shortscale

Shortscale is a term used in multiple domains to denote a shorter form of a larger concept. In common modern usage, it refers to two main areas: a numeral naming convention for large numbers and the physical scale length of a guitar or bass neck. The term may appear in other specialized contexts, but these are the two most widely recognized.

Short scale numeration names large numbers by grouping every thousand with a new single-word name. From 10^6 upward, the sequence is million, billion, trillion, and so on. In this system, 1,000,000,000 equals one billion and 1,000,000,000,000 equals one trillion. This contrasts with the long scale, in which a billion is 10^12 and a trillion is 10^18. The short scale is the standard in the United States and in most English-speaking countries today, while several other nations historically used the long scale. To reduce confusion some languages use terms such as milliard for 10^9 and reserve trillion for 10^18, though such terms are uncommon in English.

In music, short-scale refers to a neck scale length that is shorter than the typical modern long-scale length. For electric guitars, short-scale lengths commonly lie around 24.5 to 25.5 inches, with 24.75 inches being a well-known Gibson-style spec. For basses, short-scale models usually measure about 30 to 32 inches. Short-scale instruments generally require less string tension, producing a lighter feel and easier fretting, which can aid beginners and players with a lighter attack. Potential trade-offs include more pronounced intonation issues at the upper frets and a different tonal balance compared with longer-scale instruments. Manufacturers, retailers, and players commonly cite scale length in product descriptions and setup discussions.