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Topic: What is the best Fender stringmaster Scale length for tone? |
Jimmie Hudson
From: North Carolina, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2017 5:26 pm
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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
Last edited by Jimmie Hudson on 25 Mar 2017 10:58 am; edited 1 time in total |
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John Dahms
From: Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2017 6:47 pm
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Yes there are preferences but they can all sound great. _________________ Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
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Peter Garellick
From: California, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2017 9:02 pm
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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. |
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Daniel McKee
From: Corinth Mississippi
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Posted 24 Mar 2017 10:10 pm
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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. |
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Jeff Mead
From: London, England
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 12:20 am
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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).
Last edited by Jeff Mead on 25 Mar 2017 5:21 am; edited 1 time in total |
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J Fletcher
From: London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 4:22 am
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My 24.5" seems twangier and livlier than my 22.5" Stringmaster. Both are D8's. |
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 4:59 am
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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. |
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Jeff Mead
From: London, England
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 5:01 am
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Cartwright Thompson wrote: |
The 26" probably sounds best but you don't get the blend pot, which is one of my favorite things about the Stringmaster. |
Actually you do. You get a master blend pot that works on all the necks instead of a traditional tone control. |
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 5:23 am
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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. |
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Erv Niehaus
From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 8:39 am
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The longer the scale, the longer the sustain. |
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Jimmie Hudson
From: North Carolina, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 10:57 am Scale length
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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 |
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Scott Duckworth
From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 12:25 pm Re: Scale length
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Jimmie Hudson wrote: |
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 |
Gonna be looking forward to seeing them. If I can get my dobro sold, I might be looking for a D6 or D8. _________________ Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Jimmie Hudson
From: North Carolina, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 1:31 pm Re: Scale length
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Scott Duckworth wrote: |
Jimmie Hudson wrote: |
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 |
Gonna be looking forward to seeing them. If I can get my dobro sold, I might be looking for a D6 or D8. |
I will be building the 8 string models only till I see how it goes with sales. |
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Tom Wolverton
From: Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 25 Mar 2017 3:13 pm
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For me, 24.5" is ideal. The best of both worlds. Has sufficient sustain and is easy to slant. _________________ To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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Erv Niehaus
From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2017 6:20 am
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I understand that Jerry Byrd's favorite length was 22.5". |
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