Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by terry harris on June 17, 2013 at 6:22am

From what I've seen it looks like around the 25" +/- scale is the norm and I was kinda worried about putting people off with an "unusual" scale length. The two I have built so far have been 25". Thanks for the reply!!

I'll check out the Uke group. I mostly build conventional ukes but am gonna try a couple cigar box styles.

Permalink Reply by Suspect Device on June 17, 2013 at 6:44am

More people tend to build in the 25" scale range because that's in the ballpark of a standard guitar. Personally, I love building with shorter scales. I haven't built one quite that short, but many of mine are in the 22"-23" range and generally the result of trying to keep the visual proportions in line when building with a shorter than average box. People buy the short scale cbgs all the time, as long as they play, sound & look good. It's also kind of fun to be able to reach both the 7th &12th frets at the same time.

Permalink Reply by terry harris on June 17, 2013 at 3:53pm

I like the idea of the shorter scales since the boxes are generally so short the shorter scale would put the bridge closer to the center, farther from the back of the box. I don't have a template for the scale lengths you mentioned, I use a table saw for slotting, but I could make one easy enough with the machinery I have. I'll just have to build one to try and see and hear!!

Permalink Reply by Rooster Reaves on June 17, 2013 at 6:52am

I think that's great!! I'd like one.

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on June 17, 2013 at 7:37am

You may be planning to use nylon strings, but if you intend to use steel or electric guitar strings, heavier gauge strings will provide a full, rounded tone...deeper and more pleasing to the ear. Lighter gauge strings will be brighter and many times, "tinny".

Harrison Withers wrote a great blog article regarding scale length vs. string gauge.

Reason is, the steel acoustic & electric strings are designed for full scale (24.75" to 25.5") layouts.

I've built from 15" to 25.5" cbg's w/ 4 strings...tuned ADF#B. The longer scale one's don't sound at all like a uke...more guitar-ish.

Permalink Reply by terry harris on June 17, 2013 at 3:53pm

Hey Scott, About ready to test out those pickups, probably tomorrow.

I'll be using steel strings but I understand how the shorter scales can affect the sound. We'll see, LOL

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on June 18, 2013 at 12:57am

I look forward to hearing how the pickups sound, Terry. Be sure to post a video if you can.

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on June 17, 2013 at 9:55am

I have built one with an 18" scale. Sounds good to me.

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on June 17, 2013 at 11:58am

I like 23"

There's plenty of reason to do a bit shorter than a guitar for open tunings, there's probably going to be a perfect fifth in your open tuning (I'm talking about the intervals between each string, a perfect fifth eg e-b, g-d is seven frets..) guitars are built for tuning in fourths (5 frets) when you put a fifth in your tuning there are intervals and chords that are exceptionally difficult/impossible to reach at 25" or more.

While it is true that guitar strings are manufactured for this longer scale remember that they are also made to be fretted and played over only a portion of their length. They do not by definition sound thinner or weaker or any of that rubbish just because you made a shorter neck, a particular string just wants to be tuned to a higher pitch by virtue of that shorter length, it'll sound just fine, just as a telecaster has a perfectly usable tone even wen it's capped up to fret three.. ;)

Don't overlook that it is also very possible to move your bridge away from the edge of the box (I've not checked your pics but for a lot of guys here that will be a VERY good idea imho) just by building more frets clear of the box.. (Ie a longer neck, but for the same scale length)

Permalink Reply by terry harris on June 17, 2013 at 4:14pm

Don't overlook that it is also very possible to move your bridge away from the edge of the box (I've not checked your pics but for a lot of guys here that will be a VERY good idea imho) just by building more frets clear of the box

Since I'm mostly interested in building acoustic (I'm just finishing up an electric cbg tho) that's exactly what I have been thinking about. Some of the better sounding concert ukes I have built have been 12 frets at the body instead of 14. Moved the bridge closer to the center of the lower bout.

Good point about the capoed tele. I saw a guy capo a strat weekend before last and I think it was maybe the first time I'd ever seen an electric with a capo. Worked fine.

It would be interesting to tune in fifths mando/fiddle style

Permalink Reply by terry harris on June 17, 2013 at 4:18pm

Thanks for all your input. Here's what I regularly build.  All your input is most appreciated.

First time, I think, I've put anything up here

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on June 17, 2013 at 4:29pm

That's beautiful work. Top looks like tassie blackwood.
Take a look in my pix for plenty of tin and box gitts with 24 frets clear of the box and a 600mm (23 5/8) scale. This puts only 1/4 of the scale length (15 cm) over the box

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