<P> Unlike Stradivarius, Torres had no strong tradition on which to build regarding scale length, so the 25.6 in figure can be attributed to him with confidence . </P> <P> The steel - string acoustic guitar typically has a scale slightly shorter than the classical instrument, the most common scales ranging between short scale: 24 inches (610 mm) and long scale: 25.5 inches (648 mm). Small travel guitars and guitars specifically designed for children can have even shorter scales . For example, a 3 / 4 size steel string guitar might have a scale length of 23 inches (580 mm). </P> <P> The scale length of an electric guitar affects both its playability and its tone . Regarding playability, a shorter scale length allows more compact fingering and favors shorter fingers and hand - span . A longer scale allows more expanded finger and favors longer fingers and hand - span . With regard to tone, a longer scale (e.g. Fender Telecasters with 25.5 inch (648 mm) scale length) favors "brightness" or cleaner overtones and more separated harmonics versus a shorter scale (e.g., Gibson Les Paul with 24.75 in (628 mm) scale length), which favors "warmth" or more muddy overtones . According to Dave Hunter's Tone Manual (2011), each scale length has its characteristic sound and tone, which is individual from other sounds in the tone chain: strings, pickups, pedals, amplifiers, speakers, and cabinets . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (June 2008) </Td> </Tr> </Table>

What is the length of a gibson les paul