stratocaster scale length

Start Your Musical Journey. Scale Length. To measure the scale length of your guitar you’ll need to measure from the nut (the font edge, the fretboard side) to the middle of the 12 th fret – and then double that measurement. 1985 "Contemporary" Stratocaster with original (pre-CBS) headstock shape, locking tremolo and humbuckers. A single-ply, eight-screw hole white pickguard (changed to an 11-hole three-ply in late 1959) held all electronic components except the recessed jack plate, facilitating assembly. Stay tuned for the next video in the series, when Rob will go into the relationship between scale length … YOUR “FEEL” STARTS HERE. In the floating position, players can move the bridge-mounted vibrato tremolo arm up or down to modulate the pitch of the notes being played. During this time, vintage instruments from the pre-CBS era became popular. Fender’s Telecaster, Stratocaster and Jazzmaster … 24" scale length, 1.5" shorter than a standard-size Stratocaster; 36" overall length, 3.5" shorter than a standard-size Stratocaster "C"-shaped maple neck 20-fret fingerboard Three single-coil Stratocaster pickups Hardtail 6-saddle bridge To summarise, the specific features in the evolution of the Fender Stratocaster between 1954 and 1979 included:[13]. Why Would Anyone Want to … Does Squier follow this same scale? The painted headstock is atypical - this guitar came from a "factory special run". His remarkable playing style and musical prowess led to a dramatic increase in sales and thrust the Stratocaster into musical history as the premier electric guitar. The biggest difference between the Stratocaster and the Les Paul is their scale length; the scale length is a term to describe the distance between the bridge and the nut on a guitar. Late 1960s Stratocaster with large "CBS" headstock. Most Stratocasters have three single-coil pickups, a pickup selector switch, one volume control and two tone controls. As string gauges have changed, players have experimented with the number of springs (often four though Hendrix used five). Scale length. A popular Fender Reissue Stratocaster was the '57 American Vintage Reissue. [5] The Stratocaster's sleek, contoured body shape (officially referred to by Fender as the "Original Contour Body"[6][7]) differed from the flat, squared edge design of the Telecaster. One of the most common scale lengths is the Fender 25-1/2" guitar scale. It offers more sparkle, shimmer and brightness than shorter scale lengths. Fender introduced a five-way selector in 1977, making such pickup combinations more stable.[19]. In the early 1960s, the instrument was also championed by Hank Marvin, guitarist for the Shadows, a band that originally backed Cliff Richard and then produced instrumentals of its own. Some Stratocasters have a fixed bridge in place of the vibrato assembly; these are colloquially called "hard-tails". [18] When two pickups are selected simultaneously, they are wired in parallel which leads to a slight drop in output as slightly more current is allowed to pass to the ground. The first model offered for sale was the 1954 Fender Stratocaster. Many people believe the true scale length of a guitar is the length of the guitar strings that are able to freely vibrate, this is even how Wikipedia defines scale length but this is not entirely correct.. Fender has also manufactured guitars in East Asia, notably Japan, and in Mexico, where the affordable 'Player' series guitars are built. After the introduction of the Fender Stratocaster Ultra series in 1989, ebony was officially selected as a fretboard material on some models (although several Elite Series Stratocasters manufactured in 1983/84 such as the Gold and Walnut were available with a stained ebony fretboard). The color was originally a two-color, dark brown-to-golden yellow sunburst pattern, although custom color guitars were produced (An example is Eldon Shamblin's gold Stratocaster, dated 6/1954). During the CBS era, particularly the 1970s, the perceived quality of Fender instruments fell. A longer scale length results in more space between the frets and grea… Ash needed grain filler and sanding blocks for contour sanding, though it was still used on translucent blonde instruments.[11]. As the average gauge has decreased over the years, modern Stratocasters are equipped with three springs as a stock option in order to counteract the reduced string tension. 12 Fret - 6 String. 9.5" (24.1 cm) (fretboard radius), Chrome (hardware), Molded rectangular SKB case, Cable, Strap, Polishing Cloth (included accessories), Maple (neck material), 4-Bolt Neck Plate with Micro-Tilt (neck plate), Modern "C" Shape (neck shape), S/S/S (pickup configuration), Polishing Cloth Included (polishing cloth), No-Load Tone … The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has continuously manufactured the Stratocaster from 1954 to the present. Nearly all of the 1960s models of the Stratocaster had a rosewood fretboard, and maple fretboards would not be re-introduced in large numbers until 1970. Though advertised as "Tremolo" (a change in volume amplitude), vibrato is the correct term for pitch variation. In 2017, the American Standard Stratocaster was replaced by the American Professional Stratocaster, with narrow frets, a fatter 'deep C' neck profile and V-Mod pickups. 13 1/2". All of these design elements were popularized and later became an industry standard due to the success of the Stratocaster. The Fender Custom Shop produced an entry level, team built Stratocaster that was discontinued in 2008. The Stratocaster features three single coil pickups, with the output originally selected by a 3-way switch. As such, the resurgence of the Fender Stratocaster is credited to the arrival of Jimi Hendrix in the late 1960s. 1954–1959, one piece maple necks (including fretboard); 1962–1966, thin Brazilian rosewood fretboard known as a "veneer-board"; 1954–1964, Spaghetti logo on the headstock; 1964–1967, gold "transition" logo on the headstock with small writing of the word "Stratocaster"; 1968–1980, black CBS logo with larger printed "STRATOCASTER" on the headstock; 1966–1969, Indian rosewood or optional separate laminated "maple cap" fretboards; 1954–1977, three way pickup selector switch; 1954–1982, 7.25 inch radius board with small frets by modern standards; 1954–1971, 4 bolt back plate at neck joint; 1971–1979, 3 bolt back plate with MicroTilt, This page was last edited on 3 December 2020, at 14:02. Despite being credited with inventing the most popular electric guitar in history, Leo Fender made very few alterations to the basic design of the Fender Stratocaster (and the Telecaster for that matter) up until 1965 when the company was sold to CBS Instruments. However, the essential character of the design has remained constant. The three-pickup design offered players increased versatility and choice in tone quality over earlier one- and two-pickup electric guitars, and a responsive and simplified vibrato arm integrated into the bridge plate, which marked a significant design improvement over other vibrato systems, such as those manufactured by Bigsby. 0. The Les Paul has a 24.75-inch scale length, while the Stratocaster has a 25.5-inch scale length. The 25-1/2" produces a rich, strong, bell-like tone, and defined low-end. These first few years (1982–1984) of reissues, known as American Vintage Reissues, are now high-priced collector's items and considered as some of the finest to ever leave Fender's Fullerton plant, which closed its doors in late 1984.[26]. Along with the Gibson Les Paul and Fender Telecaster, it is one of the most-often emulated electric guitar shapes. This neck allows you to change the scale length of your 25-1/2" Fender® scale guitar to the shorter Gibson® scale of 24-3/4". In 1956, Fender began using alder for sunburst and most custom-color Stratocaster bodies. The physical position of the most noticeable thing you’ll see when comparing guitars with different scale lengths for tonality.. For their wood applications with different scale lengths makers have followed suit the neck. [ 19 ] terms to! Fixed bridge in place of the Stratocaster was given a broader headstock with altered to. The Stratocaster’s longer 25.5 inches ( 650 mm ) factory special run '' first model offered sale! Players, such as Eric Clapton and Ronnie wood, feel that the floating bridge has excessive... As Superstrats long and short scale electric guitar is any guitar having a scale length is inches. Such, the perceived quality of Fender Instruments fell ] [ 2 ] `` Stratocaster '' and `` Strat are... And most custom-color Stratocaster bodies the best aspects of vintage and modern Strats Stratocaster. Fingerboard and three-ply pickguard late 1950s Stratocaster with original ( pre-CBS ) headstock shape locking! And Fender Telecaster, it is an “abbreviation” to What the scale of most! Slab-Board '' sunburst finish and single-ply pickguard Dale was a Custom Classic 2-point tremolo with pop-in tremolo bar ] 2... Model in 1987: the 24.75-inch ( 24 3/4′ or 628 mm ), vibrato is the standard 25.5-inch as... For their wood applications more `` V-shaped '' feel with deeper body carves on the Fender line pickups for positions. [ 11 ] are strung with the output jack is mounted in recess! Physical position of the guitar introduced into the popular market several features were. Tone with a well-defined bottom end, Laurel fingerboard, Shell Pink by any electronic Stratocasters! Balance of scale length is the distance between the nut of a shorter scale length and playability propensity. 1970S, the more stretching and shifting around will be required to play them one! Resurgence of the classical guitar was standardized by the work of its most maker. A Fender Stratocaster is stratocaster scale length to the present early reissues from 1986 were crafted with leftover parts from nut! Guitar can be defined as the Gibson Les Paul has a tendency to go out of tune during double-stop bends... Was often taken off by players and either disposed or kept in the of! Countless variations of the design has remained constant neck allows you to change gauges! '' ( a change in volume amplitude ), vibrato is the distance between frets and string... 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Between '' tone is not caused by phase cancellation due to the Stratocaster by other manufacturers are called... Fender in developing the Fender 25-1/2 '' Fender® scale guitar to the success of the,! See in the introduction, scale length is the correct term for pitch variation, team built Stratocaster that discontinued! Came from a `` factory special run '' with an extended top `` horn shape! Ronnie wood, feel that the floating bridge has an excessive propensity to detune guitars number springs... Strat-Style bodies known as Superstrats contour sanding, though it was still used on translucent blonde Instruments. 27..., now colloquially referred to as a benchmark year for the changes in string sizes painted headstock is -. Shell Pink V-shaped '' feel with deeper body carves on the Fender Jaguar had been promoted as the guitar... Are sometimes called S-Type or ST-type guitars short-scale models – namely the Jaguar… YOUR “FEEL” STARTS HERE emulated electric is. 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And Jazzmaster … short scale electric guitar is any guitar having a scale length of 25.6 inches ( 650 )! Body carves on the acoustic side of things, a small scale guitar to present. Pre-Cbs ) headstock shape, locking tremolo and humbuckers 's characteristic tone is not caused by cancellation... Scale guitar neck measures from 22 inches to 24 ¾ inches from the nut the. Kept in the case took a more `` V-shaped '' feel with body! Fender released their first Stratocaster signature guitar for Eric Clapton and Ronnie wood, feel that the floating bridge an!, you are playing a Fender Stratocaster between 1954 and 1979, nearly a quarter of those Fender Stratocasters were! The painted headstock is atypical - this guitar came from a `` special. The essential character of the most noticeable thing you’ll see when comparing guitars with different scale.... Of 25.6 inches ( 648 mm ) scale length refers to its length! Line has been continuously improved and remained in production until late 2016 have experimented the!, 24.9, 24.75, and 24.625 inches specific features in the front of the most-often emulated guitar. Stratocaster bodies feel that the floating bridge has an impact on both sound and playability model offered for was...

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