| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Puluke
Aloha
USA
36 Posts |
 Posted - 05/07/2012 : 5:58:27 PM
|
Still looking for a new guitar and am considering a few Martins. Can a 24.9" scale guitar handle slack tunings? How far down can it be tuned before starting to buzz etc?
Mahalo
|
- Bruce |
|
|
Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 01:12:08 AM
|
There’s absolutely no reason why not. I’ve seen people playing Taropatch G on a ‘Baby Taylor’, which is a tiny guitar.
How much it buzzes depends on other variables as well as scale length – the height of the strings off the fretboard (or ‘action’), the thickness/tension of the strings, and perhaps most of all, how hard you play.
I play quite hard, and favour heavier strings, and I find most modern guitars are set a bit on the buzzy side for me. But as someone on here kindly pointed out, that’s probably because I’ve got lousy technique!
If you plan going down to C on the bottom string, you might want to consider a heavier set of strings, as a lighter one will mean the bass strings might be a bit flappy. |
 |
|
|
Claudia
Lokahi
USA
152 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 04:41:21 AM
|
| I have a Martin 000-28EC, which is short scale (24.9") which I play slack key on and it works beautifully. I use Elixir medium gauge strings and have NO problem with buzzing in Taropatch, Taropatch F, Drop C, F Wahine, C Wahine, D wahine, and other assorted wacky tunings. My Grimes Beamer model is a 25.0" inch and the same applies- no pilikia. I only play slack key, so there you have it. |
|
|
|
Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 08:49:10 AM
|
Reinforcing what has already been posted: I play slack key on Baby Taylor a lot--I string it with mediums anyway, and I find that set works just fine. As Trev points out, dropping any lower than D on the bottom would call for that string to go up another gauge to accomodate that, but I'm content with taropatch. (If by "content" one means "is incompetent in any other tuning.") Nor have I had any problems with my 1920s short-scale Martins, both of which I string with very light (10-45 solid-core or 11-49 silk & bronze) sets.
|
|
|
|
Allen M Cary
Lokahi
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 11:51:02 AM
|
I built a 24.9" parlor that actually loves drop C and Keola's C. It has no problem with the low C on 6. I use d'Addario lights for all the strings, too.
Aloha
Allen |
|
|
|
Ambrosius
Lokahi
132 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 01:25:24 AM
|
I'll join in.
I play a Seagull with 24.84 scale. Adjusted the action to 'superlow' as well, and stringed with light (.11) Elixir PB coated, it's no problem with Taro Patch and even with a low C on the 6th.
Go ahead. A shorter scale is nice for finger picking. See to that the less space between the frets is compensated by a slightly wider neck, or else it may be hard to get a clean 'arpeggio' if you are a hardworking and beer drinking man of some size :-) |
|
|
|
GuitarVlog
Akahai
USA
60 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 5:12:37 PM
|
I play a 24.9" scale OM with light gauge strings. No problems with any drop tunings, not even drop-C tunings or double-slack to BbFCFAC.
I had some reservations when I bought the guitar from Eric Schoenberg and thought I might need to install a medium gauge 6th string. My concerns were unfounded.
However, after a discussion with Eric and James about my penchant for alternate tunings, they did recommend that I keep the action just a smidge higher than the typical 6/64" to 4/64" to reduce the likelihood of buzzing. |
- Keo |
|
|
|
chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 09:34:53 AM
|
| Me too. I play a Taylor GC7 short scale and I use Elixir PB Mediums. I almost always play in Taro Patch F or Open D down 1 step because I like the way the guitar responds in the lower register. I love the short scale. My only caution, and this may be specific to my Taylor or my style, is that with the relaxed strings, I have to be a lot more careful with my left hand to avoid "bending" out of tune. I also have a Taylor 814CE (25.5 scale) that I play in the same tunings with the same strings and I don't have the "bending" issue. |
|
|
|
DennisC
Aloha
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2012 : 4:19:35 PM
|
| This is a very timely topic for me...I'm an intermediate classical guitarist just beginning to learn slack key, and was thinking of buying a mahogany Taylor GS Mini with a 23 1/2" scale. Has anyone played this guitar? |
|
|
|
Ambrosius
Lokahi
132 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2012 : 01:29:30 AM
|
quote:
Has anyone played this guitar?
Nope. It gets a favorable review by Acoustic Guitar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g84fAikCmW0
However, it is stated as 'scaled down'. Be aware of that, as it might be intended for children, following a too narrow neck for an adult person.
Maybe especially for you, used a classic guitar.
edit: Second time I rolled the video, I noted the review said the nut width to be 1 11/16''. It is pretty narrow for a guitar of this short scale, and there will not be much room for adult fingers. But of course, it depends on you and your style. It seems the reviewer has not much of a problem  |
Edited by - Ambrosius on 05/16/2012 01:31:50 AM |
|
|
|
Ambrosius
Lokahi
132 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2012 : 01:45:51 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ambrosius
quote:
Has anyone played this guitar?
Nope. It gets a favorable review by Acoustic Guitar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g84fAikCmW0
However, it is stated as 'scaled down'. Be aware of that, as it might be intended for children, following a too narrow neck for an adult person.
Maybe especially for you, used a classic guitar.
edit: Second time I rolled the video, I noted the review said the nut width to be 1 11/16''. It is pretty narrow for a guitar of this short scale, and there will not be much room for adult fingers. But of course, it depends on you and your style. It seems the reviewer has not much of a problem
edit II: Dennis, if you can live with the string spacing on this short scale ... it seems to be a really nice instrument. I'd considered the mahogany top, if I was you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3bIms7jFxg&feature=fvwrel
|
|
|
|
DennisC
Aloha
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2012 : 06:24:50 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ambrosius
edit II: Dennis, if you can live with the string spacing on this short scale ... it seems to be a really nice instrument. I'd considered the mahogany top, if I was you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3bIms7jFxg&feature=fvwrel
As a bare beginner in slack key, I'm trying to see ahead a couple years but I don't think I'm able judge whether the fingerboard is going to work out OK in the long run. I like the idea of a smaller instrument for convenience, and the GS Mini I played sounded amazing for a $500 instrument (in std tuning). |
|
|
|
Ambrosius
Lokahi
132 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2012 : 09:22:19 AM
|
quote:
... I like the idea of a smaller instrument for convenience, and the GS Mini I played sounded amazing for a $500 instrument (in std tuning).
I wouldn't worry a slacking down to, say Taro Patch will change your positive impression. I like smaller instruments myself, and if you find the relative narrow string spacing at the nut with a nut width of 1 and 11/16 comfortable, go for it.
I have played a tenor ukulele for a while with 17 inch scale. However, the short scale on a ukulele requires a much wider string spacing. That's why I hint to the string spacing. |
|
|
|
Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2012 : 10:24:23 PM
|
| 'Smaller instrument for convenience' - this is very true. I play a bit of mandolin, and a bit of double bass. There's little question about which is more convenient! On the plus side, the 'scale length' of the bass is quite long, and the mandolin, quite short. So when I play any guitar, the scale length doesn't matter. Guitars all fit into the 'smaller than a bass, bigger than a mandolin' scale in my head. |
|
|
|
GuitarVlog
Akahai
USA
60 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 04:21:30 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by DennisC
I'm an intermediate classical guitarist just beginning to learn slack key, and was thinking of buying a mahogany Taylor GS Mini with a 23 1/2" scale. Has anyone played this guitar?
You can play ki ho'alu on a classical guitar. Some pieces sound better on a classical guitar (or any guitar with nylon strings) and some sound better on steel. To me, most pieces that are nahe-nahe sound right on a classical guitar.
I liked the tone of the spruce-topped GS Mini but I didn't like the narrow nut width. IMHO, it had the strongest bass response of any production guitar of its scale-length that I had played to date. If it hadn't been for its 1-11/16th nut, I'd have bought one last Christmas when Best Buy was blowing them out for $350.
|
- Keo |
|
|
|
DennisC
Aloha
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 2:37:54 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by GuitarVlog
I liked the tone of the spruce-topped GS Mini but I didn't like the narrow nut width. IMHO, it had the strongest bass response of any production guitar of its scale-length that I had played to date. If it hadn't been for its 1-11/16th nut, I'd have bought one last Christmas when Best Buy was blowing them out for $350.
I played a mahogany GC Mini today and was really impressed. I had a $75 coupon so I couldn't resist it, plus I get a 30 day approval period. Meeting some slack key players tomorrow and looking forward to getting their opinions. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
24.9" Scale
