A potentially dumb question about 12 fret vs 14 fret guitar

[Rosewood99]

Is the length of the first fret of a similar scale 12 fret guitar the same as a 14 fret? Or does the 12 fret start at the second fret of a 14 fret guitar? In other words, is a 12 fret guitar basically a cut off 14 fret guitar?

[mercy]

If both are the same scale then the space between the nut and the 1st fret is the same. Usually a 12 fret will be long scale and 14 will sometimes be short scale. Then the two will not be the same.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

12 vs. 14 fret and guitar scale length (distance from nut to saddle) are totally independent.

A guitar can be made a "12 fret" by enlarging the upper bout to fill up two frets worth of extra sound chamber, or by moving the position of the bridge further "south" on the body, or by doing some combination of these two things.

[robj144]

The length of the first fret is 2^(1/12) the length of the usable fretboard (read scale length), period. Doesn't matter how many frets to the body or how many frets are on the guitar in total.

[Rosewood99]

So on similar scale guitars they would be the same length between frets from 1-12, correct?

[Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

So on similar scale guitars they would be the same length between frets from 1-12, correct?

Yes, the 12th fret is the mid point of any scale. Given two guitars with equal scale lengths, one, a 12 fret, the other a 14 fret, their 12th frets will be equidistant from the nut. If properly fretted, each fret between the nut and the 12th fret, would then correspond to the same fret on the other guitar in terms distance from the nut and of distances between frets.

[Silly Moustache]

Some very confusing responses above - allow me to clarify (I'm a12 fret player).

The scale length is what dictates the distance between frets, nuts to 12th etc, not where the neck meets the body.

Standard scale is 25.4" (Martins) or 25.5" (My Collings). Both make both 12 and 14 fret guitars. The fretting is identical, although the width of the neck usually differs.

short scales vary from 24.5" to 24.9" but whether the guitar is 12or 14 fret - the fret distances are the same.

Remember 12 frets were first, and when 14 fretter rhythm styles came in they kept the scales the same just thinned down the necks.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

So on similar scale guitars they would be the same length between frets from 1-12, correct?

Yes. A simpler way to say what I've just written.

[robj144]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Some very confusing responses above - allow me to clarify (I'm a12 fret player).

The scale length is what dictates the distance between frets, nuts to 12th etc, not where the neck meets the body.

Standard scale is 25.4" (Martins) or 25.5" (My Collings). Both make both 12 and 14 fret guitars. The fretting is identical, although the width of the neck usually differs.

short scales vary from 24.5" to 24.9" but whether the guitar is 12or 14 fret - the fret distances are the same.

Remember 12 frets were first, and when 14 fretter rhythm styles came in they kept the scales the same just thinned down the necks.

That's what we said.

[Mr. Jelly]

It's not a dump question.