And that’s right…sort of. Everything from the pickups they use, to the wood they’re made with, the construction process—they’re about as different as they could come. The Telecaster has a bolt on maple neck, giving it a more twangy tone. Let’s look at some alternative options to these 2 instruments. So the 12th fret on a guitar is going to be exactly the halfway point between the nut and the bridge, and on guitars that have a 24th fret, it will be halfway between the 12th fret and the bridge. Additional features include a “hardtail” string through anodized bridge, Gibson-style, three-way pickup selector, and master volume/tone controls. But they are still brighter than a Les Paul. If you came here hoping I was going to tell you which of the scale lengths we’ve compared here is best, I can’t do that. Now, whether you are a first time buyer or a seasoned musician, you want to know which tool is the best for you. 1:1 Use this blueprint as a reference to build your own Telecaster. While you can find a Fender Telecaster that has all of the bells and whistles that let it compete, your average Gibson Les Paul is just a better instrument. As a result, if you have a longer scale length, the length between the 12th fret and the nut is going to be longer and thus, every individual fret in between those is going to be a little bit further apart than it will be on a shorter scale instrument. The fretboard has a compound radius which makes for easier chords and leads. And of course some wild baritones and things like that, that have really long scale lengths. If you like the sound of humbuckers but the looks of a Tele, you can get the Telecaster Deluxe with humbucking pickups. Telecaster The humble Telecaster has been around since 1951 when it changed the face of guitar-playing forever. Do you use both? The improvements make it more versatile, quieter, and more comfortable to play. Since Gibson largely uses the 24.75" (actually closer to 24.6") and Fender 25.5", we tend to associate … The 25-1/2" produces a rich, strong, bell-like tone, and defined low-end. Warmoth offers two types of conversion necks. If everything else is equal—you have the exact same gauge of strings, the same brand of strings, and you have your guitar tuned to the exact same notes—if you have a longer scale length, you’re going to have more tension, and if you have a shorter scale length, you’re going to have less tension. Full-size Fender Telecaster Blueprint. Active pickups versus passive pickups. There are a few debates that have raged throughout the guitar world for generations. Both of them are great in different ways, and there have been a lot of awesome players that have used each one of these different scale lengths. At the shorter end of the spectrum you have the DuoSonic with a 22 and a half inch scale length, as well as the Jaguar, which uses a 24-inch scale length. If you like the lighter tone of the Tele’s single coils but want something a little thicker like the Les Paul, you’ll be interested in the Reverend Airwave. Likewise, Gibson has used a lot of different scale lengths over their history as well. Gibson mainly uses mahogany for their guitar bodies, which is what gives it that slightly darker sound. This blueprint contains a fully dimensioned full scale overview of a Fender Telecaster including contours and dimensions. Hieronder vergelijk ik alle belangrijke eigenschappen van de Gibson Les Paul en SG en de Fender Stratocaster en Telecaster. However, it’s also the reason why extended range instruments such as baritones and 7/8/9 string guitars typically have much longer 26″ – 28″ scale lengths, as they ensure that the notes on their lower strings sound tight and clear. It is perfect for players who like Fender® shapes, but prefer Gibson’s® shorter 24-3/4″ scale length. There’s no neck angle and there’s no headstock angle. The sound of a Telecaster can be greatly improved by unbolting the neck, putting some glue in there, and bolting it back up. On a Gibson style scale, the harmonics you get from lightly touching the string with your left hand are closer together and the tone is slightly warmer and thicker. First off the easiest distinction to make is sound. Having those angles firmly anchors the strings in. But you still get the famous Telecaster sound, that’s for sure. These two guitar designs date back to the 50’s. You even see country players whip out the Paul for distorted solos these days. The reason for this is how these guitars are constructed and what pickups they use. It still has a maple capped mahogany body. This rigidity contributes greatly to the responsiveness of the guitar because the neck is mated to the body as one. Your email address will not be published. The first is the Gibson® Scale Conversion Neck. * If you are the original author of any of the templates provided here and wish to … But, all that notwithstanding, when people are talking about a” Gibson scale length”, what they’re generally talking about is a 24 and three-quarter inch scale length. Just like we talked about earlier, if you want to play a note that’s an octave higher than your open string, you need to reduce that string’s length by half. So let’s see what makes them so different.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'guitaraffinity_com-box-4','ezslot_1',106,'0','0'])); We’re talking polar opposites here, so keep in mind your role in the band. A Telecaster can be used effectively for rhythm or cleaner country style solos. The next major difference is the wood. What is the Gibson Scale Length? However, many of its construction and electronic features—for example its set-in neck and P-90 -style pickups—are similar to those of a Gibson Les Paul Junior and Gibson … The satin finished neck also morphs from a C shaped profile at the nut to a D shaped profile at heel. Gibson® Scale (24-3/4") Conversion. Basswood is lightweight and resonant. Conversely, if you have really big hands, or you just like to be a little bit more precise with hitting your individual notes, having broader or wider distances between your frets gives you more room to work with. If you’re not super familiar with tension—we talk about it a lot here at Stringjoy—the quick primer is: if you have more tension that generally is going to mean that it’s going to take more force to fret a note or bend a note. Do you use something like a 25-inch PRS scale that’s kind of in the middle? It doesn't sound like much - indeed it's only about a five per cent reduction in size in each direction - but it makes for a much more compact look and feel overall. It’s also mounted in the bridge. The neck on a Les Paul is glued to the body. Even the cheapest Tele has that. See, the thing is on almost all guitars you have an adjustable bridge (and even if you don’t have an adjustable bridge, and you have an acoustic or something like that, chances are your bridge is still slanted a bit). Single coils versus humbuckers. This guitar has everything you want and nothing you don’t! But while you’ve probably heard of scale length or seen it on a spec sheet somewhere, you might not necessarily know what it really means. A direct faceoff between the iconic Fender Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul. Fender JA-90 Jim Adkins Thinline Tele BODY + NECK Telecaster Parts - Natural Ash. This is a nice up-to-date take on a classic design. These two guitar designs date back to the 50’s. The mahogany body and neck give it a deep mellow tone, while the maple top brings out the upper mids, and the ebony fretboard gives it some top end brightness. So if you are keeping score, score one for Gibson. The Les Paul mixes bright and dark sounding tonewoods. The longer scale is more open, more dynamic.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'guitaraffinity_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',108,'0','0'])); Provided all things being equal, namely string gauge tuned to standard pitch, the longer scale puts more string tension on the neck. This is the most common shorter scale guitar length. So if you love really, really low action, going with a longer scale length will actually give you the ability to get even lower to your frets without getting that dreaded fret buzz. I have just about everything, or stuff is in the works. Most people consider this a "Gibson Standard", but as you'll see, several companies do use it on certain models. Players new and old can enjoy the Les Paul’s rich mid-range both clean and distorted, both lead and rhythm. My tele project is coming along nicely. The Les Paul’s body is made of mahogany with a maple top, while the Telecaster can be ash, alder, or basswood. But I’m going to stick to the bare essentials as far as what is generally considered to be a Les Paul and a Telecaster. You do get upgrades though, and they are improvements to the nearly 70 year old design. So for example, if you have a Les Paul or any sort of Gibson-style scale length, and you have a set of 10s on it, and you absolutely love those, I recommend going with something like a set of 9.5’s on your Strat or your Tele to balance out that tension between the two. Required fields are marked *. The Tele is one of the world's most iconic electric guitars and, as such, there's a huge choice within the range. Even with the same body dimensions as a regular telecaster, these telecasters offer a different sound as well as playability with its 24” scale length and a unique pickup combination. The Fender Telecaster was the very first mass-produced solid body electric guitar and has a widespread appeal that is only rivaled by a few other guitars. They are two of the most popular guitars of all time, and they come in many different configurations. Real world, double coils are noise free and sound warm.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'guitaraffinity_com-leader-1','ezslot_6',109,'0','0'])); Single coils are bright but when they are done right, sound beautiful and glassy with a bell like ring. But that’s not the only reason. When you hear the term “scale length,” you think that it’s the overall length from the nut down to the bridge. The Les Paul has a shorter scale than the Telecaster, which impacts the tone. This makes it a bit easier to play complex melodies and tight parts without getting your fingers jumbled up with one another. How many times do you expect to need a neck replacement? But in a recording situation you don’t have to compromise. This cool guitar is a semi hollow 12 string that has a light, thick sound. But those exceptions notwithstanding, the most common scale length people are talking about when they’re talking about a “Fender scale length” is a 25 and a half inch scale, like you see on Telecasters and Stratocasters. A Les Paul is definitely better for distorted solos. You can also get a Tele with a mahogany body, but that is a drastic departure from the classic design. All in all, the Telecaster is bright and best for chimey rhythms or cleaner solos, while the Les Paul has a fairly flat response, works great for jazzy cleans, classic crunch rhythms, or even super saturated metal. You get the latest generation of noiseless pickups and a discrete switch on the volume knob which switches between series and parallel when both pickups are engaged. The Fender Telecaster and the Gibson Les Paul are some of the most iconic instruments ever made. This incredible guitar is still going strong today and we make sure we’ve always got a massive selection of the best Fender Teles here at Andertons! So you can set the action to be the exact same on a 25 and a half inch scale as you can on a 24 and three-quarter inch scale—at least in theory. 2020 Gibson USA SG Standard '61 Maestro Vibrola BODY & NECK Mahogany American. Alder is bright, but a little rounder. This makes them easier and cheaper to produce. Assuming that the bodies of both these guitars are solid and unchambered, a Telecaster will be sharper and brighter than a Les Paul. A Gibson Scale Lengths 24 5/8",24 3/4” — and Fender 25 1/2" 22.00 C Fender Bass & 5 string Bass Scale Lengths – 34" and 35" 24.00. That range is going to be a little bit tighter when you have a longer scale length and a little bit wider when you have shorter scale lengths. We’ll talk about the differences between the most common scale lengths and how those affect your own guitars. With a Gibson guitar, for example, we will get a measurement of 12 and three-eighths inches. So, what do you do if you have guitars featuring each of these different scale lengths, and you want them to play a little bit more evenly, play a little bit more like one another? Compare. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Guitar Neck Shapes: A Guide to C, V, and U Neck Profiles. When you turn up the distortion, you get a lot more feedback with a Telecaster than you do with a Les Paul. The second biggest factor to consider in tone is the pickups. This is a part of that signature Tele twang.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'guitaraffinity_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',110,'0','0'])); The Les Paul has one volume and one tone for each pickup for a total of four knobs. This metal machine will get those driving power chords and saturated distortion that you just can’t find anywhere else. Generally speaking, on Fender guitars, there is quite a bit more distance between every individual fret than on an Epiphone or a Gibson style scale length. This is, for the most part, the classic design. Now, there are a ton of differences between these two guitar manufacturers. Bright in comparison to a Les Paul, it works equally well for its intended purpose. Wood: Roasted Flame Maple Neck Wood/Ebony (Black) Fretboard: Right/Left: Right Handed: Warmoth Gibson Scale 24-3/4"-72 Telecaster Custom. Both guitars have two pickups and a three way selector switch. Many recent Gibson guitars come with a 'Slim Taper' neck. Likewise, Gibson has used a lot of different scale lengths over their history as well. What does change is the range of available actions that you can set your strings at, if that makes any sense. Dit alles geldt ook voor de gelijknamige, betaalbaardere versies die de dochtermerken van deze grootheden in het assortiment hebben: Epiphone (van Gibson… Let us know down below. This shortens the distance between frets and lowers string tension for easier, quicker playing. Koop Squier Telecasters bij Gear4music. Your email address will not be published. Whereas if you have less tension, it’s going to be easier to bend, and easier to fret notes. The Modern Player Short Scale Telecaster - along with reducing the scale length to 610mm (24-inch) - shaves those dimensions down to 304mm and 379mm respectively. Full Scale Plans for the Fender Telecaster 1969 Thinline Electric Guitar - actual size Full Scale Guitar Plans Stratocaster HSS style Electric Guitar - actual size Set of 4 Electric Guitar Plans - Gibson Explorer, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson Firebird Studio, Gibson Flying V - all Full Scale - Actual Size- Making Guitar or Framing BUY ONLY FROM SPIRIT FLUTES - This is a close one, but I have to give it to the Gibson Les Paul. Do you play rhythm or lead? Guitar Affinity's Top 5 Guitars of the Month: Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Let’s find out. While they both offer an excellent tone, they may not have the price point you’re looking for. If you plan on replacing your neck all the time, chalk one up for Fender. Ontdek een breed assortiment aan producten, waaronder Standard, American Vintage Deluxe en meer. Likewise with a typical Fender, we’ll get a measurement of12 inches and three-quarter inches, which we double to get 25 and a half inches. This is why Stratocasters and Telecasters are known for emitting bright and snappy tones, which can be attributed to their 25.5″ scale lengths. It might seem pretty obvious. The humbucking pickups found on the Les Paul are quiet, fat, and higher output. The tuners are low profile short post lockers. I love my Les Paul, the scale length is perfect for me. The shorter scale is more compressed, making it more articulate. Only you can decide which one is right for you. First off this guitar will be a lot more comfortable to play with its deep tummy cut, rounded neck heel, and compound radius fretboard. Gibsons and Fenders sound way different for a host of reasons that have nothing to do with scale length. That is to, say bolt on, single coils, the wood they use comprise the three layers of brightness. Seen a custom build years ago and it played great. Single coils are raw and basic, but charming. If you’re a fan of heavy metal, and aren’t interested in either of these guitars, then you’ll love the Ibanez RG 1070 PBZ. If you love Fender’s classic sound but want something suited for funk and other niche styles, check out the Fender American Pro Jaguar. These two guitars are about as far apart as it gets. This rigidity contributes greatly to the responsiveness of the guitar. Every string requires a slightly different length in order to intonate properly. Compare. Do you love just one of these? If you're looking for a new or used short-scale bass and you're not sure where to start, it's always a good idea to go by brand. Scale Length Comparison: Fender vs Gibson, What's the Difference? This instrument is one of the brand’s finest offerings, but has a thicker, punchier sound that works well with classic rock or funk. Both are pretty commonly used in a range of styles from jazz to blues to rock to metal. Believe it or not, Fender has actually used a number of different scale lengths over the course of their history as a company. Regardless of what your needs are, you'll have a lot of fun finding the best Telecaster for you. Found on Stratocasters ®, Telecasters ®, and the huge variety of instruments inspired by them as well as the replacement, and custom parts available for them. In our Scale Length Comparison we look at the 4 main differences between these two classic scale lengths. Now in a longer Fender-style scale length, generally you get more of a strong, sort of bell-like tone, and you have a little bit of a clearer, tighter bottom end.