Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Crooks
I like the string tension on the long scale gutiars, but I can not stand the sound of them. They start sounding like distorted basses, and not low tuned guitars, IMO.
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Given the same tuning and same string tension then the effect of making the scale longer will be the opposite: the longer scale will have a much clearer and guitar-like tone, and the shorter scale will sound muddy and more like a bass.
But your impression is understandable since longer scale guitars are usually tuned
way lower than the extension warrants.
For example, extending a 25.5" scale to 27" and tuning down one semitone will give you exactly the same tone clarity and tension as the 25.5" at standard tuning. But people often tune 27" scales down a 4th or 5th which is 5 or 7 semitones. This will require much thicker strings and result in muddy bass-like tone. It will be slightly less muddy than the same tuning on a 25.5" scale, but still muddy.
If you want to preserve a very clear guitar-like tone and tune down a 4th, then you need to extend the scale to 34". Then you can use the exact same gages & tension as you would with standard tuning on a 25.5" scale.