Guitar Neck Scale Length

Scale Length

On the neck of a guitar, the Scale Length is the distance from the Bridge to the Nut. However, because guitars have bridge saddles in a stepped arrangement (making measuring the distance uncertain), it is easier to measure from the nut to the 12th fret and use double that distance as the Scale Length.

25½" neck Scale Length of Aria Pro II PE

Thinking of buying a shorter scale neck guitar like a Mustang?

See the photo above. That is a 25½" (64.77cm) scale neck; which is standard for Telecasters and Stratocasters.

The 1st fret is at 24" (61cm). If you use a capo on the 1st fret and tune the guitar down by 1 semitone, then you now have a 24" scale neck; which is standard for Jaguars and Mustangs.

The 2nd fret is at 22.625" (57.5cm). If you use a capo on the 2nd fret and tune the guitar down by 2 semitones, then you now have a 22.625" scale neck. This is a scale neck in between a Squier Mini Jazzmaster and a Jackson Minion.

Let's explore scale lengths of different guitar necks!

Maker Guitar Neck Scale Neck Radius Nut Width

inch cm inch cm inch cm

Fender/ Squier Stratocaster 25.5 64.77 9.5 24.1 1.6875 4.286

Fender/ Squier Telecaster 25.5 64.77 9.5 24.1 1.6875 4.286

Fender Meteora 25.5 64.77 12 30.5 1.685 4.28

Fender Starcaster 25.5 64.77 9.5 24.1 1.65 4.2

Fender JazzMaster 25.5 64.77 7.25 18.41 1.65 4.2

Aria PE 25.5 64.77 12 30.5 1.6929 4.3

Aria STG/ TEG/ J/ Mac 25.5 64.77 9.5 24.1 1.6535 4.2

G&L ASAT/ Espada 25.5 64.77 9.5 24.1 1.625 4.128

G&L Legacy/ S500/ Fallout 25.5 64.77 12 30.5 1.625 4.128

Schecter Blackjack 25.5 64.8 12-16 30.5-40.6 1.643 4.2

Schecter Hellraiser/ Omen 25.5 64.8 14 35.5 1.653 4.2

Steinberger Spirit 25.5 64.8 14 35.5 1.625 4.128

Yamaha Pacifica 25.5 64.8 13.75 35 1.6142 4.1

Ibanez SA 25.5 64.8 12 30.5 1.6535 4.2

Ibanez S 25.5 64.8 15.75 40 1.6929 4.3

Ibanez RG / RGA 25.5 64.8 15.75 40 1.6929 4.3

Ibanez AZ / AZS 25.5 64.8 12 30.5 1.6535 4.2

Ibanez AZES 25 63.5 9.84 25 1.6535 4.2

PRS Std / S2 25 63.5 10 25.4 1.6875 4.286

PRS CE / SE 25 63.5 10 25.4 1.6875 4.286

Ibanez Iceman 24.75 62.8 12 30.5 1.6929 4.3

Ibanez AR 24.75 62.8 12 30.5 1.6929 4.3

Rickenbacker s 300/ 600 24.75 62.9 10 25.4 1.75 4.55

ESP LTD EC/ TE/ M 24.75 62.865 13.75 35 1.6535 4.2

Gibson/ Epiphone Les Paul 24.75 62.865 12 30.48 1.695 4.305

Gibson/ Epiphone SG 24.75 62.865 12 30.48 1.694 4.303

Gibson Explorer 24.75 62.865 12 30.48 1.694 4.303

Gibson Firebird 24.75 62.865 12 30.48 1.695 4.305

Gibson Flying V 24.75 62.865 12 30.48 1.694 4.303

Yamaha SG 24.75 62.86 13.75 35 1.693 4.3

Yamaha Revstar 24.75 62.86 12 30.48 1.6496 4.19

Gretsch Streamliner 24.75 62.9 12 30.48 1.6875 4.286

Gretsch Electromatic 24.6 62.5 12 30.48 1.6875 4.286

PRS SE Santana 24.594 62.47 10 25.4 1.6875 4.286

Fender/ Squier Jaguar 24 60.96 7.25 18.41 1.65 4.2

Fender/ Squier Mustang 24 61 9.5 24.1 1.685 4.28

Squier Bullet Mustang 24 61 12 30.5 1.65 4.2

Squier Mini Stratocaster 22.75 57.8 9.5 24.1 1.6 4.06

Squier Mini JazzMaster 22.75 57.8 9.5 24.1 1.6 4.06

Jackson Minion Dinky 22.5 57.15 12 30.48 1.625 4.13

Jackson Minion RR 22.5 57.15 12 30.48 1.625 4.13

Ibanez MiKro 22.2 56.4 15.75 40 1.6142 4.1

Ibanez PGM 22.2 56.4 15.75 40 1.6142 4.1

Neck Radius

This one is very personal and is about what you prefer.

In general, Ibanez and Schecter make the flattest necks (ie large radius: 14"-15¾").

Gibson uses 12" radius; a medium round neck.

Fender/ Squier mostly use rounder necks (ie small radius: 9½")

Nut Width

The differences in guitar models is quite small but it does make a difference. Again this is one of those things which is about preference (and maybe what you are used to).

From the table above, the widest Nut Width is by Rickenbacker at 1.75" or 4.55cm. The next widest are the Gibson Les Paul & Firebird at 1.695" or 4.305cm.

The narrowest Nuts are the Squier Minis at 1.6" or 4.06cm followed by Yamaha Pacifica at 1.6142" or 4.1cm and same for the Ibanez MiKro & PGM.

From the table above, most electric guitars will have a Nut Width around 4.2cm to 4.3cm. See the photo above and notice how tiny the difference of 1mm is.

4.286cm neck Nut Width of a Fender Telecaster.

Rickenbacker's 4.55cm is noticeably wider. An acoustic guitar, like the Martin D-28 has a Nut Width of 1.75" or 4.55cm as well.

This 3mm difference spread out between the 5 string-gaps is 0.6mm. Sounds negligible but I think it makes a big difference in how you play.