Does scale length make a big difference on string tension?

hwestman · Post by **hwestman** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:53 am

Is it just me or is the effect pretty marginal?

I recently got my first Jag and put 11s on it and frankly I don't experience a lot of difference in feel from my JM. I would even say that the Jag feels stiffer.

Also in comparison with my tele with 10s the Jag definitely has stiffer action....

Now am I hallucinating or am I onto something?

Harald

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:03 am

I would say it makes a good difference, I notice the slinky feelings on all of the jags I've played in shops with whimpy 9s. Especially on the 22" duo sonic I had, 12s on that felt about the same as 10s on a 25.5" scale

it's more about how it feels to you

Post by **Mike** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:05 am

It definitely does. 9s are unplayable on a shortscale guitar like a Mustang, 10s are marginal.

As for Jaguars and Jazzmasters, teh effect is more limited because the trems are set so far back from the bridge and the nut. I play 11s on my Jaguar and also did on my Telecaster when I had it, because I like a bit of fight in my strings, mainly to compensate for my appalling fretting.

mezzio13 · Post by **mezzio13** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:59 pm

Mike wrote:It definitely does. 9s are unplayable on a shortscale guitar like a Mustang, 10s are marginal.

Man, I've been playing 9's on my Mustang for over 20 years. It's totally fine with them. I even had 9's on that Mexican Duo, and there was no problem even tuned down to B.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:21 pm

This and Antigua thing make me doubt the authenticity of any of your posting.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:27 pm

When you say 11's what's the specific gauge... at the end of the day, that's just one string !!

I've been moving back & forth from regular slinky 10's & power slinky 11's...

I am however about to try these... which I think will be a perfect mix !!

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:29 pm

FTW

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:34 pm

I'm all about the 11-52s. The difference between my 25.5" Tele and my 24" Jaguar is very noticeable, both using the same 11-52 gauge strings.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:34 pm

Both wrong.

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:34 pm

9s on a shortscale tuned to b must have been ridiculous.

i used 13-54's tuned to b on a gibson scale and that felt really floppy to me.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:51 pm

i use 11-48s on 24" and 25.5" scales and they feel comfortable on both. i definitely wouldn't use anything lower than that on a shortscale. when i had my silvertone i used 13-56s or something like that, but it was tiny.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:55 pm

Earnie ball heavy bottom skinny top on everything for me and it all plays great.

9's on a duo reissue is ridiculous. Even with the heavy bottoms on there I couldn't get proper string tension from that thing until I modded it to have a string through body.

hwestman · Post by **hwestman** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:11 pm

....so obviously there's something wrong with my perception....

Got to work on my sensitivity I guess.

aen · Post by **aen** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 3:34 pm

mezzio13 wrote: I even had 9's on that Mexican Duo, and there was no problem even tuned down to B. Unless you count going wildly out of tune when fretting or strumming.

FYP

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:50 am

Mike wrote:Both wrong.

+1. Got these on my Jag, Les paul and squier. Work fucking great.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 3:09 pm

Does anyone use heavier than 10s on Japanese Jags and Jazzmasters? I've heard that the spring is too weak to set up the vibrato locking system properly.

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 3:29 pm

I used 11-52s on both my Jap Jaguars and the trem spring was fine.

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 3:43 pm

Mityushikha wrote:Does anyone use heavier than 10s on Japanese Jags and Jazzmasters? I've heard that the spring is too weak to set up the vibrato locking system properly.

I think it was aen who put .011-.070s on his Jag. Seemed to work fine.

hwestman · Post by **hwestman** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 5:37 pm

I stand corrected. Got my JM back and made a A/B test... of course there is a difference... not huge though IMHO...

sonicmansuperb · Post by **sonicmansuperb** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:24 am

I use Earnie Ball 8's on my strat, going to try Earnie 9's on my cyclone when it needs to be restrung.