| What is your favorite scale, and why |
| 22.5 |
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21% |
[ 7 ] |
| 23 |
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9% |
[ 3 ] |
| 24 |
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31% |
[ 10 ] |
| 24.25 |
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34% |
[ 11 ] |
| 25 |
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3% |
[ 1 ] |
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| Total Votes : 32 |
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| Author |
Topic: If you built a D-8, what scale length? |
Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2009 11:25 am |
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Say you were to build your own D-8 steel guitar, what scale would you make it and why?
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 2 Jun 2009 11:53 am
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24.25" or 24.5" I just like the tone of that scale length - all other things being equal (of course).
_________________
To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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Jim Dickinson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2009 2:19 pm
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| I vote for 26"I like the original "long" Stringmaster. Jim |
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Rich Hlaves
From:
Wildomar, California, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2009 2:31 pm
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Rick,
My favorite scale is 24.5" so I voted for the 24.25 you had listed. An oversite perhaps? (not to include 24.5") |
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Jay Yuskaitis
From:
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2009 2:40 pm Scale?
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I have to agree with Jerry Byrd. His Sho-Bud and mine both have 22" scales. The slants are very comfortable at this scale length. My hands are are so huge, and fingers so long, I have more problems than regular or normal folks. I tried D10's etc and stuck with Double 8's for the past several years. I have a D8 Fender, a D8 Georgeboards, 3 D8 Sho-Buds, an S8 Fessenden custom built for me. I know I can't get the sounds of today, but, I'm happy in my own little world.
Jay Y. |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2009 6:33 pm
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Rich,
Yes, an oversight. I wasn't sure if 24.25 or 24.5 was most common. I went with the one I had read something about most recently. I'm wondering what to aim at when I build one this summer. My old ShoBud is 23" scale so I thought I might do that. But if there is some extra something longer or shorter...
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Rich Hlaves
From:
Wildomar, California, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2009 9:33 pm
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Rick,
If you are comfortable with the 23 you are playing why change? My problem is I really like playing my 24 1/2" Stringmaster D8. Since I spend more time on this instrument than any of my other guitars, all 22 1/2" scale, I have intonation issues. I'm good if I isolate a particular song to one scale length but keep screwing up when I play something I have spent a long time playing on the longer guitar shorter scale and vise versa.
It could be just me. I've only been at this a bit over a couple of years. I'm collecting parts to build a 24 1/2" deluxe 6 clone and a custom S8 in the same scale.
Best,
Rich |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 2 Jun 2009 11:04 pm
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I voted 25. It's all about tone, sustain and harmonics. But I agree with Rich. If you're happy with 23, why change?
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Amor vincit omnia |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2009 5:13 am
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To be honest, there is no good reason to change. I am interested in getting a larger perspective on the tone/harmonics issue. I don't care for the chime harmonics on the 23" scale...that could be user malfunction. I think that longer scales have tighter strings and a whole different tone/harmonic attitude. That being said, I guess whatever you have is gonna work with proper practice and technique.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2009 7:40 am
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I believe that last sentence is correct.
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Amor vincit omnia |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2009 8:44 am
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I have only 221/2 and 24s. So I have to say I like the 24 for tone, but I do like the tension on a 22 1/2 with real heavey strings.
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2009 9:43 am
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I really love the tone and style Lee Jeffriess had on the recordings with Big Sandy. If I had to say what I am aiming at, that would be it. I think Lee was using a Richenbacker D or T-8 when I saw them live in Bloomington, Indiana in 1993? I don't remember 1993 very well for some reason. 
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2009 10:16 am
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Rick, I was under the impression that Lee used an old Bigsby. I maybe wrong but I'm pretty sure. If you want that sound you could buy a Clinesmith.
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Anthony Locke
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2009 10:40 am
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| I went for the 24 1/4 just because I think it has a more present, fatter tone. Slants are more difficult when you get up in the lower registers, but they are possible, just a bit more difficult. |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2009 2:38 pm
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Yeah Mark, he did use a Bigsby, but when I saw him live he was playing something else. In fact it looked like the T- 8 Rickenbacker that was/is for sale on the Forum. Same guitar pictured on the "Jumping From 6 to 6" Cd cover. I think his was a D-8 though. The Bigsby is pictured with the Cd "Swinging West".
If I could afford a Clinesmith, you bet I'd have one  They are the most beautiful guitars ever made, in my opinion. I mean EVER. The pictures on the Clinesmith site actually cause my blood pressure to change, like falling in love Don't tell my wife
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 3 Jun 2009 4:09 pm
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Thanks Rick
I'll check them out, I have a bunch Big Sandy.
So back to your thread, I used 24" on the steel I made. I also made the strings parallel at .4, which is a little over 3/8 spacing which helped with the slants. You can see pictures on my old post " Hey, check out my Gibsby".
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Jon Nygren
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2009 8:13 am
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Unless i'm wrong, he used the rick as a replacement for his bigsby. Thought I heard it had been stolen?
I do like the 22.5 with big strings, easy slanting...24.25 sounds great though. |
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Deke Dickerson
From:
California, USA
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Posted 4 Jun 2009 5:25 pm
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I'm sure Lee can chime in since he's on the list, but yes, the Bigsby got stolen while Big Sandy & the Fly-Rite Boys were attending the Sacramento Western Swing Society show around 1993. After that Lee bought a 1950's triple-8 Rickenbacker and used that for probably 2 years (Lee?).
Myself and a guy named Lloyd Tripp were at the San Francisco Vintage Guitar show when a guy showed up wheeling Lee's Bigsby on a little red wagon. We called Lee, he phoned the SF police, the police came down, and just barely caught the guy as he was trying to leave the premises. Lee got the steel back and used it for a few more years, then I believe he sold it. More recently I've seen Lee playing a Sierra pedal steel with people like Johnny Dilks.
Deke |
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