Question scale length on MM guitars

[ghostinabottle]

Hi there.I´ve got a newbie question:

IS the scale length on every MM guitar 25,5" ´cause there are people on the net who say it is something between fender scale and gibson scale.
or does the scale on MM guitars altered through the years.
THX

 

[ErlendDL]

Have you checked the website?

It should be listed in the specs for each guitar...

 

[beej]

With the exception of the Silhouette Bass (which is a baritone), they are all 25.5".

There's occasionally some confusion over this b/c the headstock design makes the guitars a tad shorter than your usual Fender type design. But nut to saddle is always 25.5".

Btw, you can find technical specs on all the instruments here:

Ernie Ball Music Man Instruments

 

[ghostinabottle]

of course i looked the specs up.

i was just wondering because some owners of MM guitars tell something different.
i also played a Steve morse(not the Y2D) in a local store and the dealer told me,it has the PRS Scale.

SO I was wondering if there are MM´s with different scales in the previous years.

I also would like to know if there are differences in the neck shape profile
(e.g. flat D, roundback,C,V etc.)

It´s quite hard to compare different MM´s in my location cause there aren´t any.

so it would be nice to get an impression from experienced MM players about these good looking and sounding guitars.

 

[jamminjim]

AFAIK - MM guitars have always been 25.5" scale length. After all, it was originally a Leo Fender company.

Sir Spuds thread on MM profiles is probably the best anyone could do for you to visualize the profiles of some of the MM guitars. One could always call EBMM customer service and ask them too. Personally, I think it would be great to have some Music Man neck profile data readily available to look at posted somewhere.

Spuds profile thread

 

[John C]

No, EBMMs have always been 25 1/2" scale; the dealer that told you the Steve Morse sigs were PRS scale was misinformed. In fact the orignal Morse and the Y2D now have exactly the same neck shape, which was digitized from Steve's well-worn Signature model #1

The necks are fairly small so even though they are 25 1/2" scale they seem to "feel" like you're playing a slightly shorter scale guitar. That "illusion" of being smaller is enhanced by the shorter headstock.

In terms of neck shape - the Albert Lee is a "C" shape; it is the "fattest" EBMM neck but it is pretty close to what the boutique builders would call a "medium" neck (for example Don Grosh's "medium" is .830" at the 1st fret and .930" at the 12th fret - the AL is pretty similar to that neck but maybe a bit thicker at the 1st fret). The AL has a 10" radius; all the AL models have the same neck shape.

The Silhouette, Silhouette Special, Gold Roller, and the Reflex also have a "C" shaped neck but they are slimmer than the Albert Lee (I haven't measured by Silhouette Special but I suspect it's about .815" at the 1st fret and probably about a .900" at the 12th). All of these are about the same; however the Reflex has a 12" radius and larger frets. All the others have a 10" radius and the standard EBMM frets.

The Steve Morse and the Y2D have a fairly similar neck to that Silhouette neck, but it is a bit slimmer and, since it's based on a ware worn neck it's not perfectly "C" shaped. Morse necks have a 12" radius

The Axis and Axis SuperSport have basically a "C" shaped neck but it is asymetrical neck (it's a bit thinner on the treble side than the bass side) and falls in between the Silhouette-style neck and the Albert Lee neck. Remember, these were originally the EVH signature and the neck was digitized from his then #1 guitar (not sure if it was the original Frankenstrat or the Kramer 5150). Once EVH left these were renamed the Axis and one narrowly worn part of the neck was "filled in" to keep the high e from slipping. These are 10" radius necks.

The Luke neck is different; it has a soft "V" shaped neck and a 12" radius. It's about the same depth as the Axis neck.

All of these necks also have a 1 5/8" nut width - or 1.625" or 41.3mm if you prefer.

The JP 6 necks are wider - they are 1 11/16" (or 1.6875" or 43mm), they are also a thin "C" shape. I've not played these much; I prefer the narrow nut width necks.

Overly long post but I hope this helps.

 

[wolfbone07]

JP baritone is also longer scale length

 

[zombywoof]

Tip of the hat to John C who really knows is stuff!

 

[browndog]

I always enjoy reading John’s posts. He’s full of knowledge and always helping out others.

I often copy his posts into a document I keep on EBMM stuff for future reference.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

The dealer that told you the MM was a PRS scale could have been correct.


<pauses for silent gasp>


Why?


Because there are a few PRS guitar models that are 25 1/2" scale. The vast majority are 25" but I've noted a very few that are 25 1/2. Les Paul is 24 3/4. There is a huge difference in how a 25 1/2 and 24 3/4 play. I own a non Gibson, non Les Paul guitar that's 24 3/4 and it's a nice scale for my 9 year old. It's way too squished in the upper frets for me.

 

[ghostinabottle]

thanks alot for all these informations.

on the other hand, i probably have to drive around germany to test some silos and morses, though.
I always was thinking,that fatter necks suit me the most, but the feel of the morse(the only MM i had in my hands so far) was great after all.

 

[TNT]

Yeah, you gotta just LOVE the "25.5"!!!

It doesn't get a lot of press, kinda like bass players, they just don't get the recognition they deserve.












lol

 

[fbecir]

on the other hand, i probably have to drive around germany to test some silos and morses, though.

There are several forum members from Germany. Some of them have a huge collection of EBMM ... perhaps, depending where you are located, you can ask them to show you some of their guitars.