Re: 21" vs 23" scale
Hi, it seems I qualify to answer this question...
The difference may be as much to do with the varying natures or personalities of the guitars themselves- build, tone woods etc (I am not a builder) - as well as the scale length. I own an Osark (21") and a Blueridge BR40 (23"), and although I have them both tuned to CGDA with D'Addario J66 strings, they are decidedly different creatures.
The Osark has a sweetness and quality of tone that delights each time I return to it, but it is a more delicate beast. better for finger picking rather than strong strumming, beautifully light in the hand,with maple bindings and a satin matt finish that makes you want to stroke it.
The BR40 is more of a workhorse, physically robust - good to fingerpick, yet fine for heavier strumming. It has a clear bright tone, but I wouldn't call it subtle - it's much more in your face.It has a gloss finish and a deeper neck profile that feels quite different. I don't play melodies, but as mentioned elsewhere, it would be more of a stretch. It has two more free frets than the Osark, which also gives you a bit more access up the fretboard. I don't think the fretboard widens out as much as the shorter Osark though.
I like both, and although I have tried to sell the Osark, I am actually glad that I still have it. So that I don't feel too cluttered, I now keep one in the living room and one in the cellar (the cellar being a living area, not a dark hole!) For me it's more like having two different children rather than merely a technical question.
"What's that funny guitar thing..?"
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