Fender Scale vs Gibson Scale Conversion Neck

Does scale length really effect tone? Here's a shootout between Fender's normal 25-1/2" scale and Gibson's traditional 24-3/4" scale. Tell me what you hear!

[schreds]

I put Gibson conversion necks on my Tele's. It's only 3/4 of an inch but it makes a difference when you have arthritis. Not having to reach that bit more brings the pain level down considerably and lets me play for longer.

[alanst.]

How could I have missed this one?! It's so great that you go this far to put common hypotheses to a real world sound test and let us all know Aaron! And your playing and tone is outstanding and fun, too! Rock on!

[Eric_S]

Been using the 24.75" scale for 12 years now. Love it. Great demo. The anniversary dyes are nothing short of stunning.

[joelreid]

Seriously man, your tone is incredible. Even listening through my phone, your note definition is amazing. You know how to wring the best out of that beautiful guitar! Great technique AND feel.

[ElPedro]

all your comparison videos are the absolute best. thanks!

[ningzhang]

god bless all the staff of warmoth
hope you are fine

[juancarlosalvarado]

Thanks a lot, Aaron!!!
I was waiting for this demo.
You totally nailed it!
Congrats.

[ethanwelles]

Love that finish!! Please don't make me buy another guitar right now, I'm trying to go to college.

[billweb]

Dear Warmoth executive team: I and part of the groundswell of public outrage that Aaron is not building guitars monthly!

[popsfitch]

It was the ease of the string bends that gave it away for me. LoL thanks for the video, Sincerely, Pops

[cardmonty]

About a month ago I bought a Gibson-Scale neck for my Telecaster. It has a compound radius of 10”-16”, Tusq XL nut, and 6105 frets. I hear no difference In my Tele, but it plays a helluva lot easier now. I’d highly recommend a conversion neck if you’re getting older like me and you’re getting tired of stretching for notes.

[craigparse]

I did know about the fretboard corners at the heel, but the thing that gave it away was the ever-so-slinky over-bends (3:01) on the conversion neck.

[whiteyshred]

What i really love about your comparison videos is that you play the same licks some people dont do that in comparison videos

[stephengoss]

When is Aaron going to get to start building monthly guitars :)

[barnettg]

A lot of people say they hear a strong difference between the two necks. I thought so too when I first got my conversion neck -- my first Warmoth purchase. Then I spent the next six months swapping back and forth almost like some schizo nervous tick trying to suss out every nuance to decide which was better. After seemingly 100 swaps I came to the conclusion that the sounds were nearly identical and most perceived differences were mirages. The 25.5 stock Fender neck had a bit more deep resonance in the neck position when playing clean-clear (a skosh to use the term in its native context), but not enough to be a deal breaker for the conversion neck. The conversion did a bit better for distortion in the bridge position. (That might also be partly due to the stouter Modern Construction.) Cumulatively for me, the Gibson scale paired with the flatter compound radius and slightly thinner Standard Thin neck profile just makes it so much easier to play. I get more out of the guitar -- which for me means I sound better playing the conversion. So much so that I eventually went all in on the 7/8ths series --- best thing that has happened to me in 35 years plus of playing. I put the stock Fender neck back on the Strat (which is a bit ratty after 20 years of hard use and several worldwide moves, like a well worn baseball glove) just so I can occasionally compare to the 7/8 S-Style guitar. The 7/8 wins every time by knockout in the opening seconds of the first round. It clubs my Les Paul senseless too. No contest.

[lance]

I happened to guess correctly. The give away was your bends were "wilder" on the guitar #2, going a bit too sharp. I like to go up to the next higher string gauge on shorter scales so that my bends are about right, so I use 9-42 on my Strat, 10-46 on my Les Paul and Gretsch. It's very cool that you can convert a bolt-on guitar to a different scale by replacing the neck, such as 24.75" or baritone. As for converting a Strat to 24 3/4", it's more of a feel thing than a sound thing.

[wallyg]

Thank you for doing this, I've been waiting! I agree, there is a difference, but it is very slight. And for me, that subtle difference is insignificant next to the Improved playability I find on the shorter scale.

[andrewsmith]

I have a 24 3/4" conversion neck waiting for a project. As soon as the weather turns a bit more warm, I will be shooting some finish. Can't wait!

[lordgraga]

I love how meticulous these tests are. I could tell that the bottom loosened up a bit for the short scale neck but it wasn't a major deal. I think the real difference is the Tune-o-matic vs. the Fender Tremolo, and then the bolt on vs. set neck.

Would be kind of fun to have a test guitar which got fitted a fixed bridge (maybe even a low profile Tune-o-matic), then later got routed out for a strat style trem. You could also get ridiculous and glue in the neck.

[jeremyisaac]

Everyone always references scales lengths in terms of how one type is easier to play over another in respect to tension. I believe a far more important metric to gauge them by is that the shorter scale provides an advantage to players with smaller hands and shorter fingers. No one ever references scale lengths in terms of how uncomfortable a strat scale can be due to having to stretch further. There needs to be way more discussion in terms of hand size when it come to choosing a guitar neck. I think it would help more people get in to the instrument.