Two Short Scale Guitars
As interest in smaller guitars with shorter scales has grown, so has the challenge of maximizing the sound and volume of these more diminutive instruments. I’ve had two commissions recently where the clients felt that a shorter scaled guitar with a smaller body might help to alleviate some ergonomic issues and make their playing experiences more enjoyable. Both guitars have back and sides of East Indian rosewood and tops of Englemann spruce but the aesthetic schemes are vastly different.
The first guitar in the gallery is for a client who loves wood inlay and wanted a bold design to help commemorate her 70th birthday. The 3-ply parquetry center panel of Pacific yew, African ebony, American holly and Castillo extends onto the end of the guitar as well as the front of the headstock for a dramatic visual effect.
The second guitar was for a graphic designer who’s main request was to keep the guitar’s aesthetics clean and spare. For his guitar I elected to create a new rosette design composed of only African ebony (Black) and American holly(white) and playing off of line thicknesses to achieve an effect that emphasizes rhythm and movement. Simple holly purflings and Rubner tuning machines complete the design.
A major concern was to maintain a nice bass response even with the smaller body. My friend, David Tutmark, performed and produced a couple of short videos below that I believe demonstrate a surprisingly robust sound for a smaller bodied guitar. Approximate dimensions are as follows: scale length - 630mm (24.8”), overall length - 972mm (38.25”), upper bout - 280mm (11”), waist - 235mm (9.25”), lower bout -356mm (14”), nut width - 50mm ( 2”) and body depth - 100mm (4”).
Videos