What scale is the most popular for CBGs?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by uncle Lou on August 4, 2010 at 10:48pm

Really its up to you. I like around a 22 in scale. Little shorter then standered fender 25 in scale. Realy though what ever fits the box your using the best. Not sure if you know or not, but all you do is cut like the first 1,2 0r 3 fret slots off to get the scale down. Remember what ever scale you use 12th fret is always half way point from nut so double the lenght for where the bridge goes..Have fun

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on August 4, 2010 at 11:13pm

"Standard" scale length run 24 to 25 1/2 inches..... but, nothing is standard with CBGs. I'm with Uncle Lou... while most of the CBGs I build for sale are 24 or 25 1/2 inches, my favorites for playing (the one's I play the most in my gigs) are short scale (22inches more or less)..

For your personal CBG, its.... well..... personal...

the best,

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Michael R Cossey on August 5, 2010 at 9:19am

Thanks Men......I'm use to Ovation, and haven't a clue of it's scale...smile....Been thinking about getting one of those Stewmac fret scale rule/template.....

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Permalink Reply by uncle Lou on August 5, 2010 at 9:36am

I have the ruler it works real nice

Michael R Cossey said:

Thanks Men......I'm use to Ovation, and haven't a clue of it's scale...smile....Been thinking about getting one of those Stewmac fret scale rule/template.....

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on August 5, 2010 at 9:50am

You can also download the free program called Wfret and just print out the template for the scale and the number of frets you want, cut it out and tape it to your fretboard, mark the positions and cut your frets.

Did I mention it is free?

uncle Lou said:

I have the ruler it works real nice

Michael R Cossey said:

Thanks Men......I'm use to Ovation, and haven't a clue of it's scale...smile....Been thinking about getting one of those Stewmac fret scale rule/template.....

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Permalink Reply by uncle Lou on August 5, 2010 at 10:32am

Well free? If u plan on cuttin` alot of fretboards over time that free+ paper and ink can add up 30 bucks 4 the fret ruler ain`t bad

Iggy said:

You can also download the free program called Wfret and just print out the template for the scale and the number of frets you want, cut it out and tape it to your fretboard, mark the positions and cut your frets.

Did I mention it is free?

uncle Lou said:

I have the ruler it works real nice

Michael R Cossey said:

Thanks Men......I'm use to Ovation, and haven't a clue of it's scale...smile....Been thinking about getting one of those Stewmac fret scale rule/template.....

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Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on August 5, 2010 at 10:54am

I have made 15, and 19, for my kids, more of a Uke sized. 21' seems to be what I like for myself, good sound and good balance for the box, course depends on the how heavy you make the neck. I am talking 3 stringer here. So it looks like a balance of the sound and weight and box, leaves lots of room for just about anything.
Cheers Ron.

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Permalink Reply by LittleBigOne on August 5, 2010 at 11:00am

another issue is that the shorter the length scale, the higher pitch, if I'm right you also need to adapt
depending on the size of the box. For example, a short scale used with a little box may have little chances
to result in a low pitch guitar :-)

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on August 5, 2010 at 11:07am

Point taken. However, I have made dozens of necks from the same 5 printouts, so I would kind of doubt that I will ever spend 30 bucks in paper and ink, since they are re-usable multiple times.

The ruler is a good idea too.

uncle Lou said:

Well free? If u plan on cuttin` alot of fretboards over time that free+ paper and ink can add up 30 bucks 4 the fret ruler ain`t bad

Iggy said:

You can also download the free program called Wfret and just print out the template for the scale and the number of frets you want, cut it out and tape it to your fretboard, mark the positions and cut your frets.

Did I mention it is free?

uncle Lou said:

I have the ruler it works real nice

Michael R Cossey said:

Thanks Men......I'm use to Ovation, and haven't a clue of it's scale...smile....Been thinking about getting one of those Stewmac fret scale rule/template.....

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by uncle Lou on August 5, 2010 at 11:15am

I didn`t mean to sound disrespectful, I think with me i just like havin` a solid ruler, and i never had thought of it befor but one could use heavy paper for the print out, dang guess i could of save a 30.

Iggy said:

Point taken. However, I have made dozens of necks from the same 5 printouts, so I would kind of doubt that I will ever spend 30 bucks in paper and ink, since they are re-usable multiple times.

The ruler is a good idea too.

uncle Lou said:

Well free? If u plan on cuttin` alot of fretboards over time that free+ paper and ink can add up 30 bucks 4 the fret ruler ain`t bad

Iggy said:

You can also download the free program called Wfret and just print out the template for the scale and the number of frets you want, cut it out and tape it to your fretboard, mark the positions and cut your frets.

Did I mention it is free?

uncle Lou said:

I have the ruler it works real nice

Michael R Cossey said:

Thanks Men......I'm use to Ovation, and haven't a clue of it's scale...smile....Been thinking about getting one of those Stewmac fret scale rule/template.....

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on August 5, 2010 at 2:05pm

No disrepect taken. :-)

I just print it out and trim it with scissors, tape it together with scotch tape, so I have a long skinny template. Then I just tape it to the neck with the one end lined up with the nut.

Then I just mark the fret locations with a pencil, take the template off and save it, and cut the fret slots with the fret saw.

You can re-use each template a bunch of times. I have a handful of them all printed out for the most common scales I use. Usually I do a 25.5, a 24, or a 17 for a uke.


uncle Lou said:

I didn`t mean to sound disrespectful, I think with me i just like havin` a solid ruler, and i never had thought of it befor but one could use heavy paper for the print out, dang guess i could of save a 30.

Iggy said:

Point taken. However, I have made dozens of necks from the same 5 printouts, so I would kind of doubt that I will ever spend 30 bucks in paper and ink, since they are re-usable multiple times.

The ruler is a good idea too.

uncle Lou said:

Well free? If u plan on cuttin` alot of fretboards over time that free+ paper and ink can add up 30 bucks 4 the fret ruler ain`t bad

Iggy said:

You can also download the free program called Wfret and just print out the template for the scale and the number of frets you want, cut it out and tape it to your fretboard, mark the positions and cut your frets.

Did I mention it is free?

uncle Lou said:

I have the ruler it works real nice

Michael R Cossey said:

Thanks Men......I'm use to Ovation, and haven't a clue of it's scale...smile....Been thinking about getting one of those Stewmac fret scale rule/template.....

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on August 5, 2010 at 2:12pm

Wikipedia has a very helpful page detailing the various average scale lengths for different brands of guitars, just in case you have a preferred format...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_%28string_instruments%29

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