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Rich_Smith
Lokahi
USA
242 Posts |
 Posted - 02/01/2007 : 11:31:05 AM
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Have any of you used a 24.9 scale length for slack key? I am considering building a guitar. I understand that the shorter scale is easier to play if you have small hands as I do, however I also understand that the shorter the scale the looser the strings. I think for slack key this would present a problem with the strings being too loose and buzzing. I may have to build a 25.4 instead.. I would appreciate your feedback on this? Thanks
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Rich Smith |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2007 : 3:01:40 PM
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Rich,
I have a short scale, like the one you mention, guitar. It is a 12 fret walnut/redwood 0-size made by Hank Mauel. It does not buzz because of the neck set. It handles any slack key tuning perfectly well. Moreover, since the bridge is placed where it should be, in the "sweet spot", it is very resonant, with mucho bass, and very loud (volume), and... what can I say, except wonderful.
Buzz does *not* depend alone on scale length, or any other single factor. Mostly, it depends on neck set.
BTW, I bought this minty one used, after talking to Hank, and it cost me less than any factory guitar you care to name.
...Reid
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Rich_Smith
Lokahi
USA
242 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2007 : 4:53:04 PM
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| Did you try heavier gauge strings? |
Rich Smith |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 03:16:21 AM
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We like lights on all our guitars, regardless of size. All of them are loud enough and resonant enough with Pearse or D`addario lights. However, it would be possible to use mediums on any of them, and we have tried them, including the Pearse Slack Key set (#800) as experiments - all in Taropatch. No buzzes.
BTW, another factor, besides neck set (although secondary) is putting the frets in properly. The luthiers we know take great pride in their fretting ability. Do research on fret height before you start, if you haven't already. Strings don't vibrate in simple ways, and, depending on how you build it, you may find that it is best that some frets be slightly higher than others. I had one guitar's frets ground by a computer controlled Plek machine in Nashville, and it produced a purposely wavy pattern of fret heights which allowed a very low action without buzzing.
...Reid
...Reid |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
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andyjade
Akahai
USA
51 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 07:17:14 AM
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| Just picked up a 68 Epiphone parlor. I've only tried it in Taro Patch, but the buzz was nil...... |
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Rich_Smith
Lokahi
USA
242 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 07:26:24 AM
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| Perhaps my fears are unfounded. I may well build a 24.9 scale guitar for slack key after all. A consideration may be to build it tough enough to handle medium strings. Thanks all for the feedback! Rich |
Rich Smith |
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RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 10:24:22 AM
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Reid
This is the first time I have heard about wavy fret height. Intersting concept! It must be based on node patterns at different string lenghts.
Bob |
Bob |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 11:31:17 AM
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Bob, it is not really noticeable to the casual eye, but it is much as you say. That's what the Plek machine is all about. It is a computer with an extensive database of strings, tensions, experimental results, scale lengths, tunings, fretboard radii and width, etc. They input all your guitar's variables, the computer searches its database for your input variables and calculates optimum fret heights and shapes. Then, it controls - it is really a CNC machine - a grinder head that grinds each fret.
It was developed in Germany and they thought that it would be sold all over the world, but they were wrong. The only one in the US is the one in Nashville, because that town has a very high concentration of guitarists and guitars. In general, as I said, most really good luthiers are very proud of their fretting ability and they don't like the idea of relinquishing that job to a machine. But, N`ville luthiers and players use it enough so that it pays for itself and its owner. There was an article about it in AG mag a few years ago, and there was a lot of skepticism about it. But, it does, in fact, work. Moreover, the luthier who built the guitar, who is not in the least a humble man, readily admitted that it does the job better than he can.
...Reid |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2007 : 06:21:22 AM
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Wow Fran! Yeah, I had it done several years ago at Glasers. Actually, the proliferation of the Plek is comforting. It indicates that it really isn't voodoo (unless many more people are being deceived :-).
...Reid
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