Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Long Scale Shootout Video! Battle of the Scale Lengths: 24.75" vs 25.5"
The new Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Long Scale has us wondering if it's that much different? Let's find out in our Music Zoo shootout demo video between 24-3/4" and 25.5" scale lengths!
An excellent choice for down-tuning or for those who want more string tension: the Les Paul Custom Long Scale!
The perfect Les Paul Custom for down-tuning - this is the new Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom Long-Scale in a Gloss Ebony finish with a 25.5" scale length. Extended from the usual 24-3/4" scale length that Gibson is known for, this is a great pick for holding string tension at lower tunings. All of the specs we love a Les Paul Custom are there; the comfortable 9-hole weight relief in the body, modern-sounding Gibson humbuckers and a block-inlaid ebony fretboard with the signature split diamond headstock inlay.
Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom Long Scale Specs
- Solidbody Electric Guitar
- Ebony Finish
- Maple Top
- Solid Mahogany Body with 9-Hole Weight Relief
- Mahogany Neck with Modern “C” Profile
- Ebony Fretboard
- 25.5" Scale Length
- 12" Radius
- Corian Nut
- 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
- Gibson 490R and 498T Humbuckers
- 2 500K CTS Volume Pots, 2 500K CTS Tone Pots, Hand-Wired Harness, Switchcraft Toggle Switch
- Tune-o-Matic Bridge and Stopbar Tailpiece
- Grover Rotomatic Tuners
- Gold Hardware
Shop Gibson Custom Shop Now:
Contact Us For Gibson Custom Shop Gear!
Contact us at (516) 626-9292 or sales@themusiczoo.com
Watch it & read it
Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Long Scale Shootout Video · 8:13 · 13 chapters
Chapter 1 · 0:00
Les Paul Custom Long Scale vs. Standard Scale: Specs and Overview
Jordan and Rose introduce two Les Paul Customs with the same core specifications but different scale lengths, then explain how scale length can affect feel, tension, and tone.
From the video
Hey everyone, it's your pals Jordan and Rose here at the Music Zoo. Today we have two seemingly identical Les Paul Customs. There's one difference between the two. This one is 25 1/2 in for the scale length and that one 24 and 3/4.
Same specs between the two weight relief bodies, maple tops, the 490R, 498TS I believe, right?
Yep. Classic meat and potatoes le custom.
Yeah, the standard production le Paul custom but with two different scale lengths. Rose, you play a lot of Les Pauls, right? Yeah.
Um, there's just a really nice big fat low end that you get from a less Paul that uh I feel like you just can't get anywhere else. It's really punchy and just hits you really nicely.
The scale, which is what we're talking about today, classic Gibson scale, 24 and 3/4. I feel like when you're playing some nice chunky chords or when you hit one that rings out, there's a really nice sag to the sound um that maybe is a little more present [laughter] than on something that's a 25 and 1/2 in scale, which is a little tighter.
Right. Right. Right. Yeah. I think that's why we're talking cuz I'm the opposite. I'm high strung. I want tension.
Yeah. Yeah, which is what I like out of my guitars cuz I usually gravitate towards a 25 and 1/2 in scale length, which is why I got super stoked that Gibson re-released a long skele custom.
Uh, I think the fun part is you can kind of see, someone asked before on Instagram if they move the bridge back to accommodate it, and the answer is, yeah, duh. You could see on this one, it's a little bit more flush. We'll get some B-roll right here. You can see where the bridge lines up to that knob right there.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [clears throat] All right.
So the mission here today is a riff shootout between these two less paws. I think the goal here is to see if you can hear the difference between the two scale lengths, right? So we have them both tuned to drop C. Same I think they're 11 to 49s for the string gauge.
Of course, if you like drop B or something, you want to go heavier, but I think this is a nice middle ground to start with. You ready to play some riffs? Let's do it.
All right, let's try it out.
Chapter 2 · 2:12
Riff One: 24-3/4-Inch Scale Length
The first riff in the Les Paul Custom scale-length shootout is played on the traditional 24 3/4-inch scale guitar.
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Chapter 3 · 2:33
Riff One: 25.5-Inch Scale Length
The same riff is played on the 25.5-inch scale Les Paul Custom for a direct comparison.
From the video
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Chapter 4 · 2:52
Riff Two: 24-3/4-Inch Scale Length
The second riff continues the direct comparison between the classic Gibson scale length and the longer 25.5-inch scale.
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Chapter 5 · 3:38
Riff Two: 25.5-Inch Scale Length
The longer 25.5-inch scale guitar gets the same riff for a direct comparison.
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Chapter 6 · 3:57
Riff Three: 24-3/4-Inch Scale Length
A third riff gives another comparison of the traditional Les Paul Custom scale length in Drop C.
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Chapter 7 · 4:29
Riff Three: 25.5-Inch Scale Length
The same third riff is played on the longer 25.5-inch scale Les Paul Custom.
From the video
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Chapter 8 · 4:50
Riff Four (Neck Pickup): 24-3/4-Inch Scale Length
The neck pickup enters the comparison as Jordan and Rose continue testing the two Les Paul Custom scale lengths.
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Chapter 9 · 5:07
Riff Four (Neck Pickup): 25.5-Inch Scale Length
The same neck-pickup riff is performed on the longer-scale Les Paul Custom.
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Chapter 10 · 5:34
Riff Five: 24-3/4-Inch Scale Length
The final riff comparison begins with the traditional-scale Les Paul Custom.
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Chapter 11 · 5:50
Riff Five: 25.5-Inch Scale Length
The final riff on the longer-scale Les Paul Custom completes the playing comparison.
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Chapter 12 · 6:11
Opinions on the Sound and Feel of the 25.5-Inch Long Scale Les Paul
After the riff playthroughs, Jordan and Rose discuss how the difference in scale length affects the physical playing experience, including string tension, hand position, and the feel of the bridge and tailpiece.
From the video
We've done our rift playthroughs. I think we're more educated now. Rose, what are your findings? Um, for sure I feel the change in scale physically
where your hand rests on the strings, where you typically feel the bridge and the tailpiece placement. [clears throat] So, you feel that difference for sure.
Um, you also feel the the tautness of the strings a little bit more. Yeah.
So, there's definitely a physicality to it for sure.
I don't think it's a matter of better than or not, right? I think it's all taste. I think it's funny and I
think my my hypothesis as a tone scientist was true that you being more at home on a usual scale length plus Paul you like that one more. I think you
gravitated towards that and as soon as I picked up the long scale like just visually like oh yeah the first thread is there I know where it is. It's just
like it's so funny how that little bit of scale length difference is such a big deal you know.
Yes. not something that um you realize until you're really paying attention.
Hard to describe. Yeah. You're just like, "Oh, yeah. That's where home is for me." Which is nice and sentimental, which is fun. Yeah. And I mean, I think
it opens up people's playing to different styles or something like that.
So, again, like we said in the beginning, it's not like if you have the [snorts] standard scale list Paul that it's trash now. It's just something new
to try. And then, I mean, they have the baritone victories now, which are really cool. Hopefully all that stuff opens itself up to made to measures, fingers
crossed, where we could really do some damage with long scale less Paul customs and long scale. I'm not going to give away any secrets or ideas yet, but I'm
sure we have a bunch swimming in our heads, right? Oh, they're cooking.
Chapter 13 · 7:53
Long Scale Les Paul Custom: Final Thoughts and Where to Buy
The video concludes with the takeaway that the 25.5-inch long-scale Les Paul Custom offers a different playing experience rather than being simply better than the traditional 24 3/4-inch model.
From the video
All right. Well, there we have it.
That's our findings on the long scaleless paw custom. Hopefully, it sticks around for a while. And if not, you better act fast on it. If you're interested, Rose, where can people go to get a long scale less paw custom?
Visit us at the musicoo.com. Hell yeah. See you soon.
