What is the best Fender stringmaster Scale length for tone?

Jimmie Hudson · From: North Carolina, USA

What Scale length on a Fender stringmaster is the most wanted by all you steel players?
22 1/2 ? 24 1/2 ? 26 ?

Looking for info for best scale for tone.
Thanks

John Dahms · From: Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA

Yes there are preferences but they can all sound great.
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Peter Garellick · From: California, USA

Hi John, I have a 26 inch Stringmaster Quadneck, truly fantastic tone. But I don't have the shorter ones to compare it with. Others have said the long scale ones have the best tone.

Daniel McKee · From: Corinth Mississippi

I've heard many prefer the shorter scale for bar slants but many say the 26 scale sounds best. From hearing other people play I prefer the sounds of the 26 inch scale guitars.

Jeff Mead · From: London, England

The 3 choices for Stringmasters are 22.5", 24.5" or 26"

Each of them have their followers - I prefer my short scale.

A lot of people prefer the long scale but, I wonder if the tone difference in the long scale guitars is more to do with the different pickups and wiring in that version?

I find that string gauge has a lot to do with tone so, for example a medium scale guitar with very light gauge strings may have a thinner tone than a short scale one with super heavy strings.

My preference is based more on playability/familiarity with that scale length than tone - I've never done an AB comparison between 2 guitars of different scale lengths.

And after all, there can be a huge variation between 2 different guitars of the same model and scale length so it would be hard to pinpoint how much of the difference in tone is due to that. There is probably more variation between the 1st and 3rd neck of the same guitar than between any given neck on 2 different guitars. I would say that the best 22.5" guitar out there sounds better than the worst 26" (and vice versa).

J Fletcher · From: London,Ont,Canada

My 24.5" seems twangier and livlier than my 22.5" Stringmaster. Both are D8's.

Cartwright Thompson · Posted 25 Mar 2017 4:59 am

The 26" probably sounds best but you don't get the blend pot, which is one of my favorite things about the Stringmaster. I think the 24 1/2" is the best compromise. I have never owned a 26" but I have had many of the others and the 24 1/2" is by far my favorite. Yes, it is a little more difficult to keep slants in tune on the lower frets but they're easier up high and the sustain and string tension/feel is much better.
To me, the 24 1/2" scale just sounds bigger and less "plinky".
All that being said, I've never heard a Stringmaster that didn't sound great.

Jeff Mead · From: London, England

Cartwright Thompson · Posted 25 Mar 2017 5:23 am

Wow, I never knew that. So Leo actually came out with a humbucking pickup design in 1953, even earlier than I thought. I've always felt that he didn't get enough (or any) credit for that.
I'd like to try a 26", I have that scale (or almost) on my Clinesmith and it isn't that difficult to adjust to, it must sound amazing on the Stringmaster.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

The longer the scale, the longer the sustain. Very Happy

Jimmie Hudson · From: North Carolina, USA

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will make the lap steels in all 3 scale lengths. Then whatever someone wants I will have it.

Jimmie Hudson
hudsonsteelguitars.com

Scott Duckworth · From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies

Jimmie Hudson · From: North Carolina, USA

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

For me, 24.5" is ideal. The best of both worlds. Has sufficient sustain and is easy to slant.
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Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I understand that Jerry Byrd's favorite length was 22.5".

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