Official Luthiers Forum!

What do the knowledgeable among us think of the switch Taylor is making to a 24 7/8 scale? After all those years of telling us 25.5 was the bomb!

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I think that scale length is just for one series of guitars according to wood and steel it's good for guitarists who are developing mobility problems in their hands ( don't have to streatch as far).

AlA Peebels38816.5923032407

I think they are going to be bringing it out in a Doyle Dykes model and just said it was coming to a dread model also.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Todd,

I take it you like the shorter scale? Taylor says it is is better for the note benders, like in blues. Says less tension on the strings makes it easier to fret and bend and shorter means easier reach. They also claim the scale sounds better but then they also say they modified the bracing pattern. Sure wish I knew more about the subject.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I like a shorter scale

Living here in San Diego, you get a lot of Taylor info.
They have short scales on all of L9 series (Limited Dreds 2005)
All of the 30th anniversary guitars, and they will be doing some of the
R.Taylor Series guitars. (This series is just starting to be produced.) They
are custom handmade guitars, not made on the regular assembly line.
Andy

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Bob Taylor is flexible enough to change his mind, and I've always liked that about him. He seems to never want to rest on the status quo. That being said, I think it's players who have prompted this move, as they've gotten hip to the properties of shorter scales. It's more than just less playing effort (which I personally think isn't that much different), but sound as well. A shorter scale gives you less fundamental in the bass notes while adding a little overtone "sparkle," and also offers a sweeter, more complex timbre to the higher strings.