String/Scale Lengths

The string length measurement is taken from the edge of the nut to the bridge. The scale length is the measurement taken from the nut to the 12th fret which is then doubled. This Jackson shown below has a scale length of 25 1/2” which incidentally is one of the most common scale lengths and also found on the Fender Stratocaster. Other popular scale lengths are 24 3/4“ found on the Gibson Les Paul) and 25” found on PRS’. Heavier strings are often put on shorter scale length necks by guitarists because there is less tension than the longer scale lengths. With this in mind a Les Paul with 0.10 gauge strings would feel similar in regards to string tension than a Stratocaster with 0.9’s due to the scale lengths.