Short Scale Guitar

dubbeat

Hi,

I'm not sure why but I'm considering buying a short scale guitar. It'll be my first electric guitar.

Has anybody had any experience with these before and could you describe the pro's and cons to me?

Alanstrainor

Is there any reason you're considering a short scale guitar over a standard? Can't think of many advantages to it tbh, unless you're really small or something.

rcaz

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Can't think of many advantages to it tbh

Jaguars, Mustangs, Musicmasters, and Duo-Sonics are TEH SECKSY!!

dubbeat

Well I'm just kind of starting out and I heard that they are generally easier to play. Is that true?

I had a look at some jags. Theyre great but way way out of my budget!

I was looking at SG models on thomann. Would they be kind of the same idea?

Alanstrainor

El Pr0n wrote: »

Jaguars, Mustangs, Musicmasters, and Duo-Sonics are TEH SECKSY!!

What i really meant to say was, it's not something i would have on the top of my list of things to look for when buying any guitar. I'd be more concerned with tone, playability, than scale length, unless of course there was some reason to be specifically looking for the shortest scale length you can buy.

rcaz

People just prefer how they feel. Like Ibanez guys with their super-low action and light strings, while I like higher action and heavy strings. Some guys like shorter scales, I guess.

OP, I wouldn't say easier. Different.

Eoin Madsen

dubbeat wrote: »

Well I'm just kind of starting out and I heard that they are generally easier to play. Is that true?

Not really. It might be a little easier for some things but will equally be a little harder for others (eg, playing A-major in the open position). The particular string action and string tension are going to make much more obvious differences to the required playing stamina.

dubbeat

El Pr0n wrote: »

People just prefer how they feel. Like Ibanez guys with their super-low action and light strings, while I like higher action and heavy strings. Some guys like shorter scales, I guess.

OP, I wouldn't say easier. Different.

Actually your description is more along the lines of what I'm after now that I think about it. I'm after low action and a light touch. I think I would also like wide frets.

rcaz

dubbeat wrote: »

Actually your description is more along the lines of what I'm after now that I think about it. I'm after low action and a light touch. I think I would also like wide frets.

Like some sort of shredder-type guitar?

dubbeat

El Pr0n wrote: »

Like some sort of shredder-type guitar?

shredder type wasnt in my mind.

I could be way off here but I was after the light touch and low action because I havnt been playing very long and thought that this type of guitar might make life a bit easier.

It's probably a bad way to choose guitar but I've very little experience

dubbeat

Maybe you might be able to help?

I have a budget of 200 - 300 euro.

I'm looking for something that wont require me to have a vice grip for a hand and that sounds half way decent and wont fall apart on me or give me trouble

rcaz

Don't buy a guitar that'll make it easier - you'll be used to finger pain in a week, and you'll have calluses in two. Waste of a guitar imo - get something you're still going to want after you're used to playing.

If you defo do want a short scale, you can get a Squier version of a Duo Sonic now.

http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0303050589

I'm a Fender offset fanboy, so I can only really talk about Jags, Duos, Musicmasters, Mustangs etc. I'm sure someone else will be able to talk about a wider variety of guitars.

But if you're looking for a short scale to make starting out easier, I dunno if it's a good idea. It's still a guitar, after all, so it'll only be slightly different to any other guitar.

That 'vice grip' you're talking about is something that you get after playing for a while, not something you can get away without.

dubbeat

El Pr0n wrote: »

Don't buy a guitar that'll make it easier - you'll be used to finger pain in a week, and you'll have calluses in two. Waste of a guitar imo - get something you're still going to want after you're used to playing.

If you defo do want a short scale, you can get a Squier version of a Duo Sonic now.

http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0303050589

I'm a Fender offset fanboy, so I can only really talk about Jags, Duos, Musicmasters, Mustangs etc. I'm sure someone else will be able to talk about a wider variety of guitars.

But if you're looking for a short scale to make starting out easier, I dunno if it's a good idea. It's still a guitar, after all, so it'll only be slightly different to any other guitar.

That 'vice grip' you're talking about is something that you get after playing for a while, not something you can get away without.

I guess your right about the ease of playing. I shouldn't really be taking short cuts and should think more about the sound and the quality. Thats a nice guitar you posted. Pity about the color imo!

What is it about the fender sound that you like?

OK-Cancel-Apply

The Brian May Red Special has a 24 inch scale length, though the neck is quite fat. You might find one second hand for your budget.

rcaz

dubbeat wrote: »

What is it about the fender sound that you like?

I'm a big Flaming Lips, My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth fan, all those sorts of bands who play Jazzmasters and Jaguars. Nice fat tones on Jazzmasters that work really well with fuzz, and have the best vibrato system I've seen/heard/used. I have a Jazzmaster and a Telecaster, and apart from a humbuckered-guitar, I think I've got everything pretty well covered.

And I think offsets look badass

Owen

The Peavey Wolfgang (The Eddie Van Halen sig guitar) has good price, about 500 euro or thereabouts. I've got one over in my Mum's house. Nice short scale neck, twin humbuckers which have a warm capable sound, beautiful blue flame top, and a maple fretboard. Drop D tuner on the bridge, and a locking nut too. Great piece of kit, you'd pick one up handy enough second hand.