Mystery: Gibson EDS-1275 & Epiphone G-1275 DoubleNecks are NOT 24.75" Scale Guitars???

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

Ambassador of Tone
Fallen Star
Country flag
Noticed this the other day when a student walked in with a G-1275. It's not a 24.75" scale guitar as advertised and neither is the Gibson EDS-1275.

Let's begin by looking at the G-1275 next to a EDS-1275:

EDS-1275.jpg

G-1275 Epiphone.jpg

Note both neck joints attach at 15th fret. Note relationship of pickups relative to controls. Note the G-1275 has the tailpiece moved back like Jimmy page's EDS--1275.

Compare to my Von Herndon DoubleNeck. Nut-to-bridge exactly 24.75" to g string saddle.

Full Guitar.jpg

(Also note I use the Gibson 6 hole upper/lower pckguards. Epiphone uses an 8 hole upper and 6 hole lower, but the screws are placed in different locations)

On my double neck, the c/l of the treble side bridge post is 24.687" from the nut. The c/l of the bass side bridge post is 24.875" and the 'G' string saddle - when intonated - is dead-on 24.750" from the nut, as shown in this image:

Von Herndon Double Neck Scale Measurement.jpg

What's even more interesting - to me anyways - is not only am I intonated at the 12th fret, but I'm also intonated correctly at 3, 5 7 and 9th frets respectively, so if my fret-to-fret distances were off, intonation should likewise be off at different fretboard positions.

Hmmmm.....
 
Last edited:
The bridge pick ups on the Epiphone and Gibson are much closer to the bridge than your Von Herndon double-neck. I also noticed the bridge pick ups on the Gibson are slightly closer to the bridge than on the Epiphone.:wink:


;>)/
 
Yes. In spite of being being advertised as 24.75, the actual scale length of Gibson guitars has varied over the years.

However, measuring from nut to saddle is not an accurate method to determine the actual scale length of the guitar. As you’ve observed, the intonation adjustments of the saddles throw the measurement off.

To determine the actual scale length of a guitar, you measure from the nut to the center of the 12th fret, and double that figure. You should measure 12.375” to the center of the 12th fret if the guitar has a 24.75” scale length.
 
BlackSG91 said:
The bridge pick ups on the Epiphone and Gibson are much closer to the bridge than your Von Herndon double-neck. I also noticed the bridge pick ups on the Gibson are slightly closer to the bridge than on the Epiphone.:wink:


;>)/
Click to expand...

Don't look at the pickup placement - per se - but look at their positions relevant to the controls and the pickguards...
 
smitty_p said:
Yes. In spite of being being advertised as 24.75, the actual scale length of Gibson guitars has varied over the years.

However, measuring from nut to saddle is not an accurate method to determine the actual scale length of the guitar. As you’ve observed, the intonation adjustments of the saddles throw the measurement off.

To determine the actual scale length of a guitar, you measure from the nut to the center of the 12th fret, and double that figure. You should measure 12.375” to the center of the 12th fret if the guitar has a 24.75” scale length.
Click to expand...

Mine is dead on every way I measure it...
 
Have you measured it while hanging upside down from a slightly rotted oak beam suspended by steel cable high above a pool of sharks in the middle of the hoover damn during the vernal equinox?

No?

well you damn sure havnt measured it "every" way then have you?
 
eSGEe said:
Have you measured it while hanging upside down from a slightly rotted oak beam suspended by steel cable high above a pool of sharks in the middle of the hoover damn during the vernal equinox?
Click to expand...
That reminds me of my friend spilling her beer one evening. Her boyfriend said "Ugh! You've gotten beer EVERYWHERE!"

I said "EVERYWHERE!? Even on THE MOON?

I have been known to be a bit of a smart a$$ at times.
 
eSGEe said:
Have you measured it while hanging upside down from a slightly rotted oak beam suspended by steel cable high above a pool of sharks in the middle of the hoover damn during the vernal equinox?

No?

well you damn sure havnt measured it "every" way then have you?
Click to expand...

My gratitude to you, Sir.

In my haste, I omitted this oft-overlooked, yet critcally important step to correctly measuring the scale length of one’s guitar.
 
Last edited:
My eye catches things....not the pickup placement but the distance between the bridge and 20th fret....its different as night and day.
 
eSGEe said:
It took 6 posts--- sorry I was busy today or I could have derailed it faster ;)
Click to expand...

It’s not all your fault.

I had a perfectly good opportunity to derail it up at post number three, but I hadda go and get all technical and stuff. I could have thrown it off course then.

So, I share part of the blame.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top