Getting used to a 26.5 inch scale

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MetalThrasher

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Almost all of my guitars (six and seven string) are 25.5 inch scale. I recently started playing an Ibanez seven string with a 26.5 inch scale and I can really notice the difference on the scale being an inch longer. How long did it take you to adjust going from a 25.5 inch scale to a 26.5 inch scale?
 
Amazing what an inch feels like. You're half way to the next string gauge with added tension from that extra inch..
It does add clarity to the notes tho..
Just keep at it. After a while a 25.5 will feel small. A 24.75 will feel like a kids toy..
Now you need a Multi Scale.. LOL 27-25.5. Heavy bottoms with light high strings. Cool
 
I don't have a problem adapting. I barely notice a difference in distance between frets between a 24.75 and a 25.5. It's mostly about the tension of the strings for me. Particularly the skinny ones on bends.

To be completel honest, I prefer the feel of longer scale guitars by a bit, but not by much. But I much prefer the tone of shorter scale guitars by far. Less twangy/Fender-y. Especially for heavy stuff.

But I used to jump a lot between playing my 35" bass as well.
 
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I switched to Ibanez RGD 26.5" scale neck guitars in 2012. (Ibanez RGD2120Z)
I play in D Standard tuning and nothing holds that tuning better than 26.5"
Took a little bit to get used to it, your hand stretches just a bit more.

I also have an Ibanez 7 string that is 26.5".
I've sold all my 25.5" guitars except for two.
My Basses are both 35" scale
 
Permanent adapting seems to take me anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks going from various extended ranges and multiscales or new strange ingenious tunings along with them. It's more about going back to "normal" scale lengths that feel off anymore. :ROFLMAO:
 
I do notice that it gives a little more clarity. I guess I'll just have to play it more, so I get used to it. It's tuned to A with 10 - 59 strings and the tension feels great. I usually use at least a 62 on my 25.5 for A.
 
MetalThrasher said:
Almost all of my guitars (six and seven string) are 25.5 inch scale. I recently started playing an Ibanez seven string with a 26.5 inch scale and I can really notice the difference on the scale being an inch longer. How long did it take you to adjust going from a 25.5 inch scale to a 26.5 inch scale?
Click to expand...
Owned a few Schecters in the past at that scale....Really didn't take that long, and then felt great. I like them with Power Slinky 11- 48 on a 6 string tuned to drop C, or C standard.
 
Several years so I went on a longer scale length quest and heavy string lower tunings. I went through a few 26.5” and 27”, even had a custom Skervesen 26.5” made. I just never could get along with them, I mean it wasn’t that much different but when I went back to 25.5 in standard Eb it just felt right. I found I loved the heavy mids more than the low tuning and heavy strings.

Now I love 24.75” better then anything, maybe because I’m older and it’s easy on the hands.

But definitely if you keep playing, it gets more natural.
 
midnightlaundry said:
Amazing what an inch feels like. You're half way to the next string gauge with added tension from that extra inch..
It does add clarity to the notes tho..
Just keep at it. After a while a 25.5 will feel small. A 24.75 will feel like a kids toy..
Now you need a Multi Scale.. LOL 27-25.5. Heavy bottoms with light high strings. Cool
Click to expand...
Insert dirty joke after your first sentence. Lol
 
13 years ago I went from 24.75 6er to 27 7 string and haven’t looked back. Gaining proper muting with an extra string was way harder than the scale length adjustment.

On the 27, lead stuff high on the neck is so comfortable. Now if I pick up a 24.75, the higher frets feel so cramped, fingers all squished together, feels like a little baby violin.
 
It's sort of a double edged sword for me; these longer scales make soloing high up on a neck a breeze but low register stretchy rhythm licks can definitely be harder.

Hell, I have a guitar that's a straight 26" scale and even that is quite noticeable.

Had a 26.5" Ibanez RGD in the past that I grew to love. You do get used to it eventually
 
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