How to check your scale length (and why it might look short)Updated 11 hours ago
How to check your scale length (and why it might look short)
If your neck measures shorter than expected, don't worry. Nine times out of ten it's a measuring quirk, not a problem with your kit. Here's how to measure it correctly:
- Start your tape or ruler at the front edge of the nut (the end closest to the headstock).
- Measure to the center of the 12th fret. Important: measure to the top of the metal fret itself, not the gap between the 11th and 12th frets. This is the most common mistake.
- That distance is half your scale length. On a 24.75" kit, it should read about 12.36" to 12.375".
- Double it. If your 12th-fret reading is around 12.36", your full scale is correct at 24.75". You're good to go.
A note on small differences: If you're off by 1 to 2mm, that's completely normal and nothing to worry about. Any tiny variance gets corrected when you set your intonation at the bridge during final setup, so it won't affect how the guitar plays or tunes.
Still unsure? Send us a straight-on photo of the full neck, from the nut down to where it meets the body, plus your 12th-fret measurement, and we'll confirm it for you.