Official Luthiers Forum!

I`ve got a Martin scale template from Stew Mac with the long and short scales on it 25.4, and 24.9 for fret slotting.Going to build a parlor guitar and was wanting to use the 24.9 for a 12 Fret.Is this a possibility or is it to long?Maybe I need a L-00 scale about 23.5 I think .Any suggestions? Thanks   James W B

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

James I don't know much about the parlor size guitars but if this will help you in anyway I'd be glad.

2007-01-06_101627_MARTIN_DIMENSIONS_FOR_FLAT_TOP_ACOUSTIC_GU ITARS.pdf

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

thanks Rod.You guys never cease to amaze me.
                James

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I wouldnt go much less than 24.9 for a std tuned guitar - want to know what a 23.5 scale would be like, take a 24.9 and tune it to E flat, then capo 1 - thats about 23.5 . You would likely have to use med gauge to keep up some tension, or things like drop D would be way too floppy.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Thanks for the link Rod! That looks like a handy little reference chart. I just printed out a copy for future reference.

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I'm working on a similar project. It seems to me that the scale length is really determined by the pitch of the strings in normal use. As Tony said, you have to think about the tension and string gauge, etc. For a guitar tuned in standard tuning, I'll stick to the 'usual' scale lengths. Next jobs (as I'm sure you know) are to make sure the bridge lands in the right place (in relation to the bracing), and to arrange/size the bracing to make the smaller body sound good. Back to the shop....
John

well if its me playing it, I want meds for fingerstyle anyway. Drop D is a must, and I dont see the point in going shorter than say 24.5, unless its for a kid or someone with very small reach. I built a 24 inch scale parlour for AZ's daughter a couple years back, and its a very nice childs guitar, but not really suited for my style of playing.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

[QUOTE=James W B] Going to build a parlor guitar and was wanting to use the 24.9 for a 12 Fret.Is this a possibility or is it to long?[/QUOTE]
James,

The best way I've found to see how structural decisions will fit for any given body size is to draw it out full size on paper. If you've decided on your body shape and size, here's what I'd suggest (with much thanks to Cumpiano & Natelson!): Draw a center line on paper that is large enough to encompass your neck and body. Draw a perpendicular line near the top of the page to indicate your nut's break point, and draw another perpendicular line 24.9" down from that. That'll be the area where your bridge will lie. You've already got your fret scale tool, so use it to find where your 12th fret will lie. If all you want initially is to see where the bridge will sit on the body, draw parallel lines out from the center line to indicate the width of the upper and lower bouts, and the waist. Draw your body shape to fit those parameters, with (in this case) the body/neck join at the 12th fret. Unless your intended body is itty-bitty, the bridge should fall near the center part of the lower bout, and that's where you want it on a 12-fret. If the bridge falls below the widest part of the LB, then yeah, you'll need a shorter scale, I think.

BTW, I'd urge you to get the Cumpiano & Natelson book, and use their design guidelines to lay out your complete neck and body on paper. It really lets you see where you are going right or wrong--especially if your design is your own.