Hi everyone!

First of all, I have to say that I searched for related topics but couldn't find any. If there is a thread about this, I apologize.

Ok, as some of you might already know, the guitar scale is the distance between the bridge and the nut.

There are different scales like the Gibson scale (24.75"), the Fender scale (25.5."), the PRS scale (25"), the Baritone scales (these can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. One example is the 27" scale guitar, which is ideal for lower tunings.)

But the scales I'd like to discuss in this thread are the Gibson and Fender scales, since they're the most popular scales. Gibson scale guitars have 22 frets and are the shorter (24.75") whereas Fender scale guitars have 24 frets and are longer (25.5.").

If you've ever played on guitars of both scales, I'd like to know what your opinions are on each of them. Which one of the two you find more comfortable and easy to play on with regards to the space between the frets, the ability to shred on them etc.

Personally, on my Fender-scale guitar, the lowest frets sometimes feel too wide while the highest frets sometimes feel too narrow. That's why I was considering getting a Gibson-scale guitar 'cause perhaps I may find it more comfortable. Of course, I'm going to try a Gibson scale guitar first because the best way to find out is to try it out personally but in the meantime, I'd like to know what your opinions are.

That's all for now. I'm looking forward for your comments, thanks!

Uh... most fenders are 22 frets there mate. But still true 25.5" scale.

24 fret guitars are obviously superior.

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Thanks for the reply, Soeru!

Fenders are 25.5" scale with 22 frets? I thought they had 24 frets. I wonder how those would feel...

I love my Schecter, it's 26,5 scale. And about that 24 frets/25,5 i think you mean Ibanez, if i'm not mistaken.

26.5". That sounds like a baritone scale to me. Is it?

Yeah, 25.5."/24 frets guitars are the majority of guitars on the market: Ibanez, Jackson, B.C. Rich etc.

Not necessarily, on a 22 fret guitar, the neck pickup falls in what they call the "sweet spot" which is basically the 24th fret harmonic node. Not so on a 24 fret guitar. While I like the idea of having 2 full octaves, 22 fret guitars tend to sound sweeter.

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I disagree, all the 24 fret guitars I've played sound way better to my ears, something I can't explain(especially harmonics), meanwhile most of the 24.75" scale guitars I've layed hands on didn't have said characteristics(probably due to set-neck construction). I also like the tighter string action on 25.5" scale guitars, while on 24.75" the same guage strings just feel flimsy.

I also hear most 25.5" necks as a general rule will sustain better than 24.75" necks due to the fact that the strings will vibrate over a longer length making the oscillations of the strings occur at a higher frequency that notes take longer in dying out?

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i have an issue... i like 24 frets and also 24.75 scale. The smaller scale is good for my small hands, so i can tear it up much easier... and 24 frets moves the neck pickup off of the 3rd harmonic of the string which helps cut out a fuckload of mud that 22 frets usually have.
Jazz people tell my to get 22 so i have a 'beefy' neck pikcup, but man, theyre all using tele's and shit so they can actually cut through with single coils, with hummers it sounds better to me to have 24 frets.

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I don't know about the tone/sound differences between 25.5" and 24.75" scale guitars. This thread is about which one feels better to you in terms of comfort, ease and allowance to play fast.

Anyway, the gauge 10 strings on Gibson scale guitars is supposed to give a thicker, fuller tone while the gauge 09 strings are supposed to give more clarity and are ideal for soloing and stuff.
Those are the general opinions. Everyone has is own personal ones of course.

Thanks for the replies, guys. Keep 'em coming!

Of course I love my Ibanez RG's and the Wizard necks are smooth as butter, but when I play my bros Gibson Les Paul Standard, it just seems so much smoother, the action is low, the neck is smooth. I dont' know what it is, but a Gibson Les Paul is super fucking comfortable to play.

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Nope, it's not a baritone, it's a seven string. Dunno if that's got anything to do with the scale though. But 26,5 is really good for me, since my fingers (and hands) are pretty large.

So get some higher gauge strings? Mine is pretty damn tight with my strings (Dean Markley 13-56's).

Also, my Viper has both 24.75 scale and 24 frets. .

Actually i find it doesn't make too much of a difference, you just have to adjust the place you hit the harmonic a little bit. I had a hard time hitting harmonics when i first got a 24 fret and i blamed it on the fret difference, but turns out the nodes were a little different, and now i can hit harmonics easily on both guitars. The thing about a "sweet spot" is really a load of crap, as it changes when you fret a string (as opposed to hitting the open string), so in some positions it may sound sweeter, but i find i like 24 frets better since they tend to accentuate the 3rds more in diatonic scales (as opposed to accentuating the root) which suits my playing style. Oranges and apples..

Higher guage strings still wouldn't feel the same as the other guitar with lower guage but a longer neck span.

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its probably the gibson's FLAWLESS fret job. Gibson les pauls probably have the best frets i have ever played.

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I never cared for 24.75 scale guitars because they all seem to play "too" well. I love my ESP Horizon because I have to wrestle a bit with it, but when I get a Les Paul in my hand my bends are often too high and I push the strings too hard.

Btw, I have only played like 4 or 5 24.75 scale guitars so thats not saying they are all like that...

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I need space for my hands so 25.5 it is.

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I have 2 guitars, one is 24 3/4" and the other 25 1/2". I prefer the 25 1/2"one. I like the extra tension, which is also why i use 13-56 guage strings. Also, i prefer to have 24 frets over 22 since it gives me 2 whole octaves. The 24 3/4" guitar is fine too, but if and when i get a custom guitar its gonna be 25.5" scale and 24 frets.

Please tell me we're joking as to which is "better"

WE'RE JOKING! GOT YOU!

O RLY!!!??/