Official Luthiers Forum!

hey there
im new to building, and im building a seven string acoustic. any idea the best scale length for this endevor? im doing a 000 body shape. im thinking 25.5?
thanks
christopher stelling

ok, so i think im going 25.5, but any ideas are still welcome.
christopher stelling

I wish I could help but I just dont know for certain, I think that scale length is a matter of preference for playing style and the way you want the guitar {playability}to respond, as well 4 as particular compensation adjustments there are varying subjective opinions in operation within a small margin of tolerances - I dont know if 7 string would be much different but mabye I am wrong. If I am
Cheers
Charlie

Hi Christopher, welcome to the OLF, I can't help you much but i'm sure you'll find all the answers here, be patient, soon enuff, one of our pros will chime in, you are in for a treat, this is the greatest forum on the net!

Serge

I responded more because I was surprised someone hadnt yet, I just wanted to make our friend Cstelling feel comfortable, I hate when no-one responds to my posts
Cheers
charliewood

thanks guys,
whilst making the rounds, ive spoken with a few people with varying opionions. Ralf from novax was really supportive, he and harry fleishman were both conveying the numerous qualities of a fanned fret system, but i also spoke with 7-string acoustic player , fred fried, who subsequently plays many seven strings, all of the 25.5 scale. the fanned fret system sounds nice, but im thinking for my first guitar build i should keep it basic
thanks
cs

Christopher, I'm always late to the party, so forgive my tardiness in responding. Also, consider that it is quite late, I need to go to bed, and might not make the best sense.
Disclaimers past us, I'll say that I've built one 7 string, and used the standard 25.4" scale. I thought it worked out fine, and the low A string sounded rich and full. I feared it would only be thumpy, but not so. The client wanted to use--and did--an .080 string. That could have been part of the success. In the right hands, such a guitar is a joy to listen to. Best of luck in your endeavours!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

    I think the theory behind the scale length is that the longer the scale, the more the tention in the strings, and subsequently, the harder it is to play... However, with an added seventh string you might want to go a touch longer. I know Oskar Graf, who made guitars for the Tragically Hip and Don Ross uses a 26.0 inch scale to help with the lower string. I believe the one he built for the Tragiacally Hip dude (forget his name at the moment) was a 6 string but used for very low alternate tunnings (down to low C)... He also built a 7 string for Don Ross: Lots of info here on this :

http://web.ctsolutions.com/grafguitars/custom.html

     Here's some info from Don Ross' site :

     My main stage guitar these days is a 6-string custom long-scale guitar made by St. Thomas, Ontario luthier Marc Beneteau. It is tuned to standard concert pitch, but the extra scale length makes it much more capable of playing in tune while in one of my very low altered tunings. My 7-string guitar was a custom order made by Oskar Graf, an incredible luthier based in Clarendon, Ontario. It has an Engelmann spruce top and koa back and sides. The low string is usually tuned to the "A" a fifth below the low "E" (sixth) string and the highest string is usually tuned to the same "E" as on a regular 6-string. The string gauges run from .066" to .013". This is one of very few 7-string flat-top guitars anywhere. For more info about Oskar Graf, click here. The latest addition to the "family" (ack!) is another custom order: a Marc Beneteau baritone guitar! With an Engelmann spruce top and padouk back and sides, the guitar has an extra-long scale length and is strung low, like the 7-string, but with a tuning from "A" to "A," (i.e., down a fifth from a regular guitar). The string set gauges go from .066" to .017". Click here for more info about Marc Beneteau. What strings do I use? John Pearse medium gauge phosphor bronze (.056"-.013"). The 7-string and the baritone use a custom-made Pearse .066" string.

   Hope this helps...

Alain

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...