Scale Length and Distance Between Frets

[LatinMando]

Has anyone built a mandolin with a different scale length, which would reduce the distance between frets (would that be shorter or longer scale length?).

Would that be useful for player with smaller hands/shorter fingers? What would it do to string tension?

Thanks for any info.

[sunburst]

There have been various scale lengths made by different manufacturers over the years.
In general, longer means more string tension, more overtones, perhaps more loudness, different feel, etc.

A shorter scale would decrease the distance between the frets.

[Dave Cohen]

I do build a mandolin with a 13.125" scale length. I also build mandolins with the more usual 13.875" scale length. The short scale mandolin is called the "Classical A" (See my website, which you can reach through the "Eye Candy" pages of this site.

The shorter scale is more common in Europe. Classical players there play mostly Neapolitan mandolins ("bowlbacks"), which have the shorter scale length. My "Classical A" was designed to give the playing characteristics of the Neapolitans along with a more powerful and responsive "American" sound. The shorter scale facilitates playing some stretches and intervals, but depending on the size of your hands, may also make some positions cramped. I have usually made the fingerboard wider at the nut for that reason.

I can't resist adding that Mike Schroeder won the 2003 CMSA classical mandolin competition at the San Diego Convention playing the prototype "Classical A" which I designed and built for him. In fairness though, I should add that some other individual builders also will make a mandolin with a shorter scale length upon request.

[billkilpatrick]

string tension would be the thing to watchout for. i'm on the case for some 5c. mandolino strings adapted for a charango (tastiera length 37cm.). i tried stringing my charango with normal mandolino strings (in nylgut) but snapped the 1st almost immediately. when and if i can find suitable strings, i should have a very comfortable, sweet sounding mandolino with a considerably wider fingerboard.

- bill

[Dave Cohen]

you can take the guesswork out of choosing string guages by checking out Arto's String Calculator, which you can find from a link over on MIMF.

[dreads]

Shortening the scale too much would end up in an instrument difficult to play. Barring strings on a standard mandolin is hard, think of it if you had less room for your fingers.

[8ch(pl)]

Mid Missouri builds a Violin scale version with a 13 inch instead of 13 7/8 inch scale length.,