Strat vs Tele - Why does a Strat have a shorter neck?

[rabbuhl]

I noticed my Strat has a shorter neck than my Tele. FYI, the scale length on both guitars is 25 1/2" but from the nut to 22nd fret the Tele's neck is longer. Why is that?

 

[M40A1]

I assume your Strat has 21 frets correct? If so, the Tele has an additional fret, as you stated in your OP. In other words, if you were to line the nuts of the two guitars together and look down the neck at how the frets align you'll have your answer.

 

[rabbuhl]

Both guitars have 22 frets. The strat is an Am Dlx and the tele is an Am Std.

 

[M40A1]

Did you measure from the nut (front edge) to the top of the 22nd fret on each? Should be the same if the guitars are scaled alike.

 

[DamianL]

I noticed my Strat has a shorter neck than my Tele. FYI, the scale length on both guitars is 25 1/2" but from the nut to 22nd fret the Tele's neck is longer. Why is that?

Because you have a hidden black hole in your apartment distorting the laws of physics?

D

 

[TheFlyingBear]

You measured the Tele more crookedly? What kind of difference are we talking here?

 

[rabbuhl]

You measured the Tele more crookedly? What kind of difference are we talking here?

False alarm guys. It was an optical illusion. The first time I measured them I held one guitar over the other. It seems the neck on the strat was shorter.

I did it again just now. The lengths on both necks are exactly the same length in every way. I measured using a device from the 22nd fret to nut and also to end of the neck. I did find the tele is a little bit shorter overall so they are not completely the same length

 

[stormin1155]

The heel of a strat is rounded and the tele is squared, that might create an illusion. The strat headstock is a bit larger...

 

[DV52]

All is good in the universe.

 

[Polynitro]

Because you have a hidden black hole in your apartment distorting the laws of physics?

D

but wouldnt both be off by the same amount? if the tele and the strat are circling a black hole and going say, 50% the speed of light they will both have increased mass equally.

 

[Boris Bubbanov]

I think the shape of the Strat with the upside horn protruding further in the general direction of the headstock also helps create a look of a shorter board.

People don't mean to incorporate that into what they see but they do anyway.

 

[Whiskeyrebel]

The Strat is traveling faster, causing its scale length to foreshorten from the Tele's perspective.

 

[cratz2]

Strats sound more awesomer so the black hole wants to keep the awesomerness to itself while allowing just a pinch more of the Teleness escape?

 

[burningyen]

but wouldnt both be off by the same amount? if the tele and the strat are circling a black hole and going say, 50% the speed of light they will both have increased mass equally.

Not necessarily, the Tele is likely closer to the black hole.

 

[Polynitro]

Not necessarily, the Tele is likely closer to the black hole.

relative to the position of the person measuring

either way if the OP is circling a black hole this thread was posted 50,000 years ago to us, a few days to him.
(this is assuming to circle a black hole and not get sucked in one must travel really fast)

 

[tjmicsak]

Because the Tele was invented first (earlier in time) it is ahead of the Strat as it moves towards the black hole center across the event horizon and therefore appears longer due to it being stretched and distorted to a greater degree within the space time continuum. You will note that when you reach for the first fret your arm will also appear longer on the Tele.
It's just how it all is.
This is why Leo added the whammy bar to the Strat so it would allow for user control of the string stretching tension without affecting string length.
Leo was so far ahead of his time!