Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TN Twang on March 4, 2015 at 8:09am

But note that Ben (CB Gitty) just came out with a template for frets in a 25" scale (NOT 25.5"). I plan to get one of those and convert all future CBG builds to that scale. (It's still slightly smaller than the 25.5-inch "Martin Dreadnaught" scale.)

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on March 4, 2015 at 8:11am

25.5" is the same scale length as a Fender Strat, which is average for most without over stretching, really it takes practice!

try this excercise - on a three or four string try fretting  across all the strings at the 5th fret, strum it and use your little finger to alternately fret the middle/2nd string on the 7th and 8th frets - boogie! :-)

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 4, 2015 at 8:31am

thanks everybody.  i think i have short stubby fingers :)

Steve for what you are suggesting, not sure I can picture in my mind. are you saying to using my index finger and fret all strings on number 5 and then take my pinky and stretch it to 7th and 8th back and forth?

is that right?

Thanks,

Mike

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 4, 2015 at 10:55am

I being totally a novice have no touch-stone so I am good. :) I just ant to be able to play. My hands tend to cramp a lot normally so have that going for me as well. :)

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on March 5, 2015 at 7:40am

that's right! 

doing simple melodies with simple chords and barre chords will be done comfortably on a CBG 3 or 4 string, but fancy solos will be almost impossible, a 6 string is for those and if you use the scales with the shortest distance between each note :-)

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 4, 2015 at 9:52am

My most recent build used a 24" scale. Prior builds used either 25" or 25.5". I won't say that the 24 incher is worlds easier to fret, but I do seem to be able to knock down a few chords on it that I "stretch" (pronounced struggle) to hit.

I guess one question to ask is" Is there a down side to using a 24" versus 25" scale?" I think you would be hard pressed to find a realistic negative to the shorter scale. You may have to tweak strings slightly (maybe) to get the tension you would get on a 25 inch scale, but a one inch reduction (read 4%) shouldn't really require string fiddling.

I think a lot of folks on the board have build longer and shorter scaled guitars. Have never heard a negative either way. It's really a matter of what you feel comfortable playing. If it's a 23 or 24" scale, then go for it.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 4, 2015 at 10:55am

Thanks Tom. I will try a couple different lengths and see what is best for me.

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on March 4, 2015 at 2:44pm

one variable to consider is string gauge,strings just right for 25.5,may not be suitable for 24 and vice versa,Harrison Withers did a blog here some time back on the subject,it's worth a look

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 4, 2015 at 3:49pm

Thanks, I did not know that (but I don't know anything so that is not a surprise). How do I find that blog? I tried searching but could not find it.

Thx!

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on March 4, 2015 at 4:56pm

http://hcw3.com/?p=91

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 4, 2015 at 5:10pm

Thanks! I will check it out.

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Permalink Reply by TN Twang on March 6, 2015 at 4:52am

Excellent article. Confirms my suspicions about D'Addario's computations. (Don't get me wrong, I like their strings--I just don't trust the numbers on their data sheets.)

Since CB Gitty has started selling 3-string string sets, we need to get his input on the problems and joys of string selection.

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