Tonal Quality of Standard Scale vs Short Scale

[William2]

The only short scale I've owned has been a Waterloo WL-12. I think the Waterloo's have a certain sound that is different from many other instruments. All of my current instruments are Larrivee dreadnoughts and are standard scale. I was wondering if a dreadnought with a short scale would yield a prettier (more piano like) sound than a standard scale due to the shorter scale length and less tension. And I'm not speaking of the that open sound you get from an instrument with a 12-fret connection or that slinky comment I hear when describing short scale instruments. I was listening to a video today of a Gibson Hummingbird and while the usual strumming was unimpressive and somewhat jarring to my ears, I found the fingerstyle portion very beautiful with all the notes clearly articulated, something I rarely hear from this demonstrator who does this little arpeggio thing on all the instruments he demos most of which are standard scale to my recollection. If the consensus that a short scale has a nicer voice, I might be interested in the 24 series dreadnought. Let me know if you have played both scales and your impression of the tonal differences.

[B0WIE]

Everyone hears it in their own way but I would say less of a piano sound. Longer scale gives a deeper throated voice. You can hear it in the bass. It's not the amount of bass, it's the voicing. This has been my biggest hangup with short scale guitars, both acoustic and electric. I like instruments that have that growly quality to the low end, even though I don't like a lot of bass. That's what my ears tune in on but everyone differs.

And, that doesn't mean I think short scale is bad. It gives more of a vocal quality as it's sweeter in the midrange. That's why Gibsons sound so sweet and record so well. Also, they sure feel a lot nicer under the fingers. I really like having both options. 24 series sure looks like a good way to go.

[jpmist]

Let me know if you have played both scales and your impression of the tonal differences.

I'm fortunate to own a OO-05 standard scale and an OOV-03 short scale. Both are mahogany back and sides, but the OO-05 has an Italian spruce top and the 03 has sitka spruce.

Because of that it's an apples/oranges comparison because the tops have different tonal qualities which I might guess are more of a factor than the scale length. With the same strings, the total string tension difference is 163 lbs for the short scale versus 173 lbs for the standard,  so I dunno if that's significant.

All I can really say is the 00-05 is actually brighter sounding, which I would guess comes from the Italian spruce top. And I suppose it's because I'm always playing with a capo, both short scale and std scale play the same for me and there's no way I'm going to perceive a ~8% difference in string tension.

"If the consensus that a short scale has a nicer voice . . ." boy that's GAS fuel if I ever saw one.    No disrespect intended, but I've been down that road and my take is that there are other variables that end up affecting the final tone more than just the neck scale.

Best of luck with it!   

[guitarman001]

Easier to play, sweeter, bass not as strong / punchy.

[Brazis500]

I have both standard n short scale Larrivee's. The older I get the easier it is to play short scale. All variables being equal, scale length makes no difference in tone imo. If I want a different tone I experiment with several different string choices, then string gage, then bridge pins, then guitar wood combinations. 

[teh]

Over the past 10 years I have purchased three 12 fret acoustic guitars and I have found short scale guitars easier to play. This morning I was playing each of them and they have three different wood combinations:

Two Larrivees both have a satin finish and solid headstocks
1) LSV-03 Moonwood/Walnut w/25.5" scale, scalloped bracing
2) 00-24 All Mahogany w/24.9" scale, scalloped bracing

A Martin with a gloss finish and slotted headstock
3) 000 Sitka/Mahogany w/25.4" scale, scalloped bracing

These guitars each have a balanced tone across bass, mids and trebles and are usually in standard tuning but I used both dropped D and double dropped D today. To my ear, the walnut falls between rosewood and mahogany but it has a much nicer grain than either of those woods. While I have always favored Sitka as a top wood, I am pleased with both my Moonwood Spruce and Mahogany tops. I think the scalloped bracing has helped enhance the projection for each  of these three guitar tops.

[William2]

Over the past 10 years I have purchased three 12 fret acoustic guitars and I have found short scale guitars easier to play. This morning I was playing each of them and they have three different wood combinations:

Two Larrivees both have a satin finish and solid headstocks
1) LSV-03 Moonwood/Walnut w/25.5" scale, scalloped bracing
2) 00-24 All Mahogany w/24.9" scale, scalloped bracing

A Martin with a gloss finish and slotted headstock
3) 000 Sitka/Mahogany w/25.4" scale, scalloped bracing

These guitars each have a balanced tone across bass, mids and trebles and are usually in standard tuning but I used both dropped D and double dropped D today. To my ear, the walnut falls between rosewood and mahogany but it has a much nicer grain than either of those woods. While I have always favored Sitka as a top wood, I am pleased with both my Moonwood Spruce and Mahogany tops. I think the scalloped bracing has helped enhance the projection for each  of these three guitar tops.

I found this reply very interesting mainly because of the scalloped bracing comment. I have often wondered if a mahogany top responds better with scalloped bracing. I currently have three dreads (Larrivee's), two scalloped and one non-scalloped and have been evaluating them. I am finding the easiest response with the plucking hand is the D-40, the most sustain goes to the D-40R, and the D-03R has that note separation I like with a mahogany instrument coupled with that rosewood sound. I wonder if this quick easy plucking response is due to the wood type or that the instrument is the lightest in weight of the three. Since I bought the D-40 and D-03R last year, they have not had the 3 years of play time the D-40R has had and wonder if the sustain will eventually match the D-40R. Time will tell. But after today playing only my D-40, I can say I love the mahogany as much as the rosewood instrument. I think I will maybe stick with long scale as it offers the most dynamic potential.