Because I found the scale length I used to make the guitars I have given up playing them as the neck and fret spacing was to long/wide for me.
Consequently I went for ukuleles which I find more playable and manageable. After trying the different sizes I like the tenor best, closely followed by the baritone.
I will do another guitar in the future possibly using the 23" scale length suggested to me...that makes it 4 inches longer than a baritone uke...so I am still not sure.
Anybody got any ideas concerning scale length vs personal physical characteristics??
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Thanks David...another good idea that hadn't occurred to me. I'll give it a try,
I don't have any physical issues with my hands, just smaller than average I guess...or shorter than average arms!
I did have a nylon strung 6-string guitar but found that even harder to master because of it's sheer physical size. However I haven't tried a CBG with nylon...obviously I could only use them on a piezo pickup instrument to get amplification.
Thanks Brian as you have put another idea into my head!
I’m guessing you’re trying to offset an issue with your hands? Plenty of people with hand issues here use Nylon classical strings? I have seen several build fretted & fretless sliders with them? Good luck :)
Due to a neurological problem there are times when I have difficulty with a full scale regular guitar. To make it easier I tend to down tune the strings and use a capo, or just use a capo and play in a higher key. Also I sometimes switch to a 3/4 size classical guitar.
If you want six strings on a smaller scale check out "guitalele" online - Yamaha do a six string one with a 17"scale - the trade off is you tune it like a guitar with a capo at the 5th fret (ADGCEA).
It's all about the scale length and the strings used with said scale.
I have a 28" scale Dulcitar with a regular set of 10's for guitar instead of Baritone guitar strings. The trade off is that while the strings are tight(tuned drop C) and hard to do bends, it makes a dark toned instrument sound brighter.
Stevie Ray Vaughn used a set of 11 regular guitar strings on his 25.5" scale Strat and tuned it down a step to D/G/D/F/A/D to make the strings loose enough to do all the crazy bends he could do while keeping some harmonic influence. Some trade offs work.
Is this a question about the long and short of it?
Paul you are absolutely right...it is something I have studied and experienced when building keyboard instruments. In the context here I find the trade-off between my ukes and guitars quite noticable (c. 17ins vs 24.75ins) even allowing for dramatically different string materials.
The longer scales add more harmonic influence due to the tightness of the strings, but the playability aspects of the shorter scales make them fun/easier to play.
It's harder on the fingers to bend notes on a 25.5" scale guitar, but the harmonics are awesome. 24.5"/24.75" scale is easy to bend notes, but the harmonics are subdued. That's why I love the 25" scale for guitar and CBG's Move down to Tenor scale 19" to 24" and face similar results to the longer scales. At least for me.
Yes Mark that makes it about the scale length/size of a baritone uke. The fact you like playing it suggests the direction I should go in.
I have made several 23 inch scale 3 stringers, find them easier to play without slide.
Also made a 20 inch scale for my 7 year old grandson & I enjoying playing it myself.
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