Official Luthiers Forum!

Good morning guys,
I noticed Martin's D12 David Crosby and the D12X1AE has a 25.4" scale length,
But the D12-28 has a 24.9" scale length.
Why the difference ??
Whats the difference ??
Is once preferred over the other ??

Gregg

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Gregg

I used 24.9" scale length when I built a similar model because I wanted to string it to concert pitch...so I used the lower tension of 24.9". I know a lot of 12's are 25.4" but tuned down and then use a capo to get to concert tuning. As a player, the feel and tension of the strings is important so I guess it all depends on who's playing. I've had mine strung at concert pitch with absolutely no movement in over 2 years. It's always in tune when I open the case, so I can only recommend 24.9" based on my experience.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I've built them as long as 26.22" and as short as 24.625", but my next will be 22.875". It's mostly a matter of what guage strings you want to use, and what pitch you want to tune to. Long scales with very heavy strings can go as low as A or B, but yer light guage, harpy 12's are usually 24.875-25.34" and tuned to concert or D at lowest. I'm hoping to go with very heavy strings on the VS scale as there seems to be a point at the long and short end where you have to go heavy. That works for me as I can get that old time sound on a VS scale, I hope.

I'm working a 12 string now in Alan Carruth's class that I'm basing on one he made a couple of years ago. It was a 12 fret with a 24.5" scale length and was tuned to concert pitch. It was a cannon and sounded great. I'm not sure what gauge strings he had on it, but I'm hoping mine works out half as well.

Matt

So, the scale length will alter the string tension, tuning and the sound of a guitar.
Very interesting.
There doesn't seem to be any rules, as an amature I think I'll stick with imitating
the known "quantities" Martin D12-28 24.9 scale length for now.
Thanks for the info guys.

Gregg

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Gregg

Shorter scale will reduce the string tension slightly with the same tuning and string gauges - making it easier to fret and bend, reducing the volume slightly and maybe reducing the tension to the top a hair. There is some great information here, including 12 strings at the bottom

http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.y ... ng-Tension

I have an old D12-28 with the short scale - it is fine tuned to concert with lights but like many players I like to downtune two half steps. It starts to get a little muddy sounding there. When I built my OM sized 12 I went to the longer scale - it is much better tuned to D (I usually use 12's which are considered 12 string mediums). I recently built a very long scale (26.5) ladder braced twelve which is strung with "heavies" (13's) and tune to C or C# - it is a monster!

A couple of other considerations - Martin 12's are braced exactly like an unscalloped 6 string - you may want to consider adding a tone bar, taller braces and/or thicker top plate (like Taylor). I'll also recommend smaller bodies (jumbo is fine, I think an OM is better) - I think they have better balance. Martin has also made their bridges with both configurations (octave near the saddle, primaries near the saddle) - both have advantages.

I've I was going to build another 12 based on a Martin it would hard to decide between an old D12-20 and the new Grand J.