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Permalink Reply by Steve Winchell on May 12, 2009 at 4:41am

Is 24 and a half the scale you normally use? I have been using a scale of 25 1/2 to 25 1/4 and had some problems with strings breaking at the nut or halfway on the headstock. More so when I use a bolt as a nut. Is it true the shorter the scale the less tension you need to get the string to correct pitch?

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Brooker on May 12, 2009 at 4:55am

Steve - I'm not sure whether the scale length is your problem or not - You might want to make sure there are no rough spots or burrs on your bolt/nut - I used the 24 1/2" as it is rather common on many standard guitars - I use Corel Draw to create all the scale elngths I need - By just scaling the total length of a scale I can then print out any fret board I need - When I find the time I'm going to make a few more diddley bows and they will have fret boards printed on wood veneer and each fret will be marked with a number - on my webpage I also offer songs that can be played by number as well - Maybe some of the more experienced builders will "strum" in with thier comments regarding scale length - D Brooker

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Permalink Reply by Ben on May 12, 2009 at 5:29am

I can't claim to be an experienced builder but I've got a good idea of how scale lengths work. The longer the scale, the more tension will be needed to bring the string up to "standard" pitch. Likewise, the shorter the string, the less amount of tension will be needed in order to get that pitch. Steve, have you considered tuning a bit lower than normal to solve your string breakage problems (kind of like "adding" an extra fret)? That's one of the things I'm working on now. I like the tension of the strings I have on my current (only) one... A D G tuned to G D G. I'm building my next with close to a 28" scale length in hopes of getting G D G down to around an E B E but still using the A D G strings. Confusing enough? I'm thinking of it as kind of a baritone CBG. It should be finished one of these days so I'll let you know. (After that I'm planning a 22 1/2", 4 string tenor guitar tuned C G D A)

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Permalink Reply by Steve Winchell on May 21, 2009 at 9:07am

Thanks for the info,I did file ,sand and put a little graphite (pencil lead which is graphite) on the nut of that one guitar and it has been fine since. I also tuned it GDG rather than AEA.
Ben said:

I can't claim to be an experienced builder but I've got a good idea of how scale lengths work. The longer the scale, the more tension will be needed to bring the string up to "standard" pitch. Likewise, the shorter the string, the less amount of tension will be needed in order to get that pitch. Steve, have you considered tuning a bit lower than normal to solve your string breakage problems (kind of like "adding" an extra fret)? That's one of the things I'm working on now. I like the tension of the strings I have on my current (only) one... A D G tuned to G D G. I'm building my next with close to a 28" scale length in hopes of getting G D G down to around an E B E but still using the A D G strings. Confusing enough? I'm thinking of it as kind of a baritone CBG. It should be finished one of these days so I'll let you know. (After that I'm planning a 22 1/2", 4 string tenor guitar tuned C G D A)

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Permalink Reply by Doug Thorsvik on May 23, 2009 at 5:30pm

Steve

It is true the shorted the scale the less tension you need to get the string to correct pitch, but I have learned that if the string tension is not high enough, the intonation will suffer. I went with a shorter scale length of 22" on my first CBG because I was worried about the neck bowing. It sound terrible until I put on thicker strings and then it was workable, but not great (and the neck started bowing!). On my latest instrument I put on a custom set of strings for GDAD tuning and a 25" scale length; best intonation to date. I use a zero fret and a string guide with drilled holes; haven't broken any strings yet, but I'm not a string bender either! Good luck.

Doug

Steve Winchell said:

Is 24 and a half the scale you normally use? I have been using a scale of 25 1/2 to 25 1/4 and had some problems with strings breaking at the nut or halfway on the headstock. More so when I use a bolt as a nut. Is it true the shorter the scale the less tension you need to get the string to correct pitch?

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