7 string necks - 25" scale?

[grimm26]

I'm planning on buying or building a 7 string and started looking at Warmoth's 7 string necks and bodies.  Then I realized that the 7 string necks (unless you go baritone) are 25" scale.  Why in the world would I want to shorten the scale when adding a low B string?  Just seems like a weird design decision. 

 

[swarfrat]

i'm not on the list of people they consult for new designs, but it's not the first time it's been asked. to me this isn't even a popularity sort of decision, a few. minutes spent with the enharmonicity caculator should make things pretty clear

 

[SustainerPlayer]

It was just one of those odd days where everything went the wrong way.

 

[swarfrat]

As embarassed as I am to admit I missed one that good:
enharmonicity calculator should make things clear....

pun not intended :doh:

 

[rapfohl09]

I've been thinking about this a lot too, because I want a 7 string.

I have been telling myself that I could just up string gauge, is that not an option? Is there something I am not thinking about that would make that not work?

 

[swarfrat]

This should be required reading for anyone considering any kind of extended range guitar:
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/extended-range-guitars/10064-string-gauges-inharmonicity.html

The bigger the string for any given scale length, the less it behaves like a string, and the more it behaves like a metal rod. Your harmonics go out of tune relative to the fundamental. For normal string gauges this is sort of splitting frog hairs, but when you start diving into Electric Bass territory on a guitar scale length, things get wonky real fast.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

I was just referring to the day where W decided to do the 7 string necks in 25" scale.  :toothy11:

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

It's a compromise between short scale (24.75) and long scale (25.5).

After playing ESP's and Ibby's in 25.5 for a dozen or more years as far as 7 strings are concerned, I don't mind them being 25" scale, as my main 6's are 24.75.  It makes for more natural of a transition and I can use the same guage strings for both.

I actually prefer the 25" scale.

 

[stultzies9]

I think it's a matter of "to each their own".  I've played several 7 strings over the years and not liked any of them until I got my hands on one of the Warmoths.  I didn't notice any issues with string tension on the low B string while I was messing with it, but YMMV. 

 

[grimm26]

Thanks for all the replies.  The 25" threw me off moreso, I think, because I am also looking at some 26.5" scale 7 strings.  I don't mind  25" scale on a six string (I've had a carvin for 10+ years), but I put some DDT 11's on a 25.5" guitar for downtuning to Drop C and it is still not optimal to my ears. 

I like compound radius and I like a longer scale, so I may end up getting one of the new Jackson 7 strings.