Neck scale question

[SFW]

Ok, I have some parts from several guitars laying around the house. I have an ESP LTD body (alder with maple cap) that was designed to go with a 24 fret neck. I also have a 25.5 strat replacement neck that I was thinking about putting one it... since it's just sitting here. My question is this: will a 22 fret neck that is 25.5 in scale length work on a guitar that originally had a 24 fret 25.5 scale length neck on it? Will I run into tuning issues due to frets not being in the right place? Or will it be ok?

Thanks guys!

 

[Beyond Black]

Good question!

 

[rupe]

It will most likely be off...the 22nd fret will be where the 24th should have been...it will never intonate.

 

[Gainiac]

NO!

 

[SFW]

Ok. Thanks guys.

 

[SeaDog]

Guys, not to go against the grain, but it's not a definite no for sure. It really depends on the neck pocket location. Many 24 fret necks have the same dimensions and distance that a 22 fret neck has - the extra frets just hang over the end of the neck. Look at the 21 fret vs. 22 fret fender necks - easily swappable. Put the neck in the pocket and measure from the bridge to the nut - if it's 25.5, it should setup fine.

SeaDog

 

[glpg80]

actually, if the body is cut for 25.5" scale then it should intonate and work fine.

i dont see any reason at all why it wouldnt.

a 24 fret neck with all frets installed on the neck is a baritone neck - 27.78" or 27-3/4" which are made to fit 25.5" scale bodies.

they make baritone replacement strat necks using the same 25.5" scale bodies for strat guys that want 24 frets.

if the original neck was a 25.5" scale and had the extra frets hanging over the body with nothing more than an extended fretboard, then it will still measure 25.5" regardless of the fret count.

for a 22 fret guitar - if it is a 25.5" scale body and neck then it will still measure 25.5" regardless of the fret count.

and 21 and 22 fret necks are also switchable as long as the scale is the same.

thats all the neck combinations i can think of - i see no reason why you couldnt do it. ESP makes 25.5" scale bodies, and that neck is 25.5" scale - the fret count has nothing to do with it - best thing to do is just measure it up and see. but i dont see how or why it wouldnt

 

[grooveHT]

actually, if the body is cut for 25.5" scale then it should intonate and work fine.

i dont see any reason at all why it wouldnt.

a 24 fret neck with all frets installed on the neck is a baritone neck - 27.78" or 27-3/4" which are made to fit 25.5" scale bodies.

they make baritone replacement strat necks using the same 25.5" scale bodies for strat guys that want 24 frets.

if the original neck was a 25.5" scale and had the extra frets hanging over the body with nothing more than an extended fretboard, then it will still measure 25.5" regardless of the fret count.

for a 22 fret guitar - if it is a 25.5" scale body and neck then it will still measure 25.5" regardless of the fret count.

and 21 and 22 fret necks are also switchable as long as the scale is the same.

thats all the neck combinations i can think of - i see no reason why you couldnt do it. ESP makes 25.5" scale bodies, and that neck is 25.5" scale - the fret count has nothing to do with it - best thing to do is just measure it up and see. but i dont see how or why it wouldnt

I think the root of it is that if the 24 frets run the length of the neck, i.e. the butt of the neck is the wood immediately after the last fret, then the body would have the neck pocket cut a different spacing from the bridge to maintain the scale as compared to a 22 fret neck of the same type of build. For example, EBMM Silhouettes don't have an overhang at the butt of the neck, the neck is simply the whole 24 fret length. So, if you put a 22 or 21 fret neck on a body that was cut for a full 24 fret neck, you'll shorten the scale.

 

[RJF]

I think you need to just stick the neck onto the body and measure from the nut to the bridge. If you get 25.5", it should work, if you get an odd ball scale length then I guess it wouldn't work.

 

[rupe]

Guys, not to go against the grain, but it's not a definite no for sure. It really depends on the neck pocket location. Many 24 fret necks have the same dimensions and distance that a 22 fret neck has - the extra frets just hang over the end of the neck. Look at the 21 fret vs. 22 fret fender necks - easily swappable. Put the neck in the pocket and measure from the bridge to the nut - if it's 25.5, it should setup fine.

SeaDog

That's why I said it would most likely be off...I can't think of a production guitar (ESP in this case) that uses that method. Typically you see that in an aftermarket conversion neck (ala Warmoth) to convert a normal Fender type body into a 24 fretter. I've never seen any products meant to do the reverse.

 

[LP Freak]

I think you need to just stick the neck onto the body and measure from the nut to the bridge. If you get 25.5", it should work, if you get an odd ball scale length then I guess it wouldn't work.

Do this and end of story.