25” scale length vs 24.594” scale length?

[1980tugboat]

I’m about to start building a PRS Core Singlecut style guitar with a solid Korina body and neck. I currently have an old Korean Singlecut SE that I’m pretty sure is 25” scale length, but my only real comparison point is my homemade Les Paul Special that has a 24.something scale length. Kinda apples to oranges due to the pickups so I thought I may ask here.

Is there any practical tonal differences between scale length? My templates that I bought are for a 25” scale length and I’m defaulting to that out of laziness and I generally like the sound of my Singlecut SE but if the extra 7/16 in. Makes a difference I’m interested to see what that may be.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

You’ll feel the difference and there is some tonal differences as well.

 

[SinSir]

Yes there's a difference

 

[intothevoid]

I mean there was even enough of a difference between 24.5 and 24.594 that PRS changed over to the 24.594 for their singlecuts and the 594 double cut models.

So yes between 24.594 and 25 there is definitely a marked difference in feel and even tone

 

[1980tugboat]

I’m ambivalent on feel, I have Gibson, PRS, and Fender scale length guitars and enjoy all three. Have zero preference. What can I expect tonally?

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

You can expect it to sound similar to an LP than your 25” scale

 

[aamefford]

I can feel the difference between the 24.5” scale 24 frets on my Santana III and the 25” scale 22 frets on my S2 Studio. The guitars are so different that I have no comments on tonal differences. For interests sake, I prefer the feel of the shorter scale just a bit.

 

[Prina]

I can't feel a .25" difference, between a 24.75" LP and a 24.5" PRS (SE 245, Stripped 58, P245) but there's a world of difference between any of them and the 25.5 Tele. So at .5" you'll likely feel a difference.

Tone is dependent on so many factors besides scale length that it's hard to tell.

 

[Bogner]

Yes There Is A Difference. There Has To Be Since They Are Not The Same. Seasoned Ears And Good Hands Will Quickly Notice.

 

[Abe]

24.75" scale length for my Gibson LP.
25.3" on my Breedlove nylon acoustic.
25.5" on all my brother's and Dad's Fender electrics, and also 25.5" on my Taylor acoustic.
My PRS at a 25" scale length is my goldilocks zone for electric.

Everything always matters. Of course it does. Especially if you're sensitive to these things and the differences.

 

[Maertl513]

Of course there are differences by using different scales.
String tension differs, but aswell the - amplified - sound, because of minor but significant changes of the respective pickup posts. And not talking about 22 or 24 frets by constant scale.

I do have guitars with LP scale, 25,5", 25,25".

The guitar sound depends not on the scale as only factor.
Fanned frets + multiscale guitars try to offer the well-tempered guitar though. But mono scaled guitars are easier to construct and to be built.

 

[Broseph]

Just remember scales are measured from the nut to the 12th fret. You’ll get differences when measuring from the nut to the bridge/saddle point. My 594’s always come out measuring similar to LP’s at 24.7 something if I measured the total length. But for some reason many think of 594 as shorter lol.
There is a difference in feel. Sonically I doubt anybody can hear a difference once plugged in. The longer scale would be better if you downtune

 

[Ironwolf]

Just remember scales are measured from the nut to the 12th fret. You’ll get differences when measuring from the nut to the bridge/saddle point. My 594’s always come out measuring similar to LP’s at 24.7 something if I measured the total length. But for some reason many think of 594 as shorter lol.
There is a difference in feel. Sonically I doubt anybody can hear a difference once plugged in. The longer scale would be better if you downtune

certain guitars gravitate towards certain styles of play, the thing I enjoy about my DC 245 McCarty is that extra low tension rubbery string feel. Which broseph points out you can sometimes get by drop tuning the 25 inch scales.
Playing quick paced strumming chord work on that guitar you can hear the rubbery bouncy chords come through in your strumming style when you strum hard the strings go sharp for a split second longer (almost like a phase shift) I cannot get it on the longer length guitars without down tuning. The long slow sustain of doing a three halfstep bend is very much different as well on a 24.5 inch. So yes more advanced playing style and ears may be required to notice the difference.

 

[JeffsRealm]

I’m ambivalent on feel, I have Gibson, PRS, and Fender scale length guitars and enjoy all three. Have zero preference. What can I expect tonally?

Most people are addressing the feel which like you said is really no biggy. I am the same way, I switch scale lengths pretty regularly. Tonally is a whole different monster though, I have a lot of experience with trying to get PRS to sound good.

If it comes in and you like the sound, your set, nothing to do. It will sound different than any other guitar you have. So lets say your extremely familiar with JB/Jazz combo on a 25.5 scale for example. Sounds great classic sound you can almost always drop these in any 25.5 scale and sounds the same. Pretty much the defining sound of hair metal if they didn't use EMG. However, you put a JB/Jazz combo in a les paul, it still sounds good but it is different because of the scale length, you now have more of a Kiss sound. However, I can attest, you drop these in a PRS and you now have another different sound. You may like you may not like. This sound is pretty typical of PRS guitars at this scale length. I think it is one of those reason a lot of people say the PRS has no soul when you play it. they are just used to the sound from other scales. I have gone through maybe 20 PRS guitars over the years. I love the feel, but the sound and tone is just not there on 25 inch scale the lifeless sound. Something is off enough in the scale length that causes this. Why I suspect the scale length, what else could it be. I do have other PRS, the McCarty at the Gibson scale length and they sound fine and even swapped in Gibson pickups they sound awesome. But not the 25 inch scale

I am down to 30 guitars now as there are just guitars I do not play anymore, but at the peak, 90% of all my guitars are the same material. 35 years playing, I know exactly what I like, Mahogany body, maple top, I prefer maple neck but mahogany neck that is not sticky, aka satin, is fine as well. Fingerboard must be unpainted wood, so baked maple is fine but usually rosewood or ebony. This totally defines a PRS guitar so why would I not like them, it was specifically the sound. I just kind of ignored PRS after going through several and not liking them. Then one day, my local dealer called me said he had 2 guitars I had to see, he hasn't checked them into stock yet I get first shot before they go on the floor. I been dealing with this guy for 10 years, all my bands, guitars, amps. Probably well over 100k in gear through the years he knew me well. So when he has something I absolutely must see, well my curiosity is peaked. I was really disappointed when I seen 2 PRS guitars. He was like just play them, he had my favorite Marshall amp set up next to them, how could I say no. I plugged the first one in and went Oh my, I have never literally let out a gasp of amazement before until that day. This was a pretty rare PRS Artist V which is a custom 24, which had the PRS Exclusive Artist V pickups. Still to this day it is in my collection and never leaving, and one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played. The second one also a Custom 24, but with 3 Soap bars. Another rare model, I know guys still seek these out. It is also still in my collection to this day. So the pickups absolutely matter to get the best tone on this 25 inch scale. Oh and I did sent the Artist V to the PRS tech shop and had them pattern thin shape and satin the neck.

After that I have gone through a few more PRS cores, I have been trying to get to sound right. I have a regular Custom 24, I like it, TCI tuned pickups, I keep it around in case I do want the PRS sound, I might start to get it to sound right now as I really do like the guitar. I have a PRS Core with 10 top Floyd, that just feels awesome, those Metal Pickups didn't cut it. Oh sure your on stage in a mix with sound guy keeping you sounding great and no one cares. But sitting by yourself playing or recording, it matters. I bought it kind of the same way, my Sweetwater rep called me up and said hey I got a guitar you might like. I bought it 2 weeks before I went on a summer road gig so all practices were with full band and sound engineer etc. Loved how this guitar felt and looked. When that ended and I got to spend a lot of time alone with it, is when I realized the sound was really not to my liking. I tried several of my favorite pickups, Suhr's SSV+ I love for 25.5 and and Suhr Adrich I love for 24.45, Gibson Alnico 5 Custombucker's, Several Duncans, none would make this guitar just come alive. Then last week I put in a small builder custom pickups. Some know him, as he is pretty big on Youtube and not an add for him, Blackstock Northern lights. So far the best after market pickups I have found for my PRS 25 scale guitars, which makes sense as he also plays a lot of PRS guitars. I am actually really excited, about playing the guitar now it feels totally alive. The tone is right on, It is the reason I came to the forums today as I do not visit often but wanted to redo some of the switching as the Switching on the Core PRS Floyds could be improved but I didn't want to mess with that until I found a Humbucker that sounded good in bridge and neck by them selves. I am honestly really excited about this as this could potentially become a new number one guitar now. All those years of playing, I have my go to guitars, it is not often I get a new favorite.

Anyway hope that help you and any others that may run across it. Good luck, don't expect to just drop in your usual go to pickups and expect it to sound good. But you might take it as an opportunity to experiment if you got the time.