Multi-scale fingerboard

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Multi-scale fingerboard" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

A multi-scale fingerboard (also called multiple scale length fretboard^[1]) is an instrument fretboard which incorporates multiple scale lengths. This allows each of the strings to have a different string tension and thus, balanced tonal characteristics.^[2]

The lowest string with the longest length can be strung at a higher tension compared to an equally scaled instrument of a comparable size and construction. The opposite is true with the highest string which experiences a lower tension. This system utilized in guitar fingerboards is identical to that of a piano soundboard and creates the same effect. The tighter lower strings can resonate with clearer lower overtones while the looser higher strings can freely create cleaner higher overtones.

Most modern Guitars (and bass guitars) generally employ a single scale length for all of the instrument's strings, though the employed scale length can vary significantly between manufacturers (electric guitar scale typically falls between 24" and 25.5"). This measure is the effective length of each of the vibrating strings, not counting compensation for adjusting intonation.

A multi-scale fingerboard or fretboard is typically based on two scale lengths, but could potentially incorporate more. The most typical use is one (long) scale length for the low string and a different, usually shorter, scale for the highest string. This could be achieved by angling the nut, and bridge, and fanning the frets. Strings between the highest and lowest would also each have a unique scale length.