Scale length question: Fender vs Gibson

[mountain2012]

Are the pounds of string tension of a 24.75 scale Fender guitar different than a 24.75 Gibson guitar, seeing that their headstocks are different? I would expect the high E of the Fender to have more tension than the E of the Gibson because on the Fender the tuning peg is located further from the bridge.

Or is the string tension based on the nut? thanks

 

[River]

Yes.

You're obsessing, dude. What's your concern?

 

[AngryHatter]

Are the pounds of string tension of a 24.75 scale Fender guitar different than a 24.75 Gibson guitar, seeing that their headstocks are different? I would expect the high E of the Fender to have more tension than the E of the Gibson because on the Fender the tuning peg is located further from the bridge.

Or is the string tension based on the nut? thanks

Ah, but the gibby's head is angled, increasing tension.
Chase your tail.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I can't imagine the difference would be meaningful.

 

[Groove Toad]

Ah, but the gibby's head is angled, increasing tension.
Chase your tail.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o9oz9X5i9w]Dog chasing its tail - YouTube[/ame]

 

[GitFiddle]

I would think the pounds of tension would be the same for the same gauge strings tuned to the same pitch.

And the Fender scale length is approx. 25 1/2 I believe.

 

[diceman]

I would think the pounds of tension would be the same for the same gauge strings tuned to the same pitch.

And the Fender scale length is approx. 25 1/2 I believe.

Yeah, 25.5 or 24 inch on Fender.

24.75 on Gibson.

Logic says that tension is the same given the same scale and string gauge when tuned to the same pitch.

 

[zontar]

You can feel a difference between a Strat, a LP and say Mustang (24")

I do more string bending and vibrato on my Mustang than my Les Paul, just because it feels different...

 

[mountain2012]

I ask because maybe it's in my mind, but it seems harder to depress the high three strings on my Fender than on my Gibson. Both are the same scale length.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

Yeah, 25.5 or 24 inch on Fender.

24.75 on Gibson.

Logic says that tension is the same given the same scale and string gauge when tuned to the same pitch.

24 on the Jaguars right?

 

[kidmo]

The string tension is more the longer the string.... that's why Fender players are better than Gibson players...

 

[AngryHatter]

People speaking of bends are encountering radius, fretboard curvature.

 

[cabowabo]

i wish my wife would stop bending my fenders

 

[diceman]

I ask because maybe it's in my mind, but it seems harder to depress the high three strings on my Fender than on my Gibson. Both are the same scale length.

What Fender do you have in 24.75?

 

[mountain2012]

Fender Cyclone

And this post pretty much sums it up, assuming they are correct:

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/extended-range-guitars/10364-reverse-headstock-misconception.html

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

People speaking of bends are encountering radius, fretboard curvature.

... as well as string tension.

What Fender do you have in 24.75?

Maybe he has a Nighthawk/Blueshawk?

 

[GitFiddle]

Fender Cyclone

And this post pretty much sums it up, assuming they are correct:

Reverse Headstock Misconception - Sevenstring.org

I agree with that link. In your original post you were asking about "pounds" of tension, which in my mind would be the same for either guitar. But yes, the longer the scale length between nut and bridge, its going to "feel" like more tension.

 

[spitfire]

The frequency (pitch) of a vibrating string is given by:

Freq = k * SQRT( Tension)/Length

k is a constant that would vary with string gauge and construction.

So for the same string, the longer the length (scale in this case), the more tension is needed to get the same pitch.

So for a LP (Gibson) length of 24.75" and a common Fender Strat length of 25.5" the longer Fender scale (longer by 3%) requires a bit more than 6% more tension for the same string gauge.

That's quite a bit more, but it's due to the square root relationship.

For some perspective, tuning up a half step raises the frequency about 6%. This requires a bit more than a 12% increase in the tension.

So the difference in scale length is less than if you tuned all the strings up or down a half step.

I never looked at this before, I can see why some like SRV really liked to tune down a half step. That's a lot less string tension and I'm sure noticeably easier to bend.

 

[GitFiddle]

Excellent info Spitfire.

 

[diceman]

24 on the Jaguars right?

Jag / MusicMaster / Mustang / Duo Sonic (and maybe a few others)

I've had all of the above... still have 2 MusicMasters. Sold all 3 of my Jags.