This weekend I had the pleasure of playing a Gretsch Electromatic Jet Baritone at Bob's Guitars in Cedar Falls. I mostly played it out of curiosity, not thinking I would buy one, although it is a very cool instrument. Based on my experience with standard guitars and my 8-string I estimated that the scale I really want is probably around 30". At a fraction of an inch shy of 30" this Gretsch was my chance to put my hands on a commercially produced 30" instrument and see what it felt like.
In short, I was right. I could easily play well into the second octave on all six strings. Inexplicably, Gretsch shipped it to Bob's strung with bass strings (like a Fender VI) so the string tension was less than if it were set up to my liking but there was still some sustain. Fret spacing made chording at the low end considerably easier than on my 8-string. In short it supplied most of the benefits of a bass-scale neck without most of the challenges.
This confirms my intention to build my next instrument at or near 30".
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