Welcome to multiscale.info

What is multiscale.info?

A multi-scale fingerboard (also called multiple scale length fretboard) is an instrument fretboard which incorporates multiple scale lengths. Guitars, including bass guitars, generally employ a single scale length for all the instrument's strings. The tuning of each string is determined by the thickness of the string and the tension applied by the machine head (tuner).

With all strings the same length, the lower strings (E₁ on a typical 4-string bass guitar, and B₀ on a 5-string bass) must be tuned with less tension than the higher strings, causing them to sometimes become "floppy" or "muddy". At the same time, the highest strings (G₂ or C₃ are tuned with much higher tension and thinner strings. For an optimal bass sound, neither of these cases are really desirable.

A multiscale bass has different scale lengths for each string, with the lowest strings being longest, so that they can be tuned with more tension, providing a cleaner low-end sound, while the higher strings have a shorter scale length so that they can be tuned with less tension.

Click here to read a brief history of multiscale instruments.

Why multiscale.info?

This site will generate the measurements and a graphical representation of a multiscale bass, with a wide range of options, including the body shape and color, scale lengths, etc.

NEW: GJ Creations Instrument Cables

New: GJ Creations instrument patch cables - how to order, etc.

Multiscale fret position calculator

Multiscale Fret Calculator

Number of Strings	4 strings 5 strings 6 strings 7 strings 8 strings 9 strings 10 strings 12 strings
Number of Frets	12 frets 18 frets 20 frets 21 frets 22 frets 24 frets 30 frets 36 frets
Vertical Fret	5th fret 6th fret 7th fret 8th fret 9th fret 10th fret 11th fret 12th fret 16th fret 18th fret
Scale Lengths The Low string is the top string when looking at the instrument from the front. The High string is on the bottom.	Low (in inches) High (in inches)
String Spacing (Nut)	6.0 mm / 0.236" 6.5 mm / 0.256" 7.0 mm / 0.276" 7.5 mm / 0.295" 8.0 mm / 0.315" 8.5 mm / 0.335" 9.0 mm / 0.354" 9.5 mm / 0.374" 10.0 mm / 0.394" 10.5 mm / 0.413"
String Spacing (Bridge)	8.0 mm / 0.315" 8.5 mm / 0.335" 9.0 mm / 0.354" 9.5 mm / 0.374" 10.0 mm / 0.394" 10.5 mm / 0.413" 11.0 mm / 0.433" 11.5 mm / 0.453" 12.0 mm / 0.472" 12.5 mm / 0.492" 13.0 mm / 0.512" 13.5 mm / 0.531" 14.0 mm / 0.551" 14.5 mm / 0.571" 15.0 mm / 0.591" 15.5 mm / 0.610" 16.0 mm / 0.630" 16.5 mm / 0.650" 17.0 mm / 0.669" 17.5 mm / 0.689" 18.0 mm / 0.709" 18.5 mm / 0.728" 19.0 mm / 0.748" 19.5 mm / 0.768"
Regional Settings	USA (decimal .) (inches) Germany (decimal ,) (metric) Rest of World (decimal .) (metric)
Click to continue

Note: The scale length of a guitar is always twice the length from the neck edge of the nut (or zero fret) to the 12th fret. Measuring the distance from the nut to the saddle(s) is not exact because the saddles are adjusted to set the intonation.

Tip: If you have measured the string spacing in 1/20th of an inch instead of millimeters, use this link to reload this page with 0.05" increment options.

Tip: If you first use the Proportional Nut Calculator below, you can then generate the fretboard (or instrument visualization) with an accurate string spacing and angle.

Multiscale Bass Guitar Visualization

Body Style	Fender Gibson "Plur Skala"
Pickups	Single + Single Humbucker Humbucker + Single Humbucker + Humbucker Bridge Humbucker Single + Humbucker Split Coil (Precision) Split + Split
Pickup Color	Black White Body Color
Body Color	White Smoke Candy Apple Red Maroon International Orange Amber Dark Sea Green Cornflower Blue Persian Indigo Wisteria Burleywood White Sunburst Tobacco Sunburst Cherry Sunburst
Headstock Color	Maple Black Body Color
Machine Heads	Bass BM Bass DaVinci (Schaller)
Fretboard Color	Rosewood Maple
Click to continue

Proportional Nut Calculator

Latest Updates

23-Dec-2024

• Increased the string size option for nut calculations up to 0.175.
• Removed the 45° minimum for nut calculations.
• Added the "?inches" option to offer the string spacing in rounded fractions of an inch (instead of mm).

28-Feb-2024

• PDF option to include the bridge placement added.
• Extended the strings to the right edge of the drawing, not starting at the first fret of each row.

24-Feb-2024

• Added new SVG output options for a single SVG of the entire fretboard, with the option to include the bridge as well. The strings are now optional on the SVG as well (like the PDF option).

25-Aug-2023

• Added new section to describe the patch cable manufacture.

13-Jan-2022

• Most PHP 8-related issued now resolved.

12-Jan-2022

• Minor corrections caused by backend update to PHP 8. Basic functionality restored, some cosmetic issues remain to be fixed in the coming days.

14-May-2020

• Corrected an error in the visualization of the string locations (again, string thickness bug).

07-May-2020

• Corrected an error in the visualization of the fretboard edges (the string thickness was not being accounted for).
• Added the vertical lines (green) on the octave frets to help position these more accurately when planning your fretboard.