Fender vs. Gibson: How Scale Length & String Gauge Affect Playability

Music & Arts’ resident guitar guru, Alan Day, shares a pro tip that will help beginning electric guitarists choose the perfect set of strings based on scale length.

There’s plenty of guitar advice going around these days — from print and online magazines to endless Reddit threads and an army of six-string influencers. But not all guitar guidance is created equal.

Alan Day speaks from experience. He’s worked for Music & Arts for over four decades, and directs our stores’ selection of guitars, amps and accessories as a Senior Category Manager. He has also spent his life immersed in the instrument as a working musician, a professional teacher and a collector. When he offers buying recommendations or maintenance tips, it’s because he’s owned and gigged with a piece of gear — not because he saw a YouTube clip.

In the conversation below, Alan breaks down a string-gauge hack that helps beginners get the most out of their electric guitar, depending on the instrument’s scale length.

Before we dig in, Alan is also quick to point out that string choice, like any element of a guitar setup, is all about personal preference. A player can only arrive at the gear that will define their personal sound by trying out a variety of options. It’s a lifelong journey, but it sure is fun.

What is scale length and what is string gauge?

Scale length on a guitar is the distance from the nut to the bridge saddle, measured in inches. String gauge is the diameter or thickness of the string, measured in thousandths of an inch.

How does the combination of scale length and string gauge affect the ease of play, or “playability,” of a guitar?

On a guitar with a longer scale length, lighter-gauge strings will feel more comfortable — generally speaking. “Comfort” is a relative term, which takes into account many factors; for example, with a longer scale length the spacing between the frets on the fingerboard can increase, benefitting players with bigger hands. 

But most players will notice that heavier strings bend and fret easier on a guitar with a shorter scale length. 

How do scale lengths differ between the major guitar brands? 

Fender and Squier guitars, including Stratocasters, Telecasters and Jazzmasters, have a scale length of 25.5 inches. Many Strat-like instruments — I’m thinking of guitars by Ibanez, Charvel and Jackson — also have that scale length.   

Gibson and Epiphone guitars, including the Les Paul, SG and ES-335, have a scale length of 24.75 inches. Gibson-style guitars by Guild and other brands also have this scale length. 

PRS guitars hit the middle ground between Fender and Gibson with a scale length of 25 inches. 

What string gauge do you recommend for Fender guitars? 

For Fenders and Fender-style guitars, a .090-.042 set — or “9s” — will give you more elasticity, especially with pitch bends. You want to be able to do those pitch bends easily and have the guitar stay in tune, and 9s will help.

What string gauge do you recommend for Gibson guitars?

Guitars with the Gibson scale length feel really good with .010-.046-gauge strings, or what you’d refer to as “10s.” These keep a healthy amount of tension on the neck while also offering excellent feel and ease of play. Remember that how a guitar feels — with a good setup — is more important than how it looks.

As for PRS guitars, they come with 10s, which have become a kind of industry standard. 

When did you start using different gauges for different instruments? 

In the ’70s I mainly played Gibson guitars. I was using Firebirds, Les Pauls, Les Paul Specials. So I always used 10s, a standard gauge. 

I tried a lighter gauge when I got my first real Fender, after seeing King Crimson’s “Discipline” tour. Adrian Belew made me want to go out and buy a Strat. And when I did that, that’s when I started experimenting.