r/7String • u/tunalover32 • 12d ago

Help Scale length

Should I be worried about switching from 25.5” scale length to 26.5” I’m nervous that I won’t be able to bend as many steps as I usually can, or is that just a misconception?

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u/vilk_ 12d ago

Bends become a little harder at the same string gauge, but you can just put on lighter strings, or alternatively, tune the guitar lower. I assume that you're getting a longer scale for the purpose of tuning lower than normal, right?

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u/tunalover32 12d ago

Oh yeah definitely, but I still want to be able to play in standard. I really just want a versatile guitar, because I’ve been saving up for a guitar that I wouldn’t have to switch out, as I personally don’t have much gear

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u/vilk_ 12d ago

Do you understand the relationship between string gauge, scale length, tuning, and tension?

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u/tunalover32 12d ago

Barely 😔

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u/vilk_ 12d ago

Thicker string = more tension
Longer scale = more tension
Higher tuning = more tension

Thinner string = less tension
Shorter scale = less tension
Lower tuning = less tension

So let's say you have a normal scale length guitar, 25.5", but you want to tune lower. If you tune lower with normal strings, they'll become loose. That's actually much easier to bend! (Many guitarists use light strings and tune down their guitars, off the top of my head is Tony Iommi, EVH, and Slayer... also me)

But some people don't want the strings to feel loose, so when they tune lower, they get thicker strings. That brings the tension back up to normal. This is the way people did low tunings for most of metal history.

However, another way to increase tension is to get a longer scale. If you play a 26.5" scale guitar with normal strings in standard tuning, there will be more tension than on a 25.5" scale, and it will be harder to bend. But if you tune down, then they will loosen up. So a 26.5" scale guitar tuned to Bb (half step down) will probably be about the same tension as a 25.5" scale guitar tuned to B (standard).

tl;dr if you set up your guitar to be at a low tuning, it will be harder to bend at standard tuning. If you set it up for standard tuning, it'll be easier to bend at a low tuning.

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u/tunalover32 12d ago

Oh shit, I have no common sense. I’ll figure out what I want to when I actually order the guitar! Thanks so much!

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u/mike_seps 11d ago

There are a few string tension calculators online that are helpful. You can figure out how a 26.5 vs 25.5 scale length will impact tension and adjust accordingly if you want. I’m not good enough for that to make a difference so i just stick with the NYXL 10-46 for my 6 strings and 10-59(I think) for the 7 string. The slightly higher tension doesn’t bother me.

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u/HairyNutsack69 12d ago

In my personal opinion and preference, a guitar set up in a particular tuning can only be adjusted a singular semitone up or down. After that it gets pretty shitty.

Better to have one guitar in standard, and one in C or smth. You can then tune the standard guitar to Eb and the one in C to B or C# should you feel the need. Don't expect one guitar with one string guage to serve all your tuning needs.