Scale Length, Bodies, and Necks

[jdblackwell]

I am wondering if a Cobra body and neck joint are identical to a a Drop T or Hollow T Classic body and neck joint? My question is about the difference in guitars that have different scale lengths. Is the extra length (3/4") all in the neck? Could a guy take a neck off of a Classic, put it on a Cobra body, adjust intonation and now have a Drop T with Mahogany/Maple Body and a Maple neck and it work properly.

This is not something I want to do. I would guess there is small hand fitting issues to consider. I am curious to understand the body geomenrty side of this question.

[tom]

the neck joints are the same, but the scale difference is taken off both ends. the nut is about 1/2" shorter and the bridge is moved about 1/4" closer to the neck. the 22nd fret is in the same place to help make them feel centered the same on your body. so they are not interchangeable.

[jdblackwell]

Thank you for the explination.

If you where making a list of guitars that required longer arm length to shorter arm length because of scale and body geometery, would this be the correct order?

1)T Classic, Drop T, Drop T Classic, Mongrel
2)Classic, Drop Top, Drop Top Classic, Pro Am
3)Atom
4)Cobra, Short T, Drop Short T
5)Cobra S
6)Bulldog
7)Crowdster

[tom]

i'd say that anything tele or atom shape would throw the neck further to the left. strat shape furthest to the right. longer scale would be 1/2 worse than short.
look at where the strap button attaches to the upper horn in relation to the frets. tele and atom end up about the same while the strat is further down the neck.

[jdblackwell]

So then Cobra S moves neck most amount to the right and T Classic moves neck most amount to the left?

[tom]

that's about right. any long scale t moves it to the left extreme.

[jdblackwell]

So the order is more like this?

1) T Classic,
2) Classic & Cobra & Atom & Short T Classic
3) Cobra S

Where does Bulldog & Crowdster fit in the list?

[tom]

this is the oddest criteria for a list i've ever considered:D

[jdblackwell]

I have an older friend who is a long time player he is staring to have a metacarpal problem. He is nothing that he get less of a "ting" in his hand/wrist with some guitars than with other so it got me thinking about how far out he has to move is left hand. This natural lead of the question of which guitars require less left arm reach.

[tom]

this morning i noticed that while playing the cobra special(with the new pq's which i am very smitten with) that for me the issue is more of how close is my left elbow to my body than how far does my left arm stick out. i had to do a lot of close voicing chordal stuff up hi and noticed that my hand was cramping more than on my atom. with it's longer body the atom does throw things more to the left, which for me is most comfortable.

[jdblackwell]

I am 6'1" tall. I notice that T Classic feel more confrontable to me that the Cobra (not that play the Cobra is a problem). Same Body. Same Neck. So I start to wonder why. Then I talk to my friend about the pain in his left wrist. I start to wonder if (among the many reasons) to chose T Classic or "S" Classic body shapes is about which fits your body size.

So maybe the list is like this?

1) T Classic,
2) Classic & Atom
3) Cobra & Short T Classic
3) Cobra S

I think I will measure this since I have examples of most.

[jdblackwell]

So will your new P-90 replace M as you favorite?

[tom]

i suspect we're not all after the same feel so there would not be a best size for all. some love the left elbow close to the body, i don't.
pq's my new favorite? today for sure. tomorrow, who knows. can't wait to build the next guitar my me with pq's.

[jdblackwell]

I am sure you are right about feel prefrences.

Any info or pictures on pq?

[tom]

looks just the same other than the moved mounting screws i already mentioned.
still doing listening tests on the hotter version. but i'm good with the "normal" version. we'll be making more of them this week.