Main Forums => Larrivée Guitars => Topic started by: Alexrkstr on February 26, 2022, 04:45:29 PM

Title: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: Alexrkstr on February 26, 2022, 04:45:29 PM
Curious to know what are all the differences between the 25.5 scale and the 24.9 scale on a Larrivee OO. Particularly with rosewood back and side.

I expect the playability (slinkiness of the strings) to be better due to lower tension- want to confirm.
Is there a difference in tone? (darker, deeper, bassier, overtones?)
I don't suppose it's a problem to tune down half a step?
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: B0WIE on February 27, 2022, 05:15:59 AM
It's the same with all instruments. You'll have lower string tension, and yes, the tone changes. All other things equal, the bass is not as deep due to the shorter string length (it's just physics). The are often are a little more aggressive in a full scale instrument because of the tension (though highs are so easily dampened by other things it's not always this way). Midrange voice can often come out more in a shorter scale. The differences can be considered subtle but tuning down exaggerates these things so I personally prefer a full scale for down tuning. I feel the bass holds up a lot better.

Again, I'm just speaking about when all other things are equal. Many people have short scale instruments they feel are plenty clear and tight. Wood selection, bracing, etc can allow makers to balance these things out to a degree.
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: StringPicker6 on February 27, 2022, 06:06:08 AM
Out of curiosity, has Larrivee ever made a short scale 00?   I love the look, the size and 12 fret-to-body of their current 00-40, but it has a long 25" scale length. 
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: Alexrkstr on February 27, 2022, 08:28:59 AM
Quote from: StringPicker6 on February 27, 2022, 06:06:08 AM
Out of curiosity, has Larrivee ever made a short scale 00?   I love the look, the size and 12 fret-to-body of their current 00-40, but it has a long 25" scale length. 

Yes, there's been "special runs" with high volume retailers, but it's not their standard. Only parlors are shorter scale at 24.
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: teh on February 27, 2022, 11:20:34 AM
My Larrivee Parlor and my Martin 000 custom are both 12 fret, short scale.

The parlor likes open c but I use my dread or OM when I tune down or use altered tunings. I will use dropped d on all of my guitars including my 12 string.
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: username on July 23, 2022, 02:09:13 PM
I do. OO-60. it's rosewood; slot-head; ebony fingerboard. IMO very 'clean' and even sound across-the-board.

not many were made. almost no info on them floating around. but I like it a lot.

Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: broKen on July 23, 2022, 04:14:44 PM
Somehow I missed this thread. I have one of those of which you asked. The easiest guitar I have played. If it were a wider nut, it would be the perfect guitar for me. The string tension allows for heavier strings, which provides a more robust tone. It came from LA guitar sales. I think there were perhaps 17 made. It's a great sounding instrument
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: noyage on July 23, 2022, 06:35:12 PM
Quote from: username on July 23, 2022, 02:09:13 PM
I do. OO-60. it's rosewood; slot-head; ebony fingerboard. IMO very 'clean' and even sound across-the-board.
not many were made. almost no info on them floating around. but I like it a lot.

Sounds like a beauty! I remember when those and the 000's first came out. Lovely guitars. Congrats!
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: StringPicker6 on July 23, 2022, 07:53:14 PM
I love the "squishiness" of the action on my short scale parlor.  Feels so good for blues finger style.  I'd love a 00 with a short scale.  :drool:
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: Strings4Him on July 23, 2022, 08:07:22 PM
I once had one of the LA Guitars 00-60 slotted headstock short scale Koa guitars.


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Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: teh on July 23, 2022, 09:06:27 PM
A customized 0040 with mahogany top, short scale, slotted head stock and no pickguard is on my short list. I agree with StringPicker6, my parlor is great for finger style blues and a 00 hog top would add color.

On the Larrivee side, I would have the short scale maple parlor, LSV Forum VI *Moonwood over walnut, 12 fret (long scale),a CUSTOM 12 String (LV03)with mahogany top, back and sides and the 00 referenced above.
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: jpmist on July 24, 2022, 11:39:56 AM
Curious to know what are all the differences between the 25.5 scale and the 24.9 scale on a Larrivee OO. Particularly with rosewood back and side. I expect the playability (slinkiness of the strings) to be better due to lower tension- want to confirm.
Is there a difference in tone? (darker, deeper, bassier, overtones?) I don't suppose it's a problem to tune down half a step?


At one time I had both short and standard scale rosewood OO's. Pondering which one I was going to keep, I spent a while trying to discern the difference between the two and eventually decided that for me they were as close in tone and playability as any two random OO's of either scale. In other words if I were blindfolded and someone dropped the guitar in my lap to play there's no way I could guess which was which.

But what clouds the comparison a bit is that one of them was all gloss (OO-44), the other all satin and that fact likely prejudiced me into thinking that perhaps the satin SS was warmer, the gloss standard scale brighter.

I just now discovered I recorded a comparison track of the two guitars which I've posted to SoundCloud,  so feel free to decide for yourself! My hearing is trash, so lemme know what you think.

I never tune down, so I can't answer to that, but I've checked the tension difference (stringjoy.com) between the two scales and it's roughly about 5%, for most strings that's about a pound of tension difference which is way too slight for me to notice. Another small correction is the LA Guitar model I had was 24.75" scale

https://soundcloud.com/jpmist/compare-03-44?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: Koamon on July 31, 2022, 02:53:37 PM
I don't have it anymore but my old 12 fret 00-03v was perhaps a short scale...it sure played like one. I remember the tension was was pretty loose on the 6th string in drop-D tuning with 12-53 lights. Never used mediums on it but I did on my old Parlor for a while. A bit stiffer and more tone and volume but harder on my old fingers. My 00 was mahogany so less boomy than rosewood, (better balance and articulation imho) Otherwise a very nice couch fingerstyle guitar. If you drove it too hard though, it would over compress like any small body guitar.
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: eded on July 31, 2022, 04:29:56 PM
Quote from: StringPicker6 on February 27, 2022, 06:06:08 AM
Out of curiosity, has Larrivee ever made a short scale 00?   I love the look, the size and 12 fret-to-body of their current 00-40, but it has a long 25" scale length. 

25" would be short scale. Normal is 25.5".

Ed
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: eded on July 31, 2022, 04:34:30 PM
You all know that changing string weight changes the string tension, don't you?  Mediums on a parlor 24" scale is nearly identical tension as lights on a 25.5" scale.  It's possible to find sets to give close to the same tension on any scale length.

The physics includes string length, string thickness, and tension.

Ed
Title: Re: Anyone with a OO- SHORT SCALE?
Post by: czgunner on August 08, 2022, 12:55:38 PM
Quote from: Alexrkstr on February 26, 2022, 04:45:29 PM
Curious to know what are all the differences between the 25.5 scale and the 24.9 scale on a Larrivee OO. Particularly with rosewood back and side.

I expect the playability (slinkiness of the strings) to be better due to lower tension- want to confirm.
Is there a difference in tone? (darker, deeper, bassier, overtones?)
I don't suppose it's a problem to tune down half a step?

I have a 00-40, 12 fret. I feel like the string tension is lower compared to the 14 fret guitars I've played. I can't help you on tone, I think that is a very individual thing.