How to measure scale length?

B25Gib

Is a "zero fret" style guitar scale length measured from the middle of the zero fret to the string contact point of the bridge( middle) and MIDWAY between the "D" and "G" strings? Seems like this is logical, but I don't recall every seeing an explanation of the standard method of measuring!
After reading and watching Michael's YouTube videos of guitars where he mentions that Favino style guitars generally have a longer 275 mm scale length, I happened o measure my '04 Dell 'Arte Hommage by the above method and found it to be about 271.5 mm.
But my Bob Holo Busato derivative is 280 mm which is what is normal for the Busato style.
Rockne

Bob Holo

Scale length is a bit weirder to calculate than one would first think though not difficult. The length of the string actually has a few other things built into it so it's not really an accurate way to measure the scale. The fretboard is generally a more accurate way to do it. There are a few exceptions relating to different schools of thought regarding compensation but they're not commonly implemented.... moving the position of the first fret or the first few frets or all frets or splitting frets / slanting frets etc. Scale & compensation are fairly simple concepts but they can be made incredibly complicated and there are guys out there making a living doing just that ;-) I've built a few fully compensated (nut/bridge/frets) guitars for self & family and really didn't note any substantial improvement in the intonation under real world conditions and moreover, when you compensate the fretboard there is usually a corresponding required compensation at the bridge... which would make it more difficult for a player to change bridges if he wants a bigtone etc... so I have always used standard fret spacing including the spacing of the zero fret which functions as the nut. It works great and is easy for the player to maintain.

So, given that - then the way you find the scale is measure center of zero fret to center of 12th fret and double it. I can't remember if yours is 670 or 675. We were talking about Josh's guitar which I made 670. I can't remember what you decided upon though I suppose it's written down somewhere.

Encase you're wondering - the things that really kill intonation on these guitars are improper bridge placement, action that is too high, and really really old strings that are so dead that it's hard to tune the guitar to where it plays in tune with itself.

B25Gib

Bob - Thanks for the simple scale length measurement method!
'04 Hommage is 270 mm
'08 Holo Busato Derivative is 275 mm
By the way, back in early May '08 when requesting you make me a guitar, I never specified a scale length. I said feel free to "tweak" the prototype (Josh's guitar) to what ever you thought appropriate to possibly evolve the design and at the same time create another guitar with a distinctive personality. Mission accomplished! It is a Keeper!
Thanks,
Rocky