Scale length list?

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 16 Aug 2017 2:06 pm

I was wondering if there is a list anywhere of all pedal steel manufacturers present and past "Scale Length""

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 23 Aug 2017 6:01 am

My Desert Rose guitars are 241/4"my GFI Is 24"wondering what others are using and why?

Larry Allen · Post by **Larry Allen** » 23 Aug 2017 10:36 am

Hi Stu..my Sho-Bud is 24" and my Excels are 25 1/2"...Larry

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 23 Aug 2017 11:35 pm

Thanks Larry!!

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 23 Aug 2017 11:53 pm

Do manufacturers stick to a single length? I suspect not in all cases, as so many instruments are built to order.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 24 Aug 2017 6:56 am

Carters are 24", Emmons 24 1/4", early Sierras 24" and later 25", Derby 24 1/4", Infinity 24 1/4", OnTrak 24 1/2", MSA 24" until the Legend which debuted at 24" then changed to 24 1/4".

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 24 Aug 2017 7:03 am

I don't know if there's a comprehensive list like you're looking for rather than piece meal like this but:

I can add that ZumSteel, Williams and Mullen guitars are 24 1/4.

MCI 24.

I believe the new Sierra that Ross is building is 24 1/2 in.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Aug 2017 7:27 am

My Excel is 24 1/8".

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 24 Aug 2017 11:05 am

Lamar S12...25"

David Gertschen · Post by **David Gertschen** » 24 Aug 2017 11:11 am

That's a lot of variation between brands. Can someone explain the reason for this?

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 24 Aug 2017 11:17 am

Thanks everyone,I have no idea why different manufacturers pick different scale lengths?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Aug 2017 11:20 am

I'm not sure why Sho~Bud chose the 24" scale but Buddy Emmons experimented with scale lengths when he started building the Emmons guitar and he determined that 24 1/4" was the longest length he could have to minimize string breakage.
Some longer lengths are possible with keyless guitars because you don't have to deal with the extra length of string on the back side of the nut, particularly with the 5th and 6th strings.

David Gertschen · Post by **David Gertschen** » 24 Aug 2017 11:36 am

That makes sense. Thanks, Erv!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Aug 2017 11:51 am

David,
I think the reason for the 24 1/8" scale on the Excel is because the Excel is built around the metric scale and 24 1/8" is converted from a more logical metric measurement.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 24 Aug 2017 11:51 am

More stuff in this old thread. http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... sc&start=0

It would be nice if all this were condensed, combined into one topic if and when all the models have been covered if there's not one out there already.

I notice there are statements that some brands and models may have had different scale lengths at different times in their manufacture as if it wasn't confusing enough already.

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 24 Aug 2017 11:58 am

I may be wrong, but from my experience, the first 24 inch scale Sho-Buds were D8 guitars converted to D-9s and D-10s. The scale had to be shortened because a longer keyhead did not fit on the original cabinet.

Although i have never seen a 25 1/2 inch scale Sho-Bud, I have over a dozen 25 1/2 inch scale Sho-Bud fretboards for eight string necks. They are still in the packaging from the silk screen shop. Curiously, there is a zip code in the mailing address. Maybe the print shop had made them years earlier?

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 24 Aug 2017 12:14 pm

Erv, 24 1/8" is 612.775 mm

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 24 Aug 2017 12:20 pm

My Jackson Blackjack Custom is 24 scale, like the Sho-Buds.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Aug 2017 12:31 pm

Ian,
That's an odder figure than 24 1/8".

Gene Haugh · Post by **Gene Haugh** » 24 Aug 2017 2:15 pm

Hey Guys,
I won't say that Sho~Bud never made a 25-1/2" Steel because I think Shot made whatever he thought of at the time. But I think you may be looking at a Sho~Bro fretboard. We made quite a few of them in the mid to late 1970s in Arkansas and they all had white 25-1/2" fretboards like the one Chris showed.
I have a 7 string with that fretboard on it.
Just a thought.
Gene Haugh

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » 24 Aug 2017 2:57 pm

Chris Lucker wrote:I may be wrong, but from my experience, the first 24 inch scale Sho-Buds were D8 guitars converted to D-9s and D-10s. The scale had to be shortened because a longer keyhead did not fit on the original cabinet.

This looks like evidence that manufacturing design decisions are sometimes made out of necessity rather than extensive research.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 24 Aug 2017 3:16 pm

Stu- you are now the official compiler and purveyor of all things scale related on the pedal steel

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » 24 Aug 2017 3:31 pm

Lloyd's LDG has a 24-1/2" scale. I had heard that the first few LDGs used this longer scale length but quickly switched to the common 24" scale.

Curious that no other 24-1/2" LDGs have surfaced (that I'm aware of), and I find it unlikely the McGhee Display would have screened only a handful of these longer boards. Where are those early Buds and where are the remaining 24-1/2" boards?

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 24 Aug 2017 3:47 pm

More than a handful. Five handfuls. The wrapper says there were "25." I have fourteen or so left.

Larry Allen · Post by **Larry Allen** » 24 Aug 2017 4:31 pm

Stu, here's one you gave me 20 years ago to restore..scale is 22 3/4"!!

Larry