Ease of Playing Scale Length

Ron Wendler · Post by **Ron Wendler** » 22 Jul 2017 6:59 am

I haven't seen anything on what scale length is easiest to play. Maybe there's no difference??? I built my first Lap Steel to a 24.5 scale and now thinking of another go at it. This time I'm thinking should I go with a 22" or stay with the middle of the road scale size. Any thoughts???

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 22 Jul 2017 7:32 am

Jerry Byrd favored the 22 1/2" scale.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 22 Jul 2017 7:33 am

Not sure if it makes that much difference but 22.5" seems to be more common than 22".

All my non-pedal steels are 22.5" so maybe I'm just biased.

Ron Wendler · Post by **Ron Wendler** » 22 Jul 2017 11:05 am

Yup Guys I ment 22.5" but I think I'm going with another 24.5" and maybe a 22.5" for a twin.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 22 Jul 2017 1:09 pm

Erv Niehaus wrote:Jerry Byrd favored the 22 1/2" scale.

Definitely 22.5 some of those split slants would be a nightmare on a longer scale for me.

And I already use a long, 12 string heavy 12.4 Oz Bar. But Bigger is better. So the ladies tell me.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 24 Jul 2017 2:51 am

I like the sound, sustain and feel of a 24 1/2" scale. Slants are more difficult lower on the neck but harmonics and slants are easier up high.

Tony Lombardo · Post by **Tony Lombardo** » 24 Jul 2017 8:06 am

My steel's scale length is 22.5." I have tried longer ones a few times, but my slants are much more accurate with 22.5" scale length.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Jul 2017 8:12 am

I did a lot of slants on a 26 1/2" scale Stringmaster but back then I didn't know better.

The longer the scale, the longer the sustain.

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 24 Jul 2017 1:19 pm

Some say the harmonics are easier on the longer scale.
I'm not very good at them, so I've been practicing on my new Clinesmith and slowly getting better at it, but still far from trusting myself to hit them right.

I've never had a longer lap steel but maybe some day I'll find one to borrow and see about that.

About the sustain, the Clinesmith has plenty. My Fender Duel 8 is okay, but not as good as the other. I also have another 8 string lap steel, a Morrell at my house overseas and it's sustain is not very good at all, so I'd say it has more to do with the construction and the pickups than the string length.

One thing about the Clinesmith is I don't get tired of practice. Everything short of the wrong fret for a chord or a bad note sounds so good.

Come to think of it, even the bad ones sound good on this steel. I'll just call it Jazz

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Ease of Playing Scale Length

Ease of Playing Scale Length

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