WA's Scale Lengths - for guitar, bass guitar, mandolin and other stringed instruments     - Dec 1997. Last edited 24 May 2025

 WA's Encyclopedia of Alternate Guitar Tunings

     All measurements are from nut to saddle -- for the 1st string*, presumably. When tunings are listed, string 6 (lowest) is at left.

  • Martin Backpacker ukelele................................13.614"...345.8mm

  • RISA Uke-Electric-Soprano mandolin.......................13.8".....350mm

  • standard mandolin scale.......................13-7/8"....13.875"...352.425mm - D'Addario string tension brochure

  • Mid-Missouri M-4 mandolin.....................13-7/8"....13.875"...352.425mm

  • Martin Backpacker mandolin....................13-7/8"....13.875"...352.4mm

  • Moon mandolin............................................13.98"....355mm

  • Blue Star Mandoblaster electric mandolin......14"........14.00"....355.6mm

  • Brüko Octave Guitar......................................14.09"....358mm - as used by Bright Blue Gorilla

  • Pentasystem electic mandolin..................14-1/8"....14.25"....361.95mm

  • Bolivian charango (descendent of the vihuela) ..........~14.5"....~368mm - five pairs, tuned G C E (octaves) A E <

  • Fluke ukeleles................................15-1/2"....15.50"....393.7mm

  • soprano guitar (small nylon string guitar)...............15.75"....400mm - tuned E A D G B E - up an octave

  • standard mandola scale........................15-7/8"....15.875"...403.225mm - D'Addario string tension brochure

  • Moon tenor mandola.......................................16.54"....420mm - tuned a fifth below the mandolin

  • RISA G-Stick travel guitar....................17"........17.00"....432mm - recommended tuning: ADGCEA -- up a fourth from standard guitar tuning

  • RISA Uke-Electric-Tenor.......................17"........17.00"....432mm - typical tuning: ADF#B or GCEA -- up a fourth or a fifth from standard guitar tuning

  • Veillette Gryphon MK IV Hi-tuned 12-String....18-1/2"....18.50"....470mm

  • Tacoma Papoose travel acoustic................19-3/32"...19.10"....485mm - typical tuning: ADGCEA -- up a fourth from standard guitar tuning

  • Washburn F1SK "Joey" travel acoustic..........19-1/4"....19.25"....489mm

  • PalmGuitar® electric (PalmGuitar, LLC)........20"........20.00"....508mm (~1999)

  • PalmGuitar® Standard Travel Guitar.......................20.239"...514mm (2006)

  • Rickenbacker 310 electric.....................20-3/4"....20.75"....527mm - Rickenbacker's 'short scale'

  • Rickenbacker 315 electric.....................20-3/4"....20.75"....527mm

  • Rickenbacker 320 electric.....................20-3/4"....20.75"....527mm

  • Rickenbacker 325 electric.....................20-3/4"....20.75"....527mm
    - Detailed history of John Lennon's 325

  • alto guitar (small nylon string guitar).......20-7/8"....20.87"....530mm
    - tuned B E A D F# B

  • G# Guitar (The G# Guitar Co., Norway).........20-7/8"....20.87"....530mm
    - tuned G# C# F# B D# G#

  • requinto (small nylon string guitar).....................20.87"....530mm
    - tuned A D G C E A

  • Moon mandola / octave mandolin...........................21.26"....540mm
    - tuned an octave below the mandolin

  • Martin Size 5 Mini-Martin "parlor guitar".....21-3/8"....21.375"...542mm - see note 4

  • Prelude QC-24 nylon string................... 21-7/16"...21.44"....545mm

  • 1931 Rickenbacker A22 "Frying Pan" lap steel..22"........22.00"....559mm - "First commercially successful electric guitar"
    Pre-dates Gibson's ES-150 (used by Charlie Christian) by about 4 years, and Les Paul's 'Log' by about 10 years.


  • some Ovation mini-cutaway acoustics...........22-1/2"....22.50"....572mm

  • Fender Duosonic electric......................22-1/2"....22.50"....572mm - see notes 6, 7, 8

  • Fender Musicmaster electric...................22-1/2"....22.50"....572mm - see notes 6, 7, 8

  • Fender Mustang electric.......................22-1/2"....22.50"....572mm - see notes 6, 7, 8

  • Baby Taylor portable acoustic.................22-3/4"....22.75"....578mm

  • (Fender) Squire Mini Strat....................22-3/4"....22.75"....578mm

  • 1959 Gibson ES-140 3/4T electric archtop .....22-3/4"....22.75"....578mm
    - 3/4 size, 22 3/4" short scale, kid-sized guitar - http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html

  • 1961 Gibson Les Paul Jr. electric tenor ......22-3/4"....22.75"....578mm - tenor banjo neck, C G D A tuning

  • 1965 Gibson SG Standard electric tenor .......22-3/4"....22.75"....578mm - tenor banjo neck, C G D A tuning

  • Morgan Monroe Mini 12-String acoustic ........22-3/4"....22.75"....578mm

  • 1929 Martin acoustic tenor guitar.............23"........23.00"....584.2mm - banjo-style tuners

  • Martin 7-28 7/8-size acoustic (1980)..........23"........23.00"....584.2mm

  • Little Martin acoustic (2004).................23"........23.00"....584.2mm

  • Moon cittern..................................23-1/2"....23.50"....597mm

  • Peavey T15 electric guitar....................23-1/2"....23.50"....597mm

  • Gibson Byrdland electric......................23-1/2"....23.50"....597mm
    "...because of its short scale it has very limited collectibility"- http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html

  • Gibson ES-350T electric (1955-1977)...........23-1/2"....23.50"....597mm - http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html

  • Yamaha APXT-1 portable acoustic/electric......23-5/8"....23.625"...600mm

  • some Ovation mini-cutaway acoustics...........23-5/8"....23.625"...600mm

  • Martin Backpacker classical...................24"........24.00"....610mm

  • Martin Backpacker steel string................24"........24.00"....610mm

  • Fernandes Nomad electric......................24"........24.00"....610mm

  • Fender Jaguar electric........................24"........24.00"....610mm

  • Fender Mustang electric.......................24"........24.00"....610mm - see notes 6, 7, 8

  • Fender Duosonic electric......................24"........24.00"....610mm - see notes 6, 7, 8

  • Fender Musicmaster electric...................24"........24.00"....610mm - see notes 6, 7, 8

  • Gretsch G3203 Hawaiian Acoustic...............24"........24.00"....610mm

  • Brian May's handbuilt 'Red Special' electric..24"........24.00"....610mm
    "...making for a more bend-friendly playing experience."

  • Larrivée Parlor guitar........................24"........24.00"....610mm

  • 1928 Gibson L-1 flattop acoustic..............24-1/4"....24.25"....616mm

  • Pignose PGG-100 travel guitar.................24-1/4"....24.25"....616mm

  • Gretsch 6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman....24-1/2"....24.50"....623mm

  • Gretsch Duo Jet electric solid body.......,,,,,,,,,,,....24.60"....625mm
    - http://www.gretschguitars.com | Elsewhere reported as 24-3/4" | "My first good guitar" - George Harrison

  • WA's 1963 Gibson B-25 acoustic................24-5/8"....24.625"...625mm

  • vintage Gibson Hummingbird....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • 1999 Gibson J-45 acoustic.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Guild Bluesbird electric......................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • standard Gibson scale.........................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm - but see note 1

  • many vintage Gibson electrics.................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm
    (Explorer, Flying V, Melody Maker, FireBird, ES series...)

  • 1999 Gibson Les Paul Jr. Special electric.....24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • 1999 Gibson Les Paul Standard electric........24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • 1999 Gibson Les Paul Jimmy Page electric......24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • 1999 Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis electric........24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • 1999 Gibson ES-335 electric...................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • WA's Epiphone SG electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Epiphone Casino electric......................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Epiphone Bluesmaster / Songwriter acoustic....24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm - Used by Keb' Mo' (Kevin Moore)

  • Gretsch Sprectra Sonic electric...............24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

    Gretsch White Penguin electric solid body.....24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Gretsch 6121 Chet Atkins electric solid body..24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Gretsch 6130 Roundup electric solid body......24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Rick Turner Model 1 electric..................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Rickenbacker 330 electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm - Rickenbacker's 'full scale'

  • Rickenbacker 335 electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Rickenbacker 340 electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Rickenbacker 345 electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Rickenbacker 360 electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Rickenbacker 365 electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Rickenbacker 370 electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Rickenbacker 375 electric.....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Traveler portable guitar......................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • almost all Hamer electrics....................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Washburn E300 electric........................24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • some Fylde acoustics (Ariel, Oberon)..........24-3/4"....24.75"....628mm

  • Godin 5th Avenue acoustic................................24.84"....631mm

  • Taylor T3/B electric.....................................24.875"...632mm

  • Martin D12-18, 000-28, 000-28EC..........................24.90"....632mm - see note 2

  • Yamaha SLG100S Silent Steel (bodyless)........24-15/16...24.94"....633mm

  • 1931 Rickenbacker A25 "Frying Pan" lap steel..25"........25.00"....635mm

  • standard mandocello scale.....................25"........25.00"....635mm - D'Addario string tension brochure

  • Goodall Parlor model acoustic.................25"........25.00"....635mm

  • Valley Arts VAGC-1 acoustic...................25"........25.00"....635mm

  • Danelectro Innuendo electric..................25"........25.00"....635mm

  • Jerry Jones Master Electric Sitar.............25"........25.00"....635mm - modeled after Coral electric sitar, 13 sympathetic strings

     Jerry_Jones-electric-sitar
  • Paul Reed Smith McCarty electric..............25"........25.00"....635mm - see note 3

  • a few Yamaha acoustics...................................25.08"....637mm

  • T. McInturff Polaris electric.................25-1/8"....25.125"...638mm

  • Vox Virage....................................25-1/8"....25.125"...638mm

  • Moon bouzouki............................................25.197"...640mm

  • some A. LoPrinzi classical guitars.......................25.197"...640mm

  • Santa Cruz Tony Rice Professional.............25-1/4"....25.25"....641mm

  • most Ovation acoustics........................25-1/4"....25.25"....641mm

  • some (not all) Rainsong acoustics.............25-3/8"....25.375"...644mm

  • many Takamine acoustic models.................25-3/8"....25.375"...644mm

  • Healdsville Auditorium acoustic..........................25.375"...644mm

  • most Martin guitars......................................25.4".....645mm
    - excepting those noted above

  • all or most A. LoPrinzi steel string guitars.............25.4".....645mm

  • "Standard Guitar Scale"..................................25.484"...647.29mm - http://www.allenguitar.com/fret_slo.htm"

  • Gibson ES-350T electric (1977-1981)...........25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm - http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html

  • Gibson Country Gentleman acoustic.............25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • 1999 Gibson Hummingbird acoustic..............25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • 1934 Gibson Super-400 acoustic................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • 1939 Gibson Advanced Jumbo acoustic...........25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • 1999 Gibson Dove acoustic.....................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Gibson Citation electric......................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Gibson Blueshawk electric.....................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Gibson Nighthawk electric.....................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Gretsch White Falcon electric hollow body.....25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Gretsch Van Eps electric hollow body..........25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm
    There were three models: 6079 (7 string sunburst), 6080 (7 string walnut), 6081 (6 string sunburst), 6082 (6 string walnut) -http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gretsch2.html#6128

  • Guild Artist electric.........................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • almost all Taylor guitars.....................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • some Fylde acoustics (Falstaff, Orsino).......25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • all or most Godin acoustics...................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Schecter Hellcat 10 electric..................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Music Man Axis Sports electric................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

     Antonio de Torres guitar
  • Fender Stratocaster electric..................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Reverend Rocco electric.......................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • G&L ASAT Deluxe electric......................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • almost all Goodall acoustics..................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • G&L ASAT Deluxe electric......................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Wilde Cherry Deluxe electric..................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • some (all?) Washburn acoustics................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • all Bourgeois acoustics.......................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Fernandes Nomad electric bass.................25-1/2"....25.50"....647.7mm

  • Moon guitar / bouzouki...................................25.51"....648mm

  • Antonio de Torres guitars of (1858-1892).................25.59"....650mm
    See notes on Antonio Torres, below.

  • most A. LoPrinzi classical guitars.......................25.59"....650mm

  • most Yamaha acoustics....................................25.59"....650mm

  • most or all G.W. Barry acoustics.........................25.59"....650mm

  • some Takamine models (PSF-65C)...........................25.59"....650mm

  • some (not all) Rainsong acoustics........................25.59"....650mm

  • all Lowden acoustics..........................25-5/8"....25.625"...650.875mm
    - Lowden sales rep Dave Ingham, Dec 2000

  • Ovation AE134 nylon-string acoustic/electric..26"........26.00"....660mm

  • Larrivée Classical acoustic...................26"........26.00"....660mm

  • Kay Thin Twin electric re-issue (2009)........26"........26.00"....660mm

  • Veillette Mark III 12-string electric.........26-1/8"....26.125"...664mm

  • some A. LoPrinzi classical guitars............26-1/8"....26.125"...664mm

  • "Gypsy Guitar" sold by Lark in the Morning....26-3/8"....26.375"...670mm
    - has a zero fret; modeled after a guitar used by Django R.

  • Gitane DG-250 gypsy jazz guitar...............26-3/8"....26.375"...670mm
    - has a zero fret; modeled after post-Maccaferri "petite bouche" Selmer.

  • Schecter Back Jack CEX Baritone electric......26-1/2"....26.50"....673mm

  • Memphis short-scale electric bass.............26-3/4"....26.75"....679.5mm

  • Santa Cruz Bob Brozman Baritone acoustic......27"........27.00"....685.8mm

  • Taylor Baritone acoustic models (2010)........27"........27.00"....685.8mm - tuned B E A D F# B

  • EPS LTD SC-607B electric 7-string baritone....27"........27.00"....685.8mm

  • Fender Jaguar Baritone Special HH.............27"........27.00"....685.8mm - tuned B E A D F# B

  • Fender Sub-Sonic Telecaster...................27"........27.00"....685.8mm - tuned B E A D F# B

  • Fender Sub-Sonic Stratocaster.................27"........27.00"....685.8mm - tuned B E A D F# B

  • contra-bass guitar (huge nylon string guitar)............27.56"....700mm - tuned E A D G B E - down an octave

  • Lowdon Baritone acoustic guitar..........................27.56"....700mm - tuned D G C F A D -- or lower

  • PRS Mike Mushok Baritone electric........................27.70"....703.58mm

  • Gibson Les Paul Studio Baritone electric......28"........28.00"....711.2mm

  • Eastwood Sidejack Baritone STD electric.......28"........28.00"....711.2mm

  • MJ Roadster Baritone electric.................28"........28.00"....711.2mm

  • Jerry Jones JJ Original Baritone electric.....28"........28.00"....711.2mm

  • CA Guitars AT-6 acoustic......................28"........28.00"....711.2mm
    "The AT-6 features a longer scale length for players who use a lot of alternate tunings. A longer scale means strings lose less tension when you drop their tunings..." - http://www.caguitars.com / - Cal Stevenson, CA Guitars, Inc.

  • Ovation DS768 Longneck acoustic/electric......28-1/3"....28.33"....721mm - see note 5

  • Fender Jaguar Baritone Custom electric........28-1/2"....28.50"....724.9mm

  • Steinberger Synapse TranScale ST-2FPA.........28-5/8"....28.63"....727mm

  • guitar built by Antonio Stradivari, 1688......29"........29.00"....736mm
    - featuring five courses of paired strings

  • Gretsch G6144 Spectra Sonic C Baritone........29-1/4"....29.25"....743mm - tuned C F Bb Eb G F

  • all Danelectro baritone electrics.............29-3/4"....29.75"....755.65mm - Danelectro product support

  • "Electric bass guitar (Short Scale)"..........30"........30.00"....762mm - D'Addario string tension brochure

  • Jerry Jones (Danelectro) Longhorn bass-6......30"........30.00"....762mm

  • Koyabu Board electric guitar / bass...........30"........30.00"....762mm

  • Hofner Icon B-Bass (like Paul McCartney's)....30"........30.00"....762mm

  • Fender Bass VI...........................................30.30"....770mm

  • Gretsch G6128B Thunder Jet¨bass..........................30.30"....770mm

  • "Electric bass guitar (Medium Scale)".........32"........32.00"....812.8mm - D'Addario string tension brochure

  • Fender BG-31 acoustic/electric bass...........32"........32.00"....812.8mm

  • "Electric bass guitar (Long Scale)"...........34"........34.00"....864mm - D'Addario string tension brochure

  • Fender Precision Bass.........................34"........34.00"....864mm

  • Fender Jazz Bass..............................34"........34.00"....864mm

  • Hamer bass guitars............................34"........34.00"....864mm

  • Fernandes Gravity electric bass...............34"........34.00"....864mm

  • Taylor acoustic basses........................34"........34.00"....864mm

  • Martin acoustic basses........................34"........34.00"....864mm

  • Epiphone acoustic basses (El Capitan).........34"........34.00"....864mm

  • "Electric bass guitar (Superlong Scale)"......36"........36.00"....914.4mm - D'Addario string tension brochure

  • "standard mandobass scale"....................42"........42.00"....1066.8mm - D'Addario string tension brochure

      Note on the three measurement formats: The scale lengths for most of the guitars in the table were specified in inches-and-fraction format, from which I've calculated the decimal-inches and metric values. In a few case the measurement was specified in either decimal-inches (Martin, notably) or metric (Yamaha acoustics), in which case I haven't tried to derive the inches-and-fraction value, since I prefer to have some indication that the scale of these guitars was not specified in terms of inches-and-fractions.


      * "On a slanted bridge, the high E is the shortest string, and the measurement should be taken there. On a compensated bridge, the G string is the shortest, and it should be used." - Questions section, Guitar Player magazine, Oct 1973

      "The scale length of an instrument is the distance from the nut to the 12th fret multiplied by 2." [Specifying scale length this way avoids the awkward problem of indicating what point on the slanted / compensated saddle to measure to. - WA] - Stewart-MacDonald Fret Calculator page, Jan 2005.


      "Like that of the violin, the scale of the classical guitar was standardized by the work of its most famous maker. Antonio de Torres Jurado (1817-1892) used a scale length of 25.6 in (650 mm), and later makers and their customers have been unreceptive to any suggestion of change. Antonio de Torres Jurado Unlike Stradivarius, Torres had no strong tradition on which to build regarding scale length, so the 25.6 in figure can be attributed to him with confidence." - Wikipedia article: Stringed instruments

      Augustino LoPrinzi website on scale length: The standard 650mm [25.59"] scale, as formalized in the mid-19th century by Antonio Torres, the father of the modern classic guitar, meets the needs of most players. Realizing that people have requirements determined by personal style, Mr. LoPrinzi has wisely chosen to design the bracing and body dimensions of each model to enhance the tonal possibilities of three essential scale lengths: 640mm [25.197"], 650mm [25.59"], 664mm [26.125"].

      Sonic impact of scale length: "...the Strat's 25-1/2" scale -- not even an inch longer than a Les Paul's -- contributes mightily to its bright, harmonically complex sound, even before you plug the thing in. This long-scale / short-scale dichotomy has a lot do to with why Gibson's and Fender's most popular models are, to generalize, known for their 'warmth ' and 'brightness', respectively." "...shortening the speaking length of the string squeezes its harmonic points closer together with the result being that high harmonics sparkle just a little bit less. On the other hand, by reducing the harshness that can result from a plethora of high harmonics, this also has something of a fattening effect." "...sometimes all that harmonic chime and shimmer can get in the way of warmth, body, and power, making a shorter scale length the choice of many players." "Longer-scale instruments such as Teles and Strats have to be tuned up to a greater tension to reach pitch. This translates into a firmer feel, more precise pitch in some cases, and strings that aren't thrown briefly sharp when you strike them hard." - All About Scale Length - Guitar Player magazine, Dec 2008

      Norman Blake on scale length: "I'm not a fan of the long scale anymore, and I don't like the dreadnought. The 25.4" scale doesn't make much sense for what I do. I'm not the world's largest person in stature, and I sit down to play, so a dreadnought got to seeming like overkill. Plus I get tired of the lack of snap. It's kind of like stringing up the kitchen table and playing that. I got tired of reaching a little further for everything -- having to punch it real hard to get anything out of it. I like the Gibson 24-3/4" basic scale or the old Martin 00 scale, which is 24.9"."

      Scale length vs string gauge: "While some electric guitarists use a shorter scale instrument to achieve less string tension and easier playability, others see it as an opportunity to get a "thicker" tone utilizing heavier gauge strings. For instance, take two identical electric guitar bodies, one fitted with a 25-1/2", and the other with a 24-3/4" scale neck. If you find your technique requires using .009 - .042 gauge strings on the long scale, you'll probably get the same feel utilizing a heavier .010 - .046 gauge set on the short scale instrument, The heavier gauge strings will also have the side-effect of inducing more voltage [current?] in your pickups, resulting in a 'thicker' fundamental note, and more output." -"The Fret!" newsletter, The Twelfth Fret guitar shop, Toronto, Canada

      Scale length vs sustain: "Scale length... is measured as the distance between two points: one at the bridge and one at the nut. The points where the strings contact the nut and the bridge define the scale length of the guitar. A longer scale will, to a point, give more sustain. The reason for this is that the tighter a string is stretched, the longer it will sustain, and for a string of any given thickness, the string at the longer scale will have to be tensioned higher than the string at the shorter scale to reach the same pitch. However, a longer scale will make the fret distances longer and make it more difficult to reach the frets. Most guitar scale lengths are between 24 and 26 inches, with the most common being 24-3/4" (Les Paul style) and 25-1/2" (Fender style)." -The Guitar Builder's FAQ (electric guitars section) (c) 1995 Bill Wyza.


Notes

      note 1. - "Gibson's standard scale is 24-3/4". This is a compensated length, based on a true scale of 24-9/16"". - Stewart-MacDonald printed catalog, 1998

"The Gibson 24-3/4" scale is also very common, but it is also the most confusing of all scale lengths. This is because it rarely ever measures out to be 24-3/4 inches! This scale has gradually changed over the past fifty or so years due to changes in production equipment."
- Stewart-MacDonald Fret Calculator page, Jan 2005.

      note 2. These are older Auditorium model designs, but still available, as of 1997. "The scale length on '000' models has traditionally been the shorter 24.9" scale, but the two new 000s feature the preferred 25.4" scale." "This longer scale increases the tension on the strings slightly, yielding more volume and tonal punch." [And making the strings a little harder to bend, I suppose.] - C.F. Martin catalogs)

      note 3. [25"] "An increasingly popular modern scale length, as found on Paul Reed Smith guitars." - Stewart-MacDonald printed catalog, 1998

      note 4. The original Martin Size 5 parlor guitars (starting in 1898) were tuned a minor third higher than standard tuning, to G C F Bb D G. - Martin 1998 catalog

      note 5. Designed to be tuned one full step below standard tuning: D G C F A D. - erstwhile Ovation website: www.kamanmusic.com

      note 6. "The [Fender] Bronco, Musicmaster, Mustang and Duo Sonic came in two scale lengths: 24" and 22 1/2", according to my tattered 1969 Fender catalog. The Mustang Bass and Bass VI use a 30" scale. The LTD and Montego jazz guitars use the 25 1/2" scale as did the Coronado I, II & XII. The acoustic series (Kingman, Palomino, Malibu, etc) with the funky tube inside the body were also 25 1/2" scale lengths." - Riley Wilson - Gigmeister, extinct webpage 'Vintage Guitar'

      note 7. "...the 22.5" scale necks and 24" scale necks are interchangable on old DuoSonic / Musicmaster / Mustang bodies (and presumably Jaguars if you wanted to do it in reverse for some odd reason). But a 25.5" scale neck (Strat / Tele / Jazzmaster) WON'T work on a 22.5" or 24" scale body without considerable modification - it may well fit, but you'd have to move the entire bridge for a start before it would intonate." - Scopo, The Fender Forum, Nov 16th, 2004

      note 8. "First introduced in mid 1956, the original [Fender] Duosonic (two pickups) and the Musicmaster (one pickup) were Fender's 3/4 size, student model, 22.5" short scale beginners guitars. Master tone, master volume, 3-way pickup selector switch (on Duosonic only)...pre-1964 Musicmasters and Duo-Sonics are very well made." "In late 1964 both models moved to second generation, coinciding with the introduction of the Mustang. The "II" designation was then added to the DuoSonic and MusicMaster names. These models are more like the Mustang (except the Mustang has a vibrato), than the original DuoSonic / MusicMaster models. It was available with either a 22.5" or 24" scale, but is most often found with the longer scale." - Vintage Guitars Info

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Further reference

   Wikipedia's Scale length page

   Vintage Guitars Info - a vast illustrated compendium of info and specs on the guitars of the golden age -- mid-1920s through 1970.

   WA's Encyclopedia of Alternate Guitar Tunings "...a wonderful site devoted to guitar tunings—dozens and dozens of ‘em, including tunings used by Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, and Sonic Youth. Cool!" - Andy Ellis, Guitar Player Magazine, The Guitar Show Chronicles

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