Having a hand injury at a young age caused me to use smaller scale instruments. I use several MIKROS to record with all the time. I've replaced the tuners on them, and have a few different gauges on them to suite my needs. I have found the right "touch" to play in tune and not overly attack the strings. They sound every bit as good as full scale, and they have kept me going on my musical journey without feeling handicapped in any way
If you don’t mind me asking, how does the smaller scale make it easier to play with a hand injury? I’m currently an apprentice pipe fitter/welder and I’ve been in the trade for a year and a half now and the biggest issue I’ve had is that my hands get sore from grinding and that sometimes in certain situations such as doing certain chords or playing something with a lot of stretching across the fretboard and even holding a pick after super long days I get shooting pains in my hands and forearms and I’ve currently found stretches as well as implemented habits at work to mitigate the wear on my hands but there are still some days where it’s almost unbearable to try and play the guitar and I don’t want to have to give up on guitar because of my career choice because I love being able to weld to me it’s like learning another instrument and I don’t want to give up one skill to continue the other.
@@Live2Win230 10yrs ago had a temporary injury (TL:DR fell off roof, OG doc recommended against surgery, wrong, they had to re-brake the humerus and install a rod and screws) most of my issues following after were from an extended healing time and the atrophy that inevitably follows. I bought a Squire short scale strat. Not only was the string tension a bit lighter, and I didn't have to stretch my hand as much, but as my shoulder and elbows were messed up I didn't have to reach out as far for cowboy chords or internally rotate as much for soloing past the 12th fret. If they're going to charge me $300 for a sling (you could get at CVS) I figured whats $50 on reverb for a kid's guitar? The scale length was 22.5 (I believe) and when everyone says it's basically like just throwing a capo on the 2nd fret for a normal strat, thats basically it. It wasn't drastic, but I think it all combined to help me get back to playing standard sizes again. I can definitely recommend, even if it's just to have as a "jam sometimes guitar" to take pressure offa playing normal sizes all the time (avoid representative stress) or you could just get a cheap capo and mess around with tunings and stuff
My slightly smaller hands will always love shorter scale guitars like a 24' Mustang or a 25' PRS guitar. I can play 25.5' fine but it's a subtle difference that DOES make a difference when I actually play.
Personally I think this discussion or topic in general is highly underrated. There are some artists that utilize this to cool effect. One example i personally realized is Chuck from Death. He does rely on a lot of huge bends. How does he do it consistently so easily? The B.C. Rich Stealth he plays (24.5/8 with 24 frets) makes it super easy given the .10-46 strings he used. I personally noticed that when I recently switched from my main LTD Explorer to a Stealth as well. Bends feel so much easier with it. It's really a cool gimmick that i feel way too few people know about.
You didnt talk about baritones! Gotta do a follow up video, personally I love them not only for lower tunings but as I'm a bass player first the wider spacing is easier for me, even fender and gibson scale guitars feel cramped and something like the ibanez mikro is actually harder for me to play
@@justsomedude5727 I have a Squire paranormal series T-type baritone guitar and I love the thing. It was relatively inexpensive, fit and finish were great, and it sounds like god.
Hello from another Bass player!! To be honest, my technique is completely different on both instruments. So a baritone isn't for me, but I'll try some more out. Like how do you play chords lower on the neck lol?
7:22 I did not expect that particular riff from Winger on one of youe videos, but man great taste. I wasn't born in the 80s or anything but some of those riffs are so underrated.
Ahh yes - Vai in Alcatraz. What a strange mix. But I loved that Painted Lover performance. Tuning stability was clearly not something he was worried about (consider that behind the nut bend where he goes a full 7 semi-tones). I've got a BMG Special (24" scale, 24 frets) and I use 8's on it (as did Dr May for much of his early work, although I think he uses 9's now). It is so much fun to play! And, yes, it needs a light touch, but it certainly facilitates replicating Dr. May's unique voice.
Cort m500 65 thru 13 GDGCEA 24 3\4 scale and holds tune so Fureaking well. Been obsessed with that fine line of tuning stability. Good hardware makes all the difference. Good vid Six
Gibson has made tens of thousands of LP Studio models...since 1982 I think. And most of them are likely still in circulation, so it's not a huge deal if we lose one! UPS and FedEx are probably responsible for the death of 80% of the guitars that have been destroyed in the last 10 years. Well, people not packing them right is half the equation....
The Rickenbacker 325 takes the whole short scale thing to a whole new level, 20.75 inch scale length! As far as I know, the recommended string gauge on them is .13's to retain a modicum of tuning stability.
That little guitar sounds a HELLUVA lot better than my assumptions, based on appearance.... QUESTION : What was that riff directly after "Bark At The Moon" (at approx. the 07:25 mark) ?? That (and your opening barnburner) sounded great too...
Shorter the string less string tension. Longer the string more tension. I am almost 50 and blue collar working with my hands, and bass and drums in bands for so long, I have pain in my hands. So I have found my secret sauce. Fat neck, short scale, 8g strings. That keeps me playing the blues, and rocking. Someday I may end up with 7s like BFG but for now. Thats what keeps my old working man hands playing. Shorts scale, fat neck, slinky 8g strings. That does it for me. I hope that helps someone else out there.
I get to keep that guitar obviously, so I'm gonna give it to my sister for Christmas because she wants to get into guitar. I left as much stuff wrapped as possible. But Strat style guitars in general don't handle whammy bar use well, even like a custom shop Fender
The downside to the Ibanez mikros is the fretwork. Since it's so cheap youre not getting too much out of it but with a sanding sponge and five minutes your fretwork will be sufficient. Also be careful if you install active pickups because there's no room for a battery. I ended up drilling the hole where the cables for the jack go bigger to make a pocket for the 9V battery. Mine has EMG Super 77s and its an absolute badass little beast
Nice Baby Metal sweatshirt shout-out! This is a really useful video. Would be cool to compare the differences in string gauges and playability on each guitar. I personally feel the strings are more taut on 25.5" with 9's (does a headless with a locking brass nut make that worse?). It makes it a tough reach with my girly hands on the top 4-5 frets. It's also harder to bend, pull off, etc. I might be more sensitive about the above points because I'm disabled with weakness and chronic pain in my hands, but I've heard most teachers recommend 24.75" for beginners and intermediate players because it tends to be easier to play. I've personally found 24.75" much more comfortable. Mind you, I'm mostly an acoustic player with 11-52, but I'm hoping to move more into electric. I have borrowed a few electric guitars from friends here and there from both scale lengths and find the 24.75" just fits my hands and needs better. But if you know how to make 25.5" feel easier to play, chime in! Maybe a gauge less than 9's would make sense in my case? I've seen 7's, lol. I can barely feel the treble strings on 9's under my calluses, though, so not sure if going lighter makes sense, 😂. The guitars were in standard, so maybe down tuning would also help?
My favorite funky short scale instrument is the "Kangolin"; 5 string, no courses, electric octave mandolin, 18.5" scale, g2-b4 tuning in 5ths, popularized by Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident. Absolute bear to get set-up and finicky as all hell on the low and high side, but good god, the access and range are really something else.
I've been playing for just over 18 months now on all Fender style guitars. When I started trying to learn some 3nps runs a few months ago and wondered why I could not reach across 4 frets with my index down, I realized I have really small hands (also explains the pain I get in my hand from holding barre chords near the nut) I've tried a few Gibson-scale (24.75) guitars and while I can't stretch much further on them to be useful, that small amount does actually feel more comfortable to play, and bending is sooo much more fun. Knowing that you can stretch from 1-7 on a 25.5" scale makes me curse my small ass hands. I play mostly in E standard for everything, and I have a drop pedal in case I want to go lower. I don't listen to ultra low style of metal, B standard is about as low as I usually go. So I'm considering adding a Gibson-scale guitar to my collection... because I SMACK the strings when I play so the MiKro is out of the question >.
@@darklyripley6138 I play in classical position. It helps alleviate some of the pain wiht stretching but even with my thumb down past the middle of the neck I cannot cleanly do 3nps involving stretches like 3 5 7. It's fine, I'll figure out ways around it.
Hey check out a Jaguar or Mustang or duo sonic guitar- they are 24 inch scale lengths! Dunno if that 3/4 of an inch from the Gibson 24.75 would make a significant difference, but it is smaller
@@lomoholga I definitely want to check out a Jag/Stang/Duo Sonic, but since I play metal music (not really downtuned, I have a drop pedal for that if I really want to) I dunno how well that it would work. I actually overstretched my hand near my pinky the other day and am slightly concerned that my fingers just aren't as flexible as other peoples, where pushing them too much is just a bad idea.
@@atheist4life229 hey be aware of your wrist angle and thumb orientation at the back of the neck- that can 💯 help with stretches and regardless of your hand size it will for sure help
few things gibson guitars wouldnt really be considered a short scale. usually people say short scale when talking about fender 24 inch scale guitars and anything below that. 24.75 is a very normal scale for LP guitars, almost every other LP guitar manufacturer does 24.75 and about shortscales- no, tuning stability isnt inherently worse. mim duo sonics, mustangs and jags hold tuning well. what is a problem is that any movement in the nut will throw off tuning stability more then on a strat scale guitar. neverthless, a proper shortscale with a decent setup is not any less prone to tuning stability issues (unless you are drop tuning with thin strings), so there arent really much in the way of downsides. drop tunings up to like C# or D standard are possible with thick strings (12 or 13), at that point its still rather easy to bend and so on.
Just found your channel and I am on a binge. Your videos are the shit man. You waste no time hammering out info which is great for my ADHD plagued brain
mate that's a great video. I think you could really help alot of people to understand the reasons they are unhappy with there guitar sounds in general. You are a fine musician you have great skill. You also have the ability to explain your knowledge in a constructive and pleasant way. The Donner starter pack looks great. I'm glad I just found your channel. Thank you for this content from your new subscriber Helcat in Australia.
@@sixstringtv1 Yes. I am a collector of low end electric guitars. I find the biggest problem with them is set. often when I buy guitars I hear the same reason why the seller is getting rid of it because "IT NEVER SOUNDED THAT GOOD". I find many things wrong with cheap instruments that are easy to fix. Bad or no set up. I will be checking out your videos and and hopping to learn as much as I can from them. so keep up the good work mate. Take care from you Pal Helcat in Australia.
Interesting episode. Quite a memorable moment to see Kaylen honking on a Les Paul and almost seeming to enjoy it. It's ok man, don't feel guilty or unfaithful. Ha! Anyway... I have guitars with each of the typical 25.5 and 24.75 inch scales, and average size hands that are sometimes a little limited by arthritis in my old age, but each of the popular scale lengths still works fine for me most of the time. I find though that I don't play my Tele as much lately and tend to pick up my Les Paul or Specials mostly. They just feel a little easier for me now. Got a Squier Mustang (HH) last year, these have a 24 inch scale. There is a noticeable difference in feel from my Tele. The Mustang is quick to get around on, easy to bend and just really fun to play. I find some scales and reachy chords are easier to do a couple frets nearer the nut. I'm no shredder but on my Mustang I can extend my fastest playing range more toward the lower registers without having to reach or stretch quite as hard. I have no particular problems with tuning stability on it. It holds tuning just fine, and I bend strings a lot and use a lot of finger vibrato. I recommend every player should try a shorter scale guitar. You might like it.
@@sixstringtv1 One more thought, Kaylen- as you have seen, this topic of different scale lengths and string guages has sparked sincere interest and discussion among your viewers. I hope this kind of positive response encourages you as your channel grows. We like you and take you seriously. Thanks for your hard work!
My first bass was a green sunburst Rick copy. The Snotburst. I knew I wanted to play a long scale bass just to show 'em. It was definitely a flex. I have smallish hands, but I learned how to deal with the scale length. I think it's called 'micro-shifting." And really, it's the first five frets that were problematic for me. When I switch to guitar, it feels like I'm playing a toy. Also, you need to get a baritone guitar. You won't regret it. I can't figure out why metal players tend to use drop tunings, when they could just buy a baritone, which was made for low tunings.
Calling the common Gibson 24 3/4" scale guitars "short scale" is a bit unusual and somewhat confusing. While they are shorter than a Strat or a Tele most simply refer to them as Gibson scale. The term short scale is what most would use when talking about guitars around 22 1/2" like a Fender Musicmaster or a Rickenbacker 625 which is even shorter. Inferring these truly short scale instrument should be avoided is a bit silly as John Lennon and John Fogarty both had no problem playing them live and in the studio with "pretty good results". Yes, there are some caveats like understanding that thicker strings on them can be a good idea and that intonation may not be quite as good as longer scale instruments but for those with small hands or people who simply like the feel of them they can still be good choices.
I'm a bass only nerd and lemme tell ya it's crazy noticeable on a bass. 34" B string is just flop city unless you're over .130 and then at 35" the G strings are like rocks if you're using a .50 or higher. That much tension is insane to keep balanced. Thus why I landed on multiscale basses.
You didn’t play the bark at the moon riff the right way….. lol I’m just being an ass you can definitely play better than me! Appreciate the video explaining the difference in scale length
I usually play fender scale guitars and whenever I pick up a Gibson scale length I feel like I’m playing on easy mode I don’t sound better but it’s easier and I play different.
And here I use different gauges on different guitars for a variety of reasons, including,but not limited to scale length But. It depends on what you do with them.
I used to string my 7 string with 12-52 e to E with a 68 on the low B... I tuned to drop B... tension was fine once I was used to it however output and sustain was ruined. i always struggled to get enough gain out of my amp. the advantage was Hitting the strings as hard as I wanted and not having the note go sharp XD
Okay so I use 10-46 on my tremolo bridges like Floyd's and stuff like that But I have a few guitars that have solid state bridges and those I use 11, 12, and 13 gauge strings 11 is for E standard, 12 for E flat, and 13 for D standard and anything lower hope yall like this lol
I think that the issue with tuning stability on shorter scale instruments comes down to not having sufficient tension on the strings. In an ideal scenario you'd treat it like a guitar that's permanently capoed, probably higher than the F standard you're using there because any snags caused by the nut are going to be exacerbated if there isn't enough tension to pull the string back through to where it was originally. That's one of the reasons people go for baritone guitars, though the extra length of the string also gives more mass and contributes to making the instrument sound bigger and fuller. Maybe a locking nut would work to resolve the tuning stability issues but it's probably not worth the hassle unless you are working with a fixed bridge with fine tuners on it. Good luck finding one designed for guitar that isn't either a Floyd Rose (yes, non trem Floyd Rose bridges exist and yes, they're basically the same design except it's directly screwed into the guitar and can't move) or attached to a 70s Gibson that costs more than your right kidney 😅 Intonation wise there is sadly no fix because the threads on the adjustment screws are going to make the saddle move a greater distance relative to the overall scale and a finer thread will be more prone to stripping.
I 0 only play Les Paul's.. I actually like that studio and I pretty much only like standards and customs just a black studio with the pick card on is nice
I mostly play 24¾" scale guitars because I have small hands (even though I'm 5'10") and lost the tip of my fret hand index finger in a bizarre merry-go-round accident. I can comfortably do a 1-3-5 on my Les Pauls, but can't on my Strat.
try 18 to 75, mikro barritone. I bought one that had the bridge mounted crooked, they sent a new one...for a nother hindred shipping. My 250 150 pg mikro
Since I started play a steel string guitar, I have always kept with a short scale guitars such as my Taylor Grand Concert, T5 and a Guild Starfire. I recently got a larger scale Taylor Grand Orchestra, plus a have an old strat-like guitar I rebuilt. One thing I have run into is that Muscle Memory type things when using a pick and fingers for fingerstyle more difficult. I try to play each type but still mostly use short scale. Had anyone run into this...? Is it best to stay with similar scale lengths? I am not a professional guitarist. I play in a church orchestra (band) where we play various things like old hymns, through contempered arrangements and at home.
I run 8-38 in e standard on my guitars (all 25.5” RGs.) I got a couple of the PGMMs my self cause I’m a big Paul Gilbert fan and they’re great for travel! MOD THEM!!! So to help with tension. I put on gotoh locking tuners and on the string trees, I removed the spacers and slammed the trees to the headstock. Both adds a ton of tension so to me this in 9-42 feels like 8-38 on a 25.5”! Drop in some DiMarzios (you should do Fishmans!!!) and a brass gotoh bridge and it’s dialed! Not to mention the large of amount of fret work needed on these guitars.
I'm gonna mod that PGMM to all hell. Got a small pickup manufacturer from Poland who's willing to use the original pickup bobbins in that specific pink color to make me an incredible set of passive metal pickups, and I'll mod the rest too!
LMFAO that intro was sideshow bob lvl! I started on a fake strat like most everyone does at 25.5" then got an epi LP at 24.75". Now I have hot dog fingers and love baritones for their spacing, but really still enjoy my 25.5" guitars. I wish more guitars were in the 26" - 27" range, I feel like it is the max comfort zone for standard tuning with 11s or 10s. Call me heavy handed, but that is the only way I would put 10s on any guitar.
i had a short scale: it was a First Act Mini V. it looked really cool and the stock humbucker is surprisingly good. you can get a really good chug out of it. the thing is, it’s a pain to keep in tune (in E standard) because of the extremely short scale of 21.5. really fun to play though but it has to be in F# to stay in tune. PS i’ll only go back to short scale when i get my hands on an ESP Babymetal Mini Arrow. your hoodie reminded me that i need to go back to japan to get one 🤣
My first real electric guitar was an Ibanez AS73L (which I still own) lefty of course, because left handed guitars and basses are so uncommon in my country I got used to what I had, so when I tried a Fender scale guitar I could not get used to it lol, even today I can't play a 25.5 scale guitar decently Ironically speaking, I'm a bassist first and a guitarist second, and never had any trouble with basses lol
Kirk Windstein (Crowbar) has a signature Solar guitar (E1.6KW) that is 24.75 scale. I know he down tunes. How does that scale make sense for sludge metal?
The fan that you use to blow your hair might play a factor in tuning stability on such cheap guitars. Those guitars wouldn’t stay in tune no matter what you did to them. It takes a quality instrument to do those things. Like a Jackson KE2 USA select. Your dad could use an industrial fan when you play and it wouldn’t go out of tune. Those Quality German Floyd’s are where it’s at!
@@blood_red_sinnamon_official Unless you’re Dan Swano, flipping the strings makes zero sense. You would also be better off using spaghetti for strings. They’d feel the same. You shouldn’t use anything lighter than 11-54 for anything below drop C.
@@blood_red_sinnamon_official Tony Iommi doesn’t exactly sound great, but at least he has a legitimate reason for doing that, since his finger tips got cut off, and the low tuning and light strings help him avoid discomfort while playing. 8’s in E isn’t exactly recommended either. There’s a difference between playing 8’s in E, and 10-48 in Drop B. Just because the tension might be the same, doesn’t mean that stability, tuning, etc will be the same. There’s a reason why the overwhelming majority of people who play in those tunings, don’t use 10-48. Besides all the issues I mentioned, it sounds awful. Hell, anything less than 10-52 for drop D to drop C sounds awful.
Trying to figure out how you get certain techniques to sound so good...and I can't! The riff that starts at 7:23 has chugging between chords and notes. I have distortion, I'm hitting the string, but it just sounds like a dog is attacking the guitar neck. And screw pinch harmonics. They sound like pinch tectonic, my guitar is having an earthquake. I fully understand that being able to do something and mastering it are far apart, but I can't even get close to the chug or the pinch! How long have you been playing? Thank you!
@@sixstringtv1 Damn, it's amazing how good you've gotten in 4 years. I started playing when covid hit, so approaching 3 years. Did you ever take lessons? What would you say was important, learning all the notes and scales etc or just playing? Keep the videos coming! Thank you!
I'm not gonna see the whole video and just answer. Yes, it totally does. No seriously it does. But I gotta say, the most controversial thing about this guy is that he's using Marshall amps, and a Kerry King sig. no young guy uses Marshall in these days
![KSI - Thick Of It (feat. Trippie Redd) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/At8v_Yc044Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Having a hand injury at a young age caused me to use smaller scale instruments. I use several MIKROS to record with all the time. I've replaced the tuners on them, and have a few different gauges on them to suite my needs. I have found the right "touch" to play in tune and not overly attack the strings. They sound every bit as good as full scale, and they have kept me going on my musical journey without feeling handicapped in any way
Hell yeah man! Whatever works! 🔥🔥
If you don’t mind me asking, how does the smaller scale make it easier to play with a hand injury? I’m currently an apprentice pipe fitter/welder and I’ve been in the trade for a year and a half now and the biggest issue I’ve had is that my hands get sore from grinding and that sometimes in certain situations such as doing certain chords or playing something with a lot of stretching across the fretboard and even holding a pick after super long days I get shooting pains in my hands and forearms and I’ve currently found stretches as well as implemented habits at work to mitigate the wear on my hands but there are still some days where it’s almost unbearable to try and play the guitar and I don’t want to have to give up on guitar because of my career choice because I love being able to weld to me it’s like learning another instrument and I don’t want to give up one skill to continue the other.
@@Live2Win230 10yrs ago had a temporary injury (TL:DR fell off roof, OG doc recommended against surgery, wrong, they had to re-brake the humerus and install a rod and screws) most of my issues following after were from an extended healing time and the atrophy that inevitably follows. I bought a Squire short scale strat.
Not only was the string tension a bit lighter, and I didn't have to stretch my hand as much, but as my shoulder and elbows were messed up I didn't have to reach out as far for cowboy chords or internally rotate as much for soloing past the 12th fret.
If they're going to charge me $300 for a sling (you could get at CVS) I figured whats $50 on reverb for a kid's guitar?
The scale length was 22.5 (I believe) and when everyone says it's basically like just throwing a capo on the 2nd fret for a normal strat, thats basically it. It wasn't drastic, but I think it all combined to help me get back to playing standard sizes again.
I can definitely recommend, even if it's just to have as a "jam sometimes guitar" to take pressure offa playing normal sizes all the time (avoid representative stress) or you could just get a cheap capo and mess around with tunings and stuff
My slightly smaller hands will always love shorter scale guitars like a 24' Mustang or a 25' PRS guitar. I can play 25.5' fine but it's a subtle difference that DOES make a difference when I actually play.
oh man, i once tuned my 25.5 inch scale ibanez up to F standard with 10-52 strings. can confirm my fingers are jacked now
Personally I think this discussion or topic in general is highly underrated. There are some artists that utilize this to cool effect. One example i personally realized is Chuck from Death. He does rely on a lot of huge bends. How does he do it consistently so easily? The B.C. Rich Stealth he plays (24.5/8 with 24 frets) makes it super easy given the .10-46 strings he used. I personally noticed that when I recently switched from my main LTD Explorer to a Stealth as well. Bends feel so much easier with it. It's really a cool gimmick that i feel way too few people know about.
Idk why but I always thought that the Stealth would be 25.5
Finaly, a RUclipsr that understands some of the relations between scale einght, string gauges and tunings.🏅
Your channel is entertaining and informative. It’s quickly become a favorite. Sending positive vibes from Philadelphia, PA USA 🙌
Thanks man! 😎😎🙏
You didnt talk about baritones! Gotta do a follow up video, personally I love them not only for lower tunings but as I'm a bass player first the wider spacing is easier for me, even fender and gibson scale guitars feel cramped and something like the ibanez mikro is actually harder for me to play
I didn't wanna bring up baritones without having one here 😫😫
@@sixstringtv1 gotta get one, maybe a tele baritone since you're a fender shill
@@justsomedude5727 I have a Squire paranormal series T-type baritone guitar and I love the thing. It was relatively inexpensive, fit and finish were great, and it sounds like god.
@@sixstringtv1 Gretch make a great baritone
Hello from another Bass player!!
To be honest, my technique is completely different on both instruments. So a baritone isn't for me, but I'll try some more out.
Like how do you play chords lower on the neck lol?
7:22 I did not expect that particular riff from Winger on one of youe videos, but man great taste. I wasn't born in the 80s or anything but some of those riffs are so underrated.
Ahh yes - Vai in Alcatraz. What a strange mix. But I loved that Painted Lover performance. Tuning stability was clearly not something he was worried about (consider that behind the nut bend where he goes a full 7 semi-tones). I've got a BMG Special (24" scale, 24 frets) and I use 8's on it (as did Dr May for much of his early work, although I think he uses 9's now). It is so much fun to play! And, yes, it needs a light touch, but it certainly facilitates replicating Dr. May's unique voice.
Cort m500 65 thru 13 GDGCEA 24 3\4 scale and holds tune so Fureaking well. Been obsessed with that fine line of tuning stability. Good hardware makes all the difference. Good vid Six
Exactly ! 💪
Put bigger strings on the mikro. I did this for my daughter (11 to 50s), and it felt like a strat with 10s, and it stayed in tune.
That Dicaprio joke is great and I am going to take it.
It's all yours.
Please dont relic the gibson.
Got different plans for it don't worry
Gibson has made tens of thousands of LP Studio models...since 1982 I think. And most of them are likely still in circulation, so it's not a huge deal if we lose one! UPS and FedEx are probably responsible for the death of 80% of the guitars that have been destroyed in the last 10 years. Well, people not packing them right is half the equation....
@@sixstringtv1 thats a good point but a even better one is its his and he can do wtv he wants
welp, after joining the patreon, i still feel sorry for the gibson.
Don't tell anyone what's happening 🤫
The Rickenbacker 325 takes the whole short scale thing to a whole new level, 20.75 inch scale length!
As far as I know, the recommended string gauge on them is .13's to retain a modicum of tuning stability.
I've always wanted a 325, not because of John Lennon, but to string with .009's and tune up to A.
That little guitar sounds a HELLUVA lot better than my assumptions, based on appearance....
QUESTION : What was that riff directly after "Bark At The Moon" (at approx. the 07:25 mark) ?? That (and your opening barnburner) sounded great too...
Time to surrender by Winger 😎😎🔥
Shorter the string less string tension. Longer the string more tension. I am almost 50 and blue collar working with my hands, and bass and drums in bands for so long, I have pain in my hands. So I have found my secret sauce. Fat neck, short scale, 8g strings. That keeps me playing the blues, and rocking. Someday I may end up with 7s like BFG but for now. Thats what keeps my old working man hands playing. Shorts scale, fat neck, slinky 8g strings. That does it for me. I hope that helps someone else out there.
The size of ur skills is what matters not the size of the guitar neck
It's the Uli Jon Roth fan while you play that I deeply love. I deeply love it...and your videos.
Don't think I didn't notice you not using the whammy bar on that Donner... is it because the fukker won't stay in tune if you do? 😂
I get to keep that guitar obviously, so I'm gonna give it to my sister for Christmas because she wants to get into guitar. I left as much stuff wrapped as possible. But Strat style guitars in general don't handle whammy bar use well, even like a custom shop Fender
26.5 is perfect drop A# enough room for big hands
Love the bit where you played Winger's "Time to Surrender," was really not expecting that one!
Which size is the fan ? 😂😂😂 jooookin'
You snuck in some baller Winger riffs, dude... *throws the horns*
Nice hoodie.
The downside to the Ibanez mikros is the fretwork. Since it's so cheap youre not getting too much out of it but with a sanding sponge and five minutes your fretwork will be sufficient. Also be careful if you install active pickups because there's no room for a battery. I ended up drilling the hole where the cables for the jack go bigger to make a pocket for the 9V battery. Mine has EMG Super 77s and its an absolute badass little beast
Vektor is underrated af
Thank You Donner for sponsoring! 😁
Nice Baby Metal sweatshirt shout-out! This is a really useful video. Would be cool to compare the differences in string gauges and playability on each guitar. I personally feel the strings are more taut on 25.5" with 9's (does a headless with a locking brass nut make that worse?). It makes it a tough reach with my girly hands on the top 4-5 frets. It's also harder to bend, pull off, etc.
I might be more sensitive about the above points because I'm disabled with weakness and chronic pain in my hands, but I've heard most teachers recommend 24.75" for beginners and intermediate players because it tends to be easier to play. I've personally found 24.75" much more comfortable. Mind you, I'm mostly an acoustic player with 11-52, but I'm hoping to move more into electric. I have borrowed a few electric guitars from friends here and there from both scale lengths and find the 24.75" just fits my hands and needs better.
But if you know how to make 25.5" feel easier to play, chime in! Maybe a gauge less than 9's would make sense in my case? I've seen 7's, lol. I can barely feel the treble strings on 9's under my calluses, though, so not sure if going lighter makes sense, 😂. The guitars were in standard, so maybe down tuning would also help?
My favorite funky short scale instrument is the "Kangolin"; 5 string, no courses, electric octave mandolin, 18.5" scale, g2-b4 tuning in 5ths, popularized by Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident. Absolute bear to get set-up and finicky as all hell on the low and high side, but good god, the access and range are really something else.
I was so hyped to hear about longer scale lenghts, but i got nothin😂😂, love the vids mate, you are very entertaining!
I didn't mention those, because I didn't have one on hand for this video. Once I do, there will be a follow-up.
I've been playing for just over 18 months now on all Fender style guitars. When I started trying to learn some 3nps runs a few months ago and wondered why I could not reach across 4 frets with my index down, I realized I have really small hands (also explains the pain I get in my hand from holding barre chords near the nut) I've tried a few Gibson-scale (24.75) guitars and while I can't stretch much further on them to be useful, that small amount does actually feel more comfortable to play, and bending is sooo much more fun. Knowing that you can stretch from 1-7 on a 25.5" scale makes me curse my small ass hands.
I play mostly in E standard for everything, and I have a drop pedal in case I want to go lower. I don't listen to ultra low style of metal, B standard is about as low as I usually go. So I'm considering adding a Gibson-scale guitar to my collection... because I SMACK the strings when I play so the MiKro is out of the question >.
If you haven’t already figured it out, try playing the guitar in a classical position. That helps with being able to do what you’re struggling with.
@@darklyripley6138 I play in classical position. It helps alleviate some of the pain wiht stretching but even with my thumb down past the middle of the neck I cannot cleanly do 3nps involving stretches like 3 5 7. It's fine, I'll figure out ways around it.
Hey check out a Jaguar or Mustang or duo sonic guitar- they are 24 inch scale lengths! Dunno if that 3/4 of an inch from the Gibson 24.75 would make a significant difference, but it is smaller
@@lomoholga I definitely want to check out a Jag/Stang/Duo Sonic, but since I play metal music (not really downtuned, I have a drop pedal for that if I really want to) I dunno how well that it would work. I actually overstretched my hand near my pinky the other day and am slightly concerned that my fingers just aren't as flexible as other peoples, where pushing them too much is just a bad idea.
@@atheist4life229 hey be aware of your wrist angle and thumb orientation at the back of the neck- that can 💯 help with stretches and regardless of your hand size it will for sure help
John Lennon's Rickenbacker 325 (his famous black one) was 20.75 INCHES!!!!!
That LP Studio sounds killer!🤘🎸
few things
gibson guitars wouldnt really be considered a short scale. usually people say short scale when talking about fender 24 inch scale guitars and anything below that. 24.75 is a very normal scale for LP guitars, almost every other LP guitar manufacturer does 24.75
and about shortscales- no, tuning stability isnt inherently worse. mim duo sonics, mustangs and jags hold tuning well. what is a problem is that any movement in the nut will throw off tuning stability more then on a strat scale guitar. neverthless, a proper shortscale with a decent setup is not any less prone to tuning stability issues (unless you are drop tuning with thin strings), so there arent really much in the way of downsides. drop tunings up to like C# or D standard are possible with thick strings (12 or 13), at that point its still rather easy to bend and so on.
I have always loved 25.5”- I have large hands and I feel it’s simply the best fit for me.
Have a Fender Jaguar. I put 11-50 on it. Not a metal player, but larger strings seem nicer on a smaller scale. Love Strats too
That studio sounds great!
Something between the Mikro and a Gibson? Like a Mustang?
Just found your channel and I am on a binge. Your videos are the shit man. You waste no time hammering out info which is great for my ADHD plagued brain
Glad you're enjoying the videos! 😎
Made by ADHD guys, for ADHD guys 🤣
SixStringTV: The strat at 25.5" is the long scale length
Me: *sweats with my 27" scale everyday guitar in drop Z#
mate that's a great video. I think you could really help alot of people to understand the reasons they are unhappy with there guitar sounds in general. You are a fine musician you have great skill. You also have the ability to explain your knowledge in a constructive and pleasant way. The Donner starter pack looks great. I'm glad I just found your channel. Thank you for this content from your new subscriber Helcat in Australia.
Thanks for the sub, glad you're enjoying the channel! 😁
@@sixstringtv1 Yes. I am a collector of low end electric guitars. I find the biggest problem with them is set. often when I buy guitars I hear the same reason why the seller is getting rid of it because "IT NEVER SOUNDED THAT GOOD". I find many things wrong with cheap instruments that are easy to fix. Bad or no set up. I will be checking out your videos and and hopping to learn as much as I can from them. so keep up the good work mate. Take care from you Pal Helcat in Australia.
i prefer longer scale length for guitars, but it doesn’t matter to me all that much. loved the video
Interesting episode. Quite a memorable moment to see Kaylen honking on a Les Paul and almost seeming to enjoy it. It's ok man, don't feel guilty or unfaithful. Ha! Anyway... I have guitars with each of the typical 25.5 and 24.75 inch scales, and average size hands that are sometimes a little limited by arthritis in my old age, but each of the popular scale lengths still works fine for me most of the time. I find though that I don't play my Tele as much lately and tend to pick up my Les Paul or Specials mostly. They just feel a little easier for me now. Got a Squier Mustang (HH) last year, these have a 24 inch scale. There is a noticeable difference in feel from my Tele. The Mustang is quick to get around on, easy to bend and just really fun to play. I find some scales and reachy chords are easier to do a couple frets nearer the nut. I'm no shredder but on my Mustang I can extend my fastest playing range more toward the lower registers without having to reach or stretch quite as hard. I have no particular problems with tuning stability on it. It holds tuning just fine, and I bend strings a lot and use a lot of finger vibrato. I recommend every player should try a shorter scale guitar. You might like it.
Definitely enjoy the LP in some ways, still not really my thing 🤣
@@sixstringtv1 Not a bad thing to have one in the collection. Thanks man, rock on.
@@sixstringtv1 One more thought, Kaylen- as you have seen, this topic of different scale lengths and string guages has sparked sincere interest and discussion among your viewers. I hope this kind of positive response encourages you as your channel grows. We like you and take you seriously. Thanks for your hard work!
My favorite scale is a dead even 25 inches. I started playing with Jackson but after I got my first Carvin I was a convert.
My first bass was a green sunburst Rick copy. The Snotburst. I knew I wanted to play a long scale bass just to show 'em. It was definitely a flex. I have smallish hands, but I learned how to deal with the scale length. I think it's called 'micro-shifting." And really, it's the first five frets that were problematic for me. When I switch to guitar, it feels like I'm playing a toy.
Also, you need to get a baritone guitar. You won't regret it. I can't figure out why metal players tend to use drop tunings, when they could just buy a baritone, which was made for low tunings.
Calling the common Gibson 24 3/4" scale guitars "short scale" is a bit unusual and somewhat confusing. While they are shorter than a Strat or a Tele most simply refer to them as Gibson scale. The term short scale is what most would use when talking about guitars around 22 1/2" like a Fender Musicmaster or a Rickenbacker 625 which is even shorter. Inferring these truly short scale instrument should be avoided is a bit silly as John Lennon and John Fogarty both had no problem playing them live and in the studio with "pretty good results". Yes, there are some caveats like understanding that thicker strings on them can be a good idea and that intonation may not be quite as good as longer scale instruments but for those with small hands or people who simply like the feel of them they can still be good choices.
I'm a bass only nerd and lemme tell ya it's crazy noticeable on a bass. 34" B string is just flop city unless you're over .130 and then at 35" the G strings are like rocks if you're using a .50 or higher. That much tension is insane to keep balanced. Thus why I landed on multiscale basses.
You didn’t play the bark at the moon riff the right way….. lol I’m just being an ass you can definitely play better than me! Appreciate the video explaining the difference in scale length
Apparently, I've been missing this one like a NYC pony. Namastè.
*chalk full o' features babyyyy*
Chalk 😭😭
Wow! Finally an informative useful positive video from your channel !!!😃
By far not the first.
Off topic request…. Can u make video on neck adjustments like your intonation video? Much appreciated if u do it!
I usually play fender scale guitars and whenever I pick up a Gibson scale length I feel like I’m playing on easy mode I don’t sound better but it’s easier and I play different.
And here I use different gauges on different guitars for a variety of reasons, including,but not limited to scale length
But. It depends on what you do with them.
I feel like your gonna add single coils and cover that guitar in the SixStringTV stickers.
ngl for the meme I wonder how a short scale like the PGM Mikro would be with an evertune slapped inside it lol.
Probably still horrible tuning stability
I used to string my 7 string with 12-52 e to E with a 68 on the low B... I tuned to drop B... tension was fine once I was used to it however output and sustain was ruined. i always struggled to get enough gain out of my amp. the advantage was Hitting the strings as hard as I wanted and not having the note go sharp XD
Okay so I use 10-46 on my tremolo bridges like Floyd's and stuff like that
But
I have a few guitars that have solid state bridges and those I use 11, 12, and 13 gauge strings 11 is for E standard, 12 for E flat, and 13 for D standard and anything lower hope yall like this lol
I think that the issue with tuning stability on shorter scale instruments comes down to not having sufficient tension on the strings.
In an ideal scenario you'd treat it like a guitar that's permanently capoed, probably higher than the F standard you're using there because any snags caused by the nut are going to be exacerbated if there isn't enough tension to pull the string back through to where it was originally.
That's one of the reasons people go for baritone guitars, though the extra length of the string also gives more mass and contributes to making the instrument sound bigger and fuller.
Maybe a locking nut would work to resolve the tuning stability issues but it's probably not worth the hassle unless you are working with a fixed bridge with fine tuners on it. Good luck finding one designed for guitar that isn't either a Floyd Rose (yes, non trem Floyd Rose bridges exist and yes, they're basically the same design except it's directly screwed into the guitar and can't move) or attached to a 70s Gibson that costs more than your right kidney 😅
Intonation wise there is sadly no fix because the threads on the adjustment screws are going to make the saddle move a greater distance relative to the overall scale and a finer thread will be more prone to stripping.
You need a Vox SDC-1 mini. 18.7" scale 12s tuned to E standard its a blast.
Is that the egg?
I 0 only play Les Paul's.. I actually like that studio and I pretty much only like standards and customs just a black studio with the pick card on is nice
What about Marty McFly's guitar? That thing was tiny and he still rocked it while auditioning for Huey Lewis.....🤣
🤣
I mostly play 24¾" scale guitars because I have small hands (even though I'm 5'10") and lost the tip of my fret hand index finger in a bizarre merry-go-round accident. I can comfortably do a 1-3-5 on my Les Pauls, but can't on my Strat.
Might I recommend you keep your eyes open for a Fender Cyclone for standard tuning. They're Gibson scale length but Stratty.
try 18 to 75, mikro barritone.
I bought one that had the bridge mounted crooked, they sent a new one...for a nother hindred shipping. My 250 150 pg mikro
Thinking of building my own and may do a short skale
10:05 - Velvet Revolver? I feel like this band could give so many great new songs with a bit more time together...
I play short scale bass. The tone is undoubtedly fatter, but I like it cuz they're smaller xD
Since I started play a steel string guitar, I have always kept with a short scale guitars such as my Taylor Grand Concert, T5 and a Guild Starfire. I recently got a larger scale Taylor Grand Orchestra, plus a have an old strat-like guitar I rebuilt. One thing I have run into is that Muscle Memory type things when using a pick and fingers for fingerstyle more difficult. I try to play each type but still mostly use short scale. Had anyone run into this...? Is it best to stay with similar scale lengths? I am not a professional guitarist. I play in a church orchestra (band) where we play various things like old hymns, through contempered arrangements and at home.
7:22 what song is this. Also that Gibson sounded tastey!
Time to surrender by Winger!
@@sixstringtv1 Thank you!
I run 8-38 in e standard on my guitars (all 25.5” RGs.)
I got a couple of the PGMMs my self cause I’m a big Paul Gilbert fan and they’re great for travel!
MOD THEM!!!
So to help with tension.
I put on gotoh locking tuners and on the string trees, I removed the spacers and slammed the trees to the headstock. Both adds a ton of tension so to me this in 9-42 feels like 8-38 on a 25.5”!
Drop in some DiMarzios (you should do Fishmans!!!) and a brass gotoh bridge and it’s dialed! Not to mention the large of amount of fret work needed on these guitars.
I'm gonna mod that PGMM to all hell. Got a small pickup manufacturer from Poland who's willing to use the original pickup bobbins in that specific pink color to make me an incredible set of passive metal pickups, and I'll mod the rest too!
I love each song you Play in the showcase part, whoud love if you coud shere your playlist
LMFAO that intro was sideshow bob lvl! I started on a fake strat like most everyone does at 25.5" then got an epi LP at 24.75". Now I have hot dog fingers and love baritones for their spacing, but really still enjoy my 25.5" guitars. I wish more guitars were in the 26" - 27" range, I feel like it is the max comfort zone for standard tuning with 11s or 10s. Call me heavy handed, but that is the only way I would put 10s on any guitar.
i had a short scale: it was a First Act Mini V. it looked really cool and the stock humbucker is surprisingly good. you can get a really good chug out of it. the thing is, it’s a pain to keep in tune (in E standard) because of the extremely short scale of 21.5. really fun to play though but it has to be in F# to stay in tune.
PS i’ll only go back to short scale when i get my hands on an ESP Babymetal Mini Arrow. your hoodie reminded me that i need to go back to japan to get one 🤣
I like yo hoodie 😎
Thanks 😎😎
My first real electric guitar was an Ibanez AS73L (which I still own) lefty of course, because left handed guitars and basses are so uncommon in my country I got used to what I had, so when I tried a Fender scale guitar I could not get used to it lol, even today I can't play a 25.5 scale guitar decently
Ironically speaking, I'm a bassist first and a guitarist second, and never had any trouble with basses lol
Size does matter if she tells you otherwise she's lying.
(╥﹏╥)
I got no problem as far as size goes, don't worry ;)
Hey bro, I have to say the video audio is quite quiet
Kirk Windstein (Crowbar) has a signature Solar guitar (E1.6KW) that is 24.75 scale. I know he down tunes. How does that scale make sense for sludge metal?
The short scale compensates for the high tension of big strings. He can down tune with very medium string tension
@@sixstringtv1 Thank you for the response.
Great video. I have a question - what kind of fan do you use?
What cannibal corpse songs are in f standard? Aren't most in g#, A#, or Eb?
None. The old ones are in E/Eb standard
The fan that you use to blow your hair might play a factor in tuning stability on such cheap guitars. Those guitars wouldn’t stay in tune no matter what you did to them. It takes a quality instrument to do those things. Like a Jackson KE2 USA select. Your dad could use an industrial fan when you play and it wouldn’t go out of tune. Those Quality German Floyd’s are where it’s at!
I struggle with stretching 1-5… WTF…. I need a 12.5 scale guitar
Haha small hands 😎
Good video, but why didn't you talk about baritone guitars?
Cause I don't have one 😆
@@sixstringtv1 Ah, I'm in the process of putting a bass neck on one of my guitars
Man, that thumbnail shows the Elite Levels of Sassyness 4k
baby guitar would go hard if the intonation wasn’t godawful
Goes hard regardless, love it
I'm sitting here and laughing in my 28 inch scale on my ibanez
Slap a evertune on the mikro and problems solved.
Winger riff 👀
Yes 👀👀👀
Time to Surrender!
fan blowing hair for guitar playing 🎸 ⚡️⚡️🤘 epic shit
Personally I like using 10-48 for every tuning from E standard to Drop B on a strat scale length
I hope you’re joking…
@@darklyripley6138 I am not and I also have my strings flipped so the 10 is on the bass side and the 48 is On the treble side
@@blood_red_sinnamon_official Unless you’re Dan Swano, flipping the strings makes zero sense. You would also be better off using spaghetti for strings. They’d feel the same. You shouldn’t use anything lighter than 11-54 for anything below drop C.
@@darklyripley6138 Tony iommi uses 9s for C#
And 10-48 in drop B have the same tension as 8s in E standard
@@blood_red_sinnamon_official Tony Iommi doesn’t exactly sound great, but at least he has a legitimate reason for doing that, since his finger tips got cut off, and the low tuning and light strings help him avoid discomfort while playing. 8’s in E isn’t exactly recommended either.
There’s a difference between playing 8’s in E, and 10-48 in Drop B. Just because the tension might be the same, doesn’t mean that stability, tuning, etc will be the same. There’s a reason why the overwhelming majority of people who play in those tunings, don’t use 10-48. Besides all the issues I mentioned, it sounds awful. Hell, anything less than 10-52 for drop D to drop C sounds awful.
Vektor is cool, definitely one of the better thrash bands
are there any 22 scale guitars with tremolos? I'd imagine it would be a tuning problem, but I still want one
I doubt it, but that can always be added after the fact 🤷🏻♂️
I play 9s, because yes.
22" scale length tuned up to F standard? Pathetic! I have a 19" scale length guitar tuned up to G standard!
No disrespect but how do you afford such a good setup
Work. And selling all your worldly possessions.
Can the tuning pegs and bridge be upgraded to hold better tuning? Or is it missing a truss rod?
If it were missing a truss rod it'd also be missing a neck by now 😂
Ofcourse they can be upgraded!
I actually rather enjoyed this I never put it together in my head why my 21 fret squire was so much easier to play in standard then my ibenez 24 fret
Actually the amount of frets isn't relevant, that Ibanez Mikro of mine still has 24
@@sixstringtv1 well yes but my ibenez does have a quite a longer neck on it I just chose a poor way to say that by saying how many frets
Trying to figure out how you get certain techniques to sound so good...and I can't! The riff that starts at 7:23 has chugging between chords and notes. I have distortion, I'm hitting the string, but it just sounds like a dog is attacking the guitar neck. And screw pinch harmonics. They sound like pinch tectonic, my guitar is having an earthquake. I fully understand that being able to do something and mastering it are far apart, but I can't even get close to the chug or the pinch! How long have you been playing? Thank you!
I've been playing for a little over four years 😁
Keep going, you'll get there soon!
@@sixstringtv1 Damn, it's amazing how good you've gotten in 4 years. I started playing when covid hit, so approaching 3 years. Did you ever take lessons? What would you say was important, learning all the notes and scales etc or just playing? Keep the videos coming! Thank you!
I'm not gonna see the whole video and just answer. Yes, it totally does. No seriously it does.
But I gotta say, the most controversial thing about this guy is that he's using Marshall amps, and a Kerry King sig. no young guy uses Marshall in these days