Kavanagh Customs

Project Guitar Help Centre: Essential Guitar Measurements

More for reference purposes to help you troubleshoot intonation problems than anything else, the below measurements mainly apply to Fender and other 25½" scale-length electric guitars.

For more information on neck pocket dimensions, please see the 'Neck Pockets' article.

Please bear in mind that all measurements can vary, usually only within the thousandths of an inch, but because guitars are made from wood, they will shrink and grow. This is dependant not only on the humidity and heat of the weather, but also on the use of different paints, sanding techniques and finishes.

The critical dimensions are:

SCALE LENGTH: (measured from the nut to the 12th fret x 2): 25 1/2"
FROM NUT → 12TH FRET: 12 3/4"
FROM NUT → HEEL: (not extended fingerboard) approx. 18 7/16"
FROM HEEL → MIDPOINT OF BRIDGE: 7 3/8"

Please remember that it is very difficult to measure to 1/16th (or even 1/8th) accuracy by hand without the correct tools and once again, guitars are made of wood which will naturally contract and expand. If you do your measurements and find that you come up too long or too narrow somewhere along the way, use fine sandpaper to enlargen the offending area. If you find your neck pocket too deep, use a small shim beneath the neck - most guitar manufacturers do!