Scale Length Going Forward

[pwduncan]

Hi all.  Thought this would be a good place for advice.  Playing for a year now.  Take a lesson every week.  Fingerstyle.  Reading music, playing in classical stance, and cannot even see my fretboard or fingerpicking hand.  Just focused on the music on the page.  Tough but teacher says it will pay off. 

Using a 714 ce V and 312e 12 fret.  Different scale lengths. 

Teacher said I am going to eventually have to pick one scale length and go with it.  He does't care which one.  I would eventually like to play some bluegrass stuff. 

Thoughts?   

[jpmist]

Teacher said I am going to eventually have to pick one scale length and go with it.  He does't care which one.  I would eventually like to play some bluegrass stuff. 

Thoughts?

I'd really like to know his reasoning for that. I've been playing quite a while now and I switch often from my 322ce to my Larrivee OO-05 normal scale and don't notice any difference I can attribute to the differing scales. I do nothing to alter my technique and I can play the same riffs exactly the same on any of my guitars long or short scale. Perhaps your teacher can tell if he has a short scale in his lap blindfolded, but I can't.

Being both Taylors, the guitars will likely play exactly the same. Shorter scale is often associated with lower string tension, so is there something about bluegrass that is super dependent on string tension and picking technique? The string tension difference between the two guitars can be easily remedied by stepping up to a heavier gauge on the 312.

In any event, I think he's being a bit harsh and I'd politely ignore him on that. Variety is the spice of life and why I have 4 guitars. He may have some factor in mind, but I can't fathom what.

[zeebow]

never heard of that. i’m part of tony polecastro’s course and he recommends trying everything

[Frettingflyer]

I have heard of this, but it is now again coming from the “classical” guys. I switch among my 7 guitars with 12, 13 and 14 fret neck joins and varying scale lengths. Sometimes, after a long trip with just 1 guitar I will notice a slight adjustment during warmup, then I am good to go.
If you really want to appease the instructor you could store one for a while, then it will be an awesome rediscovering of that guitar when you get back to it. I am no professional, but I don’t think you should give up a beautiful guitar on this advice alone, you will regret it someday. As you want to try different styles, you can do them all on one, but you will find certain guitars lend themselves to certain sounds, why limit yourself.
Good luck whichever way you go.

[Jersey tuning]

I have to agree that switching between Taylors with 24 7/8" and standard scales takes minimal adjustment.  I have much more trouble switching between my Taylor GC and Froggy Bottom guitars, both with 24 7/8" scale length and both with 1 3/4" nut width, probably due to some slight variation in string spacing.

[Earl]

I have to respectfully disagree with your teacher.  I play everything from 27.8" baritone guitar to concert ukulele (15" scale length) and sometime electric bass at 34" scale.  It can take a couple of minutes to adapt to something radically different if you have not played it in a while, but things settle down quickly.  I had one friend who was an extreme example.  He was so accustomed to playing his only guitar that he had trouble picking up another guitar at a jam and playing well - got so familiar with the scale and neck shape that anything else threw him off.  I can see an argument for picking one and sticking with it for a couple of months until the feel is fully ingrained, but then don't be afraid to switch back and forth.

As I get older my left hand now has a distinct preference for shorter scale lengths.  Most of my guitars are 25.5" and are still OK, but the last three purchases were 24.75" or 24.6" scale.  I probably won't buy another 25.5" guitar again, going forward.

[DennisG]

I would also disagree with your teacher.  I've owned guitars with various scale lengths, and never had a problem switching from one to the other.  What has bothered me is different neck carves.  Switching from a beautiful Taylor neck to some other brand's chunky neck takes some getting used to.  But since I now own only Taylors, the effort is unnecessary.

[Jersey tuning]

I have to agree that switching between Taylors with 24 7/8" and standard scales takes minimal adjustment.  I have much more trouble switching between my Taylor GC and Froggy Bottom guitars, both with 24 7/8" scale length and both with 1 3/4" nut width, probably due to some slight variation in string spacing.

Ah, yes.  The wisdom of others pointing out the different neck carves of different luthiers and the impact on switching attributable to the aforementioned. 

[pwduncan]

Thanks everyone for the great responses.  Plenty to mull over here...

[Edward]

First off, congrats on doing the diligence!  I "could have" read decades ago as I started that way, then took the lazy road of rockin out with three chords loud   Now I'm a payin fer it!!

Lots said already that makes plenty of sense.  Practice builds dexterity as well as muscle memory: eventually you'll be fine with transitioning between any scale length.  Have at it, man!!

Edward

[pwduncan]

Why thank you. 

The Taylor’s make playing and learning oh so enjoyable. 

Bonus is the wife likes my guitar playing. 

And, I would also like to add that I have met so many wonderful people in my one year of playing acoustic.  Really nice folks. 

[Rosewood32]

Hello pwduncan,

You own something similar to me, in that I play a GA414 and GC812ce 12-Fret DLX.I can play the same music on both just as other members have previously stated they can also,but have a preference to play the likes of Blues and Ragtime pieces in standard tuning with lower string tension on the shorter scale GC812ce and then use my longer scale GA414 with higher string tension for open tunings.It's just a personal preference, but with that mix I think you can have the 'best of both worlds'. Just go with what you feel comfortable with and all the best with your lessons.Enjoy

Cheers,
Rosewood32