Short-scale guitars, as the name suggests, have a smaller scale length. Guitars with a ‘long scale” or full scale-length guitars have a 25.5-inch scale length, give or take an inch. Short scale guitars, on the other hand, range from 22 to 24.75-inches depending on the make/model of the guitar.
Also to know is, are short scale acoustic guitars easier?
We find that using a short scale will most often make a guitar’s tone softer and warmer. The shorter scale also makes the guitar feel easier to play due to less string tension (when compared to a long-scale instrument).
Also question is, are short scale guitars worth it? A short scale guitar has a shorter scale length, making it more comfortable to play if you’re an adult with small hands or you’re shopping for one for a child. It’s only a matter of an inch or two, but the difference is massive in terms of playability.
Correspondingly, do short scale guitars need special strings?
String tension
A short scale length requires very little tension to bring the strings up to pitch when compared to a longer scale guitar. The tension of the strings plays a big part in playability.
Do short scale guitars sound different?
Guitars with short scale lengths tend to sound warmer and a tad fuller than guitars with longer scales, as the lower amount of tension allows their strings to vibrate more freely.
Do smaller guitars need different strings?
Re: Do smaller guitars require special strings? Not really. String sets represented as being for a particular string length are basically a marketing feature.
How many frets does a short scale guitar have?
Also, the 12-fret position on any guitar is the exact halfway point of the scale length. Conversely, you can have a 14-fret guitar with a short scale.
Is a Fender Mustang smaller?
Most notably, the Fender Mustang has a shorter scale than many of its electric guitar competitors. Industry professionals technically label the guitar as a “medium” scale, but players will notice the shorter neck. Today’s Mustang generally has a 24-inch scale with 22 frets.
Is a short scale guitar easier to play?
Short-scale guitars are considered more comfortable to play, due to lower string tension. This makes fretting individual notes or bending the strings easier. The closer fret spacing is also an advantage if you have small hands, however, is a disadvantage for those with large hands as the fretboard may feel cramped.
Is a Stratocaster good for small hands?
The Vintage Modified Stratocaster is the perfect choice for those that have smaller hands as its smaller than a regular Telecaster. There’s a tone, volume, and a selector switch for the pickups. There’s a 9.5 fretboard radius and 21 jumbo frets so its very comfortable to play and the entire neck is maple.
Is Fender Mustang short scale?
Moderately priced at $189.50, the original Mustang was a dual-pickup, 22-fret, medium-scale guitar that owed much to the Duo-Sonic, although it had an offset waist like a Jazzmaster. A very few 21-fret short-scale models were also built. The Mustang was the first Fender student model with a vibrato system.
Is short scale guitar better for small hands?
Short scale length guitars result in an easier reach between frets for those guitar players with small hands. The tradeoff is softer action and less string tension, which tonally has less snap and more warmth.