Scale lenght ?

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Author Message pierreyves Advanced Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 224 Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 7:11 am:    Hello, I want know how you mesure the lenght of your scales. I have an Alembic official "short scale" Stanley Clarke Signature Deluxe and my scale is 32". I take this measure from the bridge to the nut. Is it right ? If I take from the tailpiece I have a long scale 34". Alembic give 30,75 " for the SCSD... I use medium scale strings from d'Addario... Strange... Thank's for your help. lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2752 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 7:20 am:    Pierre-Yves: The preferred way to measure scale length is to measure the distance from the nut to the 12th fret and double it. This is more accurate than nut to bridge as the individual bridge saddles are usually uneven. I learned that on this site. BIll, tgo bassman10096 Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 1034 Registered: 7-2003 Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 7:23 am:    "This is more accurate than nut to bridge as the individual bridge saddles are usually uneven. I learned that on this site." Now that you mention it, I never understood the reason for measuring that way before. Thanks, Bill. Bill chuck Advanced Member Username: chuck Post Number: 216 Registered: 3-2005 Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 7:27 am:    Pierre-Yves Ditto on what Bill says.You are measuring scale length not string lenght which can vary due to headstock layout and tailpiece location. Chuck adriaan Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1717 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 7:36 am:    Pierre-Yves, Scale is the length of the string that vibrates at the desired pitch, so between the nut and the bridge. Like Bill says, the easiest way to measure is to take the distance from the nut to the 12th fret, and then multiply by 2. In centimeters: medium 32" = 81.3 cm (12th fret at 40.65 cm) short 30.75" = 78.1 cm (12th fret at 39.05 cm) You won't find many SC models with a scale over 30.75", because of head-dive problems. On most Alembics, you'll need slightly longer strings because of the separate tail piece. pierreyves Advanced Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 225 Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 7:46 am:    ;o)) many thank's folks ! It's clear for me now.