Thread: Short Scale 6 string planning

Are you aiming to have a normal neck with one less fret, or a small neck with the right number of frets? If you're just chopping off the end fret, then your body should be able to stay the same as you're just, in effect putting a capo on the first fret and tuning down a semitone. (did I explain that right?) If you're shrinking the neck, and keeping the same number of frets then the whole bridge should be located properly - see stewmacs bridge calculators for an idea.
Remember too that a tele bridge has a fixed bridge p'up position. If you shorten the neck, then you are effectivly moving the pickup away from the bridge, taking some of that classic "tele twang" out of the sound. To me, a tele only sounds like a tele with a 25.5" neck IMHO, but maybe thats not the sound you're looking for???

Food for thought

seems like there isnt much to add. to this. if your making your own body you could make a few changes to compensate for this, and have more frets. but this would be changing the design.

Thanks for the response guys.
I'm a fan of the shape but not much for the twang. I'm looking at a rhythm sound, I love the 70's 80's classic rock.

The shorter scale will effect the sound, based on my experience building a short scale bass.

My concerns were with bridge placement and then the playing angle and comfort. I had in mind to use a Schaller roller bridge (non trem), so the pup placement isn't fixed.

I suppose it'll sort out when I draw it up.
Thanks
BBM

From memory Melvin Hiscock's book details the build of a mahogany bodied tele with a flame maple top and 2 humbuckers. I have dubbed this concept the "Paulocaster". I haven't ever played this type of instument, but imagine it to look like a tele but sound a lot like a Les Paul. Not a bad combo in my books.

Peter

sounds exactly what I'm after.

Originally Posted by petersemple

From memory Melvin Hiscock's book details the build of a mahogany bodied tele with a flame maple top and 2 humbuckers. I have dubbed this concept the "Paulocaster". I haven't ever played this type of instument, but imagine it to look like a tele but sound a lot like a Les Paul. Not a bad combo in my books.

Peter

Yup, it sure does. Your building a plank LP for sure. Those 70's teles with the humbuckers had a pretty full sound, but mahogany and the like will probably fatten her up some. Have you played a 23.3" thou. Pretty short. Even fenders were 24"
Still...

Originally Posted by petersemple

From memory Melvin Hiscock's book details the build of a mahogany bodied tele with a flame maple top and 2 humbuckers. I have dubbed this concept the "Paulocaster". I haven't ever played this type of instument, but imagine it to look like a tele but sound a lot like a Les Paul. Not a bad combo in my books.

Peter

I made that one! It was the first electric guitar I ever made. Mine was blue(ish) and I used Brazilian mahogany. Heavy as lead but it sustained forever.....

Originally Posted by paulplaysguitar

I made that one! It was the first electric guitar I ever made. Mine was blue(ish) and I used Brazilian mahogany. Heavy as lead but it sustained forever.....

well the paulocaster name fits then

LP junior or what i call a lesocaster
bolt on shortscale neck 24.75
tele hardware
but if you dont want twang dont do it
the hardware is what does it - pickups n bridge

may as well go and build a lp junior or standard and be done with it

I think you guys have talked me out of it.
I'll stick with the Paulocaster concept with small twist.
24.75scale (I've got a board ready to go)
neck thru & wings - tele shape
2 HB's and toggle, 4 knobs
a la
Keith Richards 73 Deluxe
Will let you know hot it goes.

The LP will be after that one (left handed as well)
BBM

By the way, a long time ago I was playing in a covers band, and we had a gig with CANNED HEAT. I was playing bass at the time and had an Ibanez Roadster Series. We were in the warm up room with CH and their bass player leaned over and showed some curiousity at my bass. He held and laughed, he called it a toy and offered me his to hold. Well, it was a heavy as SH*T. His opinion, the heavier the better (he was too), Ever since, I have not minded heavier guitars as long as the sound was right.