| Why are most classical guitars 650mm scale length |
GeorgeMacLeod
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I have a Rozas 660mm and am considering buying another instrument with same scale length. The dealer I've been using is sold on the longer scale length. Says it's acoustically superior. He says most guitars are built with 650mm scales because Japenese market demands it. Anybody opinions appreciated before I make this commitment. What do the superstars like Williams use?
| Post Date: 4/5/2010 @ 10:15 pm |
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RE: Why are most classical guitars 650mm scale length |
jorton
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Hello,
I don't know about this much. but i also want to know about it. i searched all over and i find that mainly all the guitars have 650mm of length.and i think 660mm is not more available in market.
thanks!!
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Euro Pillow
| Post Date: 4/26/2010 @ 7:27 am |
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RE: Why are most classical guitars 650mm scale length |
Scott Johnston
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GeorgeMacLeod said:
I have a Rozas 660mm and am considering buying another instrument with same scale length. The dealer I've been using is sold on the longer scale length. Says it's acoustically superior. He says most guitars are built with 650mm scales because Japenese market demands it. Anybody opinions appreciated before I make this commitment. What do the superstars like Williams use?
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Williams is no longer among the following (though superstar of superstars he in fact is, nonetheless), however there certainly are some "superstars"- mainly in Japan; a few in Europe and a very few in the U.S. who recognize the following:
All of the "great guitars" have already been made.
Yes, it is true.
I only play 680mm guitars (very early Ramirez's). Anything else is simply unacceptable.
In my opinion any dimension less than 680mm in scale length and 53mm width at the nut are simply incorrectly sized instrument. Torres, and then Ramirez as influenced by Segovia, developed the Segovia era Ramirez specs of 680mm length and 53mm nut width.
Reducing said dimensions by any extent is in my opinion equivalent to the luthier expressing discontent, or believing that they might achieve immortality by establishing a new baseline of perfection. The problem is, improving upon perfection is by definition not rational.
The indisputably divine perfection established by Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri (del Jesu), Amati, or the other great Cremonese violin makers is not challenged by luthiers of any respect or notice, nor have they seriously or successfully attempted to do so for hundreds of years.
Presently there is a Stradivarius available at auction with an opening bid price of 8 million dollars U.S. CLEARLY, the violin world recognizes Antonio Stradivari and his colleagues as having established violinistic luthiery perfection.
This is true of the Ramirez instruments built by the finest of the Ramirez builders: Antonio Martinez Ortega (initials AM) and Mariano Tezanos Martín (initials MT) during the Ramirez golden age of the 1960's (and to a lesser degree, the 70's).
In my educated, impeccably experienced and emphatically unshakable opinion, all of the "great guitars" have already been made. Just the same as the "great violins".
I am not alone in possessing this knowledge. I and a few others are fully aware of as indisputable historical fact of art/ luthiery history. But sadly, our numbers are few- perhaps one benifit to us, however, is the fact that we may continue to procure what we understand to be these priceless gems for hardly any money at all, given what they in fact actually are!
Any classical guitar built to dimensions less than the above are grossly inferior. And that, I believe, includes all of them these days.
Violins that are being built today, or even in the past few hundred years cannot even come CLOSE to comparing to the great works of, Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri (del Jesu), Amati, or the aforementioned other great Cremonese violin makers, either.
The difference is the violin world universally recognizes this, and I do mean universally.
The present classical guitar populace in general not only has no clue, it generally lacks any understanding of, or the appreciation for the above, which as I expressed above, I and just a very few others understand to be the indisputable historical fact of art and luthiery history that it is.
| Post Date: 8/9/2011 @ 1:58 pm |
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RE: Why are most classical guitars 650mm scale length |
Pic-N-Lic
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Scott Johnston said:
GeorgeMacLeod said:
All of the "great guitars" have already been made.
Yes, it is true.
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Obviously you have never played a MDW guitar!
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| Post Date: 12/20/2011 @ 1:58 pm |
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RE: Why are most classical guitars 650mm scale length |
MatthiasYoung
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There are advantages/disadvantages with certain scale lengths. In theory, a shorter scale length would generate less tension on the soundboard, thus allowing for better vibration. The argument is that with reduced tension, a loose string does not generate as high a quality of tone.
I don't believe there is a 100% correct answer, as there are too many factors that affect the sound.
Just in terms of technique, a shorter scale length is much easier to play. A Les Paul typically has a scale length of 630mm, which is almost a 7/8 size guitar.
Kenny Hill has been making some 628mm models that sound great, and are so easy to play.
In short, if you like it, play it.
| Post Date: 12/22/2011 @ 10:54 am |
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RE: Why are most classical guitars 650mm scale length |
ScreaminSGs
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Pic-N-Lic said:
Scott Johnston said:
GeorgeMacLeod said:
All of the "great guitars" have already been made.
Yes, it is true.
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Obviously you have never played a MDW guitar!
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I 2nd that!
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
http://www.screaminsgs.com/vintage_knights.htm
| Post Date: 1/6/2012 @ 12:26 am |
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RE: Why are most classical guitars 650mm scale length |
jackkutcher
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thanks for the info scott
____________________
life insurance ages 85
life insurance for seniors over 75
| Post Date: 1/19/2012 @ 2:11 am |
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RE: Why are most classical guitars 650mm scale length |
ndrewoods
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GeorgeMacLeod said:
I have a Rozas 660mm and am considering buying another instrument with same scale length. The dealer I've been using is sold on the longer scale length. Says it's acoustically superior. He says most guitar playing are built with 650mm scales because Japenese market demands it. Anybody opinions appreciated before I make this commitment. What do the superstars like Williams use?
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Maybe because more 650mm guitars are sold than 664mm.The standard used to be 650mm over three quarters of the last century not 664mm. The longer scale length notably pursued by Ramirez and other Spanish luthiers gives a louder sound, richer tone but that all depends on the quailty of the guitar in question but generally that is supposed to be the advantage, I used to have 664mm Ramirez 1A it was a lovely , listen and record, wish I never sold it. I don't know precisely when the longer scale came about, it may have been tried much earlier but it certainly didn't become popular until the last thirty years or so.
But if you are going to ask me, I prefer the longer scale. 670 or 664.
| Post Date: 1/25/2012 @ 8:48 pm |
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