Scale length and new PRS models

[BluesGuyJ]

Lets talk about scale length and its general effect on tone. Then how do you think PRS moving to 24.5 inch scale necks will effect their sales?

I feel that the longer the scale length, the thinner the tone and less sustain a guitar has and less chunk/bottom end. I enjoyed the tone out of my SG and appreciated the tone but my gorilla size hands were too small for the size of the neck and the short scale. That is why I love my McCarty and PRS guitars in general, that 25 inch scale fits me like a glove.

Since they wll be moving more into 24.5 inch scale necks, such as the Santana models, do you think PRS will start to turn out guitars with more lower end and girth than Gibson? Wont chord clarity be lost with the sonic qualities of a guitar with that short of a neck?

What ya think?!

[acosmicmessenger]

i disagree with your "the longer the scale length, the thinner the tone and less sustain a guitar has and less chunk/bottom end" statement.

i think the important thing is the balance of scale length, gauge of strings, and tuning. If you're on a 24.5" scale guitar, use 8-gauge strings, and are tuned to standard E, you bet there's gonna be some flop.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Longer scale...firmer bottom, more lows...just look at pianos!
And PRS is neither fish or bird!

[BigAlTheBird]

I love me some 24.5", 9/46, bendy lovin action! Not too loose, but loose enough to pull off 6 frets bends with ease. Not that you ever need to do that.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

I grew up with playing acoustics as well....I dislike shortscale.....it is a lazy scale to me...but it works for others, so it is all just down to each ones preference
As said many times before...no rules and boundaries in music.

[Fender_Punk]

When is this happening? Please tell me not to the SE line!!! I want an SE II Maple or SE One later this year/early next year.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

I wanna use PRS's to build a bonfire...burn baby burn

[BluesGuyJ]

Rid, you are evil haha.

Well that whole comments on scale length and tone has only been my experience. My Satch, RG7620 (besides the 7th string) and ESP Mirage Custom (which even had a heavy dimarzio tone zone) all sounded so much thinner than my McCarty with a Custom. Perhaps I should have experimented more with pickups and strings, ands and string gauges.

New question, do you think the bridge style will have a great effect on tone? Let's say We could have a Jackson Soloist with a string through body and one with an OFR. Some how, they have the same exact woods and quality, exact copies in terms of tonal qualities via the woods, only difference is the bridge system. Which will have more lows and sustain longer?

[Zerberus]

....
New question, do you think the bridge style will have a great effect on tone? Let's say We could have a Jackson Soloist with a string through body and one with an OFR. Some how, they have the same exact woods and quality, exact copies in terms of tonal qualities via the woods, only difference is the bridge system. Which will have more lows and sustain longer?

All other factors assumed to be equal (which is not the case on current jacksons, the neck on OFR models has nowhere near the angle of the string thrus) Neither will have more sustain if the bridges are both properly mounted and set up.

The String thru with the T-O-M will have the more "powerful" tone, though, warmer and not as cutting, but with slightly better definition in the lower registers.

[sosomething]

AFAIK PRS has only changed to 24.75" scale on a few of their new Single Cut variations.

All the PRS guitars that have always been 25" scale will still be 25" scale.

[Skarekrough]

Well that whole comments on scale length and tone has only been my experience. My Satch, RG7620 (besides the 7th string) and ESP Mirage Custom (which even had a heavy dimarzio tone zone) all sounded so much thinner than my McCarty with a Custom. Perhaps I should have experimented more with pickups and strings, ands and string gauges.

Primarily you're comparing Apples to Oranges.

The RG7620 likely sounded terrible because of the scale length, that I will admit. But primarily I would argue that it's the direct result of the wood being what it is and the necessity for a 27" scale to accommodate the low B. I went through a slew of 7 strings, none of them were bari-scale. By far the beefiest sounding one was the Schecter C7+. Conversely, the strings on it felt the flappiest. But the construction and materials did much to make that guitar what it was.

Recently I went through much the same with 5 string guitars.

I played a slew of Fenders with the standard scale length as well as some ESP's and some other offerings. None of them held a candle against a G&L L-1505 I bought and a Lakland 5 string I have on extended loan. Both of those have a longer scale and both of them are the only 5's that felt right in my hands.

[BluesGuyJ]

No, they are now offering the PRS SC245. 24 and a half inch scale, just like the Santana series guitars. There is a video of it on youtube, I will find it.

I know the others will still have the 25 inch scale, I am just curious as to how PRS will do with this new idea. I think their new SC models are really sad. I have never seen them as the middle ground between a Strat and LP everyone makes them out to be, but now PRS is really living up to that by doing this IMO.

[BluesGuyJ]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Al9xzmk7qRc

I love how he doesn't say Les Paul, but yet he still does. Haha.

[sosomething]

I know the others will still have the 25 inch scale, I am just curious as to how PRS will do with this new idea. I think their new SC models are really sad. I have never seen them as the middle ground between a Strat and LP everyone makes them out to be, but now PRS is really living up to that by doing this IMO.

I'm not sure if this is what you mean, but it's been the PRS Custom 22 and Custom 24 models that were always intended to be the cross between a Strat and a Les Paul. I think the SC models were just intended to be PRS's interpretation of a Les Paul.

That said, they can be called a cross between any this and any that, but they're very much their own instruments with their own feel and sound.

[BluesGuyJ]

WellI meant the PRS name in general. Every review I have ever read the player has been like "Well, the split tones are good but arent like my Strat" or " Well the PRS Singlecut didnt have as much low end as my Les Paul Custom". I never really felt like PRS was trying to copy anything untill now with the new scale length and more "vintage" looking models, thats all.

[sosomething]

Fair enough - I agree.

[Mr. B]

Sounds to me like they are ONLY making this scale length on THIS model. Trying to get closer to a vintage LP / Santana sound? Probably trying to appease all the people who whine that the SC models don't sound enough like a Les Paul (which they have already spent an extra 500 on, replacing the pickups/bridge/tailpiece/tuners/pots/caps). I have never understood why PRS guitars need to sound like Fenders or Gibsons anyway?? They have their own sounds, and I think they are great.Especially the SC models. If this is a bad decision on PRS' part, then I guess Carlos Santana has gotten as far as he has because of his pathetically bad tone??

[sosomething]

^^^

Actually, I can't stand Santana's tone. But I think it has more to do with his insistence on using Mark series Boogies than the guitar he's playing.

[FretFire]

No, they are now offering the PRS SC245. 24 and a half inch scale, just like the Santana series guitars. There is a video of it on youtube, I will find it.

So it's just one guitar then? Your original post made it sound like their entire line was moving to the new scale length.

[BluesGuyJ]

I am just hoping everyone loves the new SC models and the older prelawsuit ones go down in value. I am dying to get my hands on one with a trem and birds!

I definitely agree that PRS guitars just have their own sound. I love the heavy, thick and sustaining notes my McCarty dishes out.