Strat w/ Gibson Scale Neck

[Doughboy]

I've always played strat scale necks, but after getting a Les Paul, I am definitely enjoying the Gibson scale much better. Everything is easier to do on the Les Paul.

I was thinking of getting a strat body with a Gibson scale neck for my next build. Has anyone done this & are there tonal differences between having a strat of Gibson neck on a Fender strat type body?

 

[bagman67]

With the same gauge of strings, shorter scale length means less string tension when tuned to standard pitch - and that can have tonal differences.  Without citing empirical evidence, I'd suggest that (to a point) greater tension seems generally to be slightly brighter and louder than looser tension at the same pitch for open strings.  Your mileage may vary.

Bagman

 

[DeepSouth]

There are some online tension calculators that allow you to vary the scale length of the neck and calculate the individual and total string tensions. http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html

I just did a quick calc using a set of light strings (10's) on this calculator and the difference in total string tension (ie on all the strings) is only 3kg of a total of around 60kg. To put this in some perspective a set of medium strings gives a total 80kg of total tension ie. a 20 kg variance over the light strings.

I would conclude the difference in sound from scale length would be pretty minor and less than the effect you would have from simply changing your string gauge from say 10's to 11's or whatever. In fact one of my guitars is tuned permanently to D# standard tuning and I worked out when I did this that if I went to 11's from my normal 10's in E standard the total tension was comparable. So the heavier gauge is manageable with a lower tuning

Everything Bagman67 said is true but I don't think the amount of difference would be huge. Less than changing your strings to a different gauge.

I'd be more concerned about working out if the positioning of the bridge and neck pocket on a standard warmoth body would allow that particular scale neck without intonation issues. I don't know enough about this to comment - but I suspect it might be an issue.

 

[bagman67]

I'd be more concerned about working out if the positioning of the bridge and neck pocket on a standard warmoth body would allow that particular scale neck without intonation issues. I don't know enough about this to comment - but I suspect it might be an issue.

I would.expect any tonal variation to be quite minor indeed.  Perhaps I was unclear.  As for the concern you cause, that is the whole point of Warmoth conversion necks .

 

[DeepSouth]

that is the whole point of Warmoth conversion necks .

Ah - I didn't know they existed - I'd even be interested in them - my hands are fairly large but my fingers are short - I prefer Gibson scale myself - but I prefer the Strat and Telecaster sound to LP's.

 

[Doughboy]

I think I will definitely get a strat with  a Gibson scale neck next time, if not for the tention alone. I REALLY like the loose tention & ease that the Les Paul plays.

I used to always read that Strats were harder to play than Les Pauls & would just roll my eyes, but now, since I actually own a Les Paul, I finally see what they were talking about.

 

[dNA]

having experimented with different string gauges and tunings a bit, I would say that the difference is definitely noticeable. I normally play with heavy strings and like the tension to feel almost as tight as my acoustics. I've found that there's a definite difference in volume from pickups with changes in string tension. I've also found that differences in string tension have a significant effect on attack, and the overtones in sustain. I really do think it changes the character of the guitar, and it's part of the reason I started tuning my electric guitars up a few years ago.

but YMMV. It's also not a better or worse thing. If you want to hear how one of your existing guitars would sound in a 24 3/4" scale, put a capo at the first fret and then tune that to standard, or whatever you normally tune your guitars to. Then you can also try putting on a set of strings one gauge heavier and compare.