, a multiscale might not be the best for you either, but consider this: If you like what the 26.5” does for you on the wound strings but maybe not so much on the plain strings, a multiscale gives you the better part of each. There are fewer choices in guitars and parts, sure, but I found getting used to it was pretty easy (on 7’s that ran 25.5” to 27”), and my hands are probably extremely average or slightly smaller.

If you’re most comfortable with a 25.5” and have smallish hands, another 1” or 1.5” does matter. It’s more of a stretch in the first octave, but the extra space between the upper frets can be a benefit if you feel a little cramped up there on shorter scales. (I know I do.) I just approach it like a different instrument, really.

 

[dmlinger]

Purely anecdotal based on my experience... I've always played 25.5" guitars so they felt and played the best for me. I bought a 27" guitar and it felt so foreign that I ultimately ended up selling it.

Fast forward to this year, when I got into Les Paul and they have a 24.75" scale. Now when I play my 25.5 guitars, they feel different.

To summarize, it just depends on how long it takes you to get used to it.

 

[Wiltonauer]

Also anecdotal, I’m still very much in the honeymoon phase with my 26.5” seven-string. Playing it feels somewhat reminiscent of playing a baritone, even though I’m using standard B-E-A-D-G-B-E tuning and a 62-46-36-26-16-11-9 string set.

I like playing bass lines on the top two strings, which works out better than it did on my two previous sevens, as the low notes on this one are very resonant and piano-like. I find myself playing single-note lines instead of chords sometimes. I think I get more satisfaction per note than I do on some of my other guitars. The way this one is set up forces me to slow down and, well, choose better notes, and the guitar rewards me by sounding awesome.

Maybe I’ll get used to it and build up the extra dexterity needed to get around on it the way I do on my other guitars. Maybe my playing approaches will converge over time and the two scales won’t seem so different. Even if that never happens, I don’t see myself getting rid of this guitar. It’s different and cool and everything I hoped it would be. And this is without the pro setup that’s probably going to happen before too long.

 

[Hyacinth]

The longer scale is nice because you get a better tone due to the fact that you don't need super thick strings anymore. When you use thicker strings on a 25.5" scale you don't get that bark due to the string tension being too much. I just went from a 25.5" Ibanez AZ to a 25.5-38.625 multiscale and the playability is great.

 

[BabUShka]

I'm thinking this is the same with me as well. I would also say that perhaps guitar shape influences how the longer scale length feels. I have some guitars at 25.5" that feel like I have to stretch for some notes whilst others of the same scale length feel not much different than my Gibson scale guitars. The only difference between the guitars is the shape so I'm assuming the guitar is sitting a bit differently on my body and is resulting in the different feel between the two same-scale-length guitars. Perhaps this is also what is happening with the 26.5" for you (and me).

Good point.. I had a Hellraiser C7. Really lover this guitar, but the scale length was a huge no go for me. Replace it with a 25.5" AW-7 and it fits me much better comfort wise.

But when you mention it, I do feel like the Blackjack ATX C1 feels much longer on scale that my EBMM JP6. They are both 25.5". So yes, the geometry of the guitar has probably something to do say with thinner body, better high er feet access, thinner neck compared to Schecter.

I have not tried a SLS yet. But maybe a Schecter C7 SLS would feel much better with 26.5" due to its slimmer neck.

 

[bostjan]

The longer scale is nice because you get a better tone due to the fact that you don't need super thick strings anymore. When you use thicker strings on a 25.5" scale you don't get that bark due to the string tension being too much. I just went from a 25.5" Ibanez AZ to a 25.5-38.625 multiscale and the playability is great.

Now I want a guitar with a 38.625" scale length!

 

[animalwithin]

The longer scale is nice because you get a better tone due to the fact that you don't need super thick strings anymore. When you use thicker strings on a 25.5" scale you don't get that bark due to the string tension being too much. I just went from a 25.5" Ibanez AZ to a 25.5-38.625 multiscale and the playability is great.

This is interesting. Describe bark with respect to tonality. I know Mark Holcomb uses 11-56 gauge on his 25.5" scale PRS guitars.

 

[Hyacinth]

This is interesting. Describe bark with respect to tonality. I know Mark Holcomb uses 11-56 gauge on his 25.5" scale PRS guitars.

When your strings are too thick you get too much bass out of the notes and it just makes them sound tubby IMO. I had a 90 for the low E on my 38.625" and it made it so the notes were just too fat, didn't have much sustain and didn't have that "rubber band being plucked" sound. It's kind of hard to describe a sound quality through text but you want your strings to have a little bit of give so the string oscillates enough to actually have the proper guitar timbre.

 

[Hyacinth]

Oh man, I can't believe I entered the same typo twice. My guitar is 25.5"-28.625", not 38.625" lmao

 

[Lemonbaby]

Now I want a guitar with a 38.625" scale length!

Bro... anything over 38.5" is unplayable.

 

[Robslalaina]

For context I play 25.5" 6 strings the great majority of the time as well as 24.75 inchers occasionally when friends let me borrow their Gibsons. Recently I tried out a 26.5" 7 string Soloist and I didn't even notice the scale length.. The carved top digging into my forearm was another issue though. That being said I play bass every now and then too so perhaps that helps?

 

[CanserDYI]

I switch back and forth between my 25.5 inch 7 and 27 inch 6 string and have no real issues. I don't find 27 inches with a skinny board reeally any foreign feeling at all.

 

[Oscar Stern]

I have a multiscale Jackson with a 25.5 to 27 inch scale length, the playability is a bit to get used to and the stretches on the lower strings are a bit longer, but it depends on the model as the straight fret is different for different brands. If you play less technical stuff it'll be easy to get accustomed to fast, but more technical stuff will take a bit getting used to

Well I have that same Guitar too also made by Jackson.

 

[CanserDYI]

Well I have that same Guitar too but it's a copy made by the Iconic company C.F. Martin. The Instructions that came w/ the Guitar answer that question very clearly. They recommend using heavier gauge strings on the shorter scale length instruments, & lighter gauge strings on the longer scale length Guitars (as well as the Multi-Scale length instruments). If my memory serves musicians that have both a Gibson & a Fender (or a Martin) will use strings that are Half a Gauge Thinner on the Longer Scale Length instrument so that they get a more similar feel in playability terms.

Dude, so you somehow have a multiscale 27 to 25.5 inch Jackson copy made by.....Martin? Please, please, PLEASE post pics of this.

 

[Oscar Stern]

Dude, so you somehow have a multiscale 27 to 25.5 inch Jackson copy made by.....Martin? Please, please, PLEASE post pics of this.

I just edited one of my answers. My Jackson Multiscale 7 String is actually in a Blueburst.