Scale Lengths, etc.

Comment

Comment by Chuck Dubman on February 27, 2010 at 1:02pm

@ Mike Ptolomey -- I've seen two constants used, 17.817 and 17.835 (Irving Sloane's book, was used to lay out the Ibex rule). Try both. The correct one
should place the 12th fret midway btwn the bridge and nut without compensation, the 7th fret 1/3 of the way, and the 5th fret 1/4 of the way.
ALWAYS calculate each fret from the nut or bridge, you'll NEVER get it right if you measure off each fret and you'll just drive yourself nuts. The compass trick sounds great in theory, but in practice, it does not work.

Comment by HOGS GRUNT on February 23, 2010 at 2:49pm

Thanks Jef.
Hogs.

Comment by Jef Long on February 23, 2010 at 11:59am

I put the same link twice before ..
what a goose!
the sketch up design thing is here
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/fretcalcscreengrab-1/prev?context=album&albumId=2592684%3AAlbum%3A193259

Comment by Jef Long on February 23, 2010 at 8:08am

this is a screen grab from my fret calculator..

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/fretcalcscreengrab-1?context=album&albumId=2592684%3AAlbum%3A193259

and this is one of a lap steel im planning in the sketch up..

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/fretcalcscreengrab-1?context=album&albumId=2592684%3AAlbum%3A193259

Comment by Jef Long on February 23, 2010 at 7:33am

Hi everybody..
I know there are online calculators and stuff that people use, but you may be interested to know I made i simple .xls spreadsheet which uses the mathematical formula Mike Ptolomey is talking about there, the 'rule of 18'
I just plug a value in the top cell for my scale length and it draws out the whole thing..
You can then plug the values into google's free 'sketch-up' software to make a 3d model of your neck or even whole instrument.. (or even your house with the instrument up on the kitchen bench..)
If you want this .xls file (its pretty simple to make your own of course) Im happy to email to anyone just pm me..

Comment by Ben on February 23, 2010 at 6:06am

Vince, of course you could do that. Your instrument would still have a scale length, you just wouldn't know what it was...no biggy. Just keep in mind that a guitar neck (and piano as well as a gazzillion other instrument) is "equal tempered." That means that there are compensations made for each note so that they're slighty out of tune but actually sound better played in all keys. If you're just sliding around, by all means...(h)ear it.

Comment by vince tomsha on January 22, 2010 at 4:42am

what is the importance of scale length
cant i build a guitar with a 40 inch neck
find fret markers with my ear and just play?
please explain
vince

Comment by Randy S. Bretz on December 29, 2009 at 8:36am

Here`s a pic of my scale chart, I`ve had it over 15 years so it`s alittle worn http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/scale-chart?context=user

Comment by Randy S. Bretz on December 29, 2009 at 6:40am

To anyone who does alot of different scale lengths, you got to get one of these scale charts. You can use it for guitar,bass,banjo,mandolin,dulcimer. I have turned alot of members on to this chart. It saves alot of time and well worth having.http://www.harpkit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=fretchart&Category_Code=genbook&Product_Count=3

Comment by jason noon on December 17, 2009 at 3:16pm

www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk

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