Do You Need 24 Frets? – Are They Better Than 22 Fret Guitars

Do You Need 24 Frets? Are They Better Than 22 Fret Guitars? Having the right number of frets on your guitar neck can make all the difference in your playing. It’s an important choice for any musician to make when purchasing a new instrument, so whether you need 24 frets on your guitar neck or if 22 will suffice is worth exploring.

This article will look at both sides of this debate, examining what each option offers and helping you decide which is best for you and your playing style. Many think they need 24 frets on their guitar to be better than a 22-fret guitar. This is sometimes different. Some guitars can play with 22 frets just as well. It all comes down to how you use your fretboard and what type of music you play. Many great guitars can play with 24 frets, so it’s up to you what type of guitar you want. In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to make the right decision!

Guitar Fret Generalizations

Guitar frets are generally associated with a certain tone or sound. Acoustic guitars typically have 18 to 20 frets, while electric guitars commonly have 21, 22, or 24 frets. Fender guitars mostly have 21 or 22 frets, while Gibsons may have 23 or 25 frets. There are many different types of fretboards available it is important to research which fretboard would be best for your style of music. This difference in fretting size is what produces different sounds when playing.

There are a variety of different types of guitars and their fretboard layouts. Other types of guitars and the fretboard are one of the most critical areas where they differ. For example, a classical or jazz guitar may have 22 frets, while a metal or rock guitar may have 29 or 31 frets. It can significantly affect how well a guitarist can play each style. For the most part, Fender guitars have a 12″ neck and 6″ fingerboard with 25 frets. Electric guitars have a five-string neck and 24 frets, making them more versatile.

There are different ways to play the guitar, so there is no specific way to fret every song. However, there are some generalizations about working patterns that can be useful. Check out its early prototype of the Jeannie-Bianca Sky Guitar. It has 37 frets!

Fret Number Comparison: 22 Vs. 24 Frets

Here are some comparisons of guitar necks’ advantages and disadvantages with 22 and 24 frets.
Comparison of 22 Frets 24 Frets

Comparison	22 Frets	24 Frets
Tone	May be warmer	Maybe its brighter
Neck Pickup Placement	Farther from the bridge	Closer to the bridge
String Tension	Variable	Variable
Scale Length	Variable	Variable
Upper Fret Access	More difficult	Easier
Playing Style	All-purpose	Excellent for Metal
Cost	Variable	Variable

Tone and Pickup Placement

There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to pickup placement on a guitar. Tone, neck angle, and fretboard width affect how well the pickups sound. However, one of the most important factors is the guitar fret. Frets provide the platform for the pickups to sit in place and generate sound. Get the best results from your pickups. It’s important to find the proper position for them on the fretboard. That’s the number of frets, and the neck’s scale length can affect the neck pickup’s placement.

Paul Reed Smith McCarty was a famous electric guitar player and builder who used a 22-fret pickup placement. This setup allowed the guitarist to create unique and powerful sounds now often considered classic. The order of the pickups also affected the instrument’s sound in various ways, which is why it is so important to find the right one for your playing style.

String Tension and String Length

Guitar tone effects can be created by adding or removing tension from strings—the amount of pressure in a series by the size of the cord it employs. The tighter the line, the more it has. Tension This higher tension makes the string produce a higher-pitched sound. Knowing how to make the correct adjustments to get the perfect tone for your guitar.

The tone is created by string tension and the distance between the strings. To achieve a specific tone, you need to create a balance between string tension and string length. You’ll need to use longer strings to produce a more “bumpy” or “slippery” sound. The tension of a string is affected by its length. A shorter string has a minor tension, which can be pulled more quickly, affecting how well the string can be played and how firmly it holds its tune.

The high E-string on a Fender Stratocaster headstock will have a higher string tension than the high E-string on a Gibson Les Paul. The high E-string on the Strat has a longer string length than on the Les Paul guitar.
E-string guitars are popular because they offer a wide range of sound options. High E-strings on guitars are common, as they offer a great sound and look. Strats typically have two high E-strings, one on the neck and one in the headstock. The high-neck E-string is typically played alone, while the high headstock E-string can be used with other strings to create a hybrid guitar sound.

Scale Length

A guitar scale length is the distance between the strings on the neck of the instrument and the nut. The longer the scale, the more dissonant it will be. The scale length refers to how far from the fretboard the necks of different guitars are. A smaller scale length means less space between the strings and the neck, making it more difficult to play chords accurately.

Scale length does not necessarily change by changing the number of frets on the neck. For example, a vintage Stratocaster has 21 frets, and an Eric Clapton Signature Strat has 22 frets, but both guitars have a scale length of 25.5 inches.

Scale Length is Highly Variable

Scale length is highly variable and can affect the ease of playability of a guitar. This is especially true for guitars with small necks. A shortened scale can be more challenging to control, making it harder to produce the desired sound and giving the guitar an off-balance feel.

For example, I find a Gibson Les Paul and SG easier to bend strings on than a Gibson Explorer because of the headstock configuration (string length), even though they all have a 24.75-inch scale length.

Here you can see a wide variety of scale lengths from the table below.

Guitar	Scale Length (Inches)
Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, & Jazzmaster	25.5
Paul Reed Smith McCarty & Custom 24	25.0
Gibson Les Paul, SG, Flying V, Explorer, and ES-335	24.75
Fender Jaguar and Duo-Sonic	24.0
Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Mustang	24.0
Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CTSS30HS	24.0
Rogue Rocketeer RR50	23.25
Squier Mini Stratocaster and Jazzmaster	22.75
Jackson JS Series RR Minion JS1X	22.5
Oscar Schmidt OS-30	22.5
Starshine ¾-Size Explorer-Style	22.5
Ibanez miKro GRGM21	22.2

Upper Fret Access

Upper fret access is essential for their playing style, and it can be frustrating when this accessibility isn’t there. Guitars with a neck-through-body design are most sought after due to their superior playability and tonal capabilities. One of this design’s primary benefits is easy to access to the upper frets, allowing guitarists to reach notes they could not.

Upper fret access on guitars can be a challenge for guitar players, especially when it comes to instruments with a neck-through-body design that is thinner in profile. This type of guitar also allows for improved upper fret access due to the thinner neck profile. The reduced depth of the neck allows for easier reach up to the highest frets.

Banez Prestige guitars are known for their excellent upper fret access with 24 frets and neck-through-body carve-out (the best of both worlds)! Guitars like the Gibson SG have been designed so that it’s easier for players to reach those higher frets. This design also allows for the more natural fingering technique, which can help reduce discomfort or fatigue while playing longer passages of music.

The Ibanez Prestige guitar gives excellent upper fret access with 24 frets and neck-through-body carve-out. Guitars like the Gibson SG have horns designed so that it’s easier for players to reach those higher frets. This design also allows for the more natural fingering technique, which can help reduce discomfort or fatigue while playing longer passages of music.

The “Rule of Fifteen”

The “Rule of Fifteen” is a fundamental principle for any guitarist. It states that when playing the guitar, one should be able to access fifteen frets with ease. He has credited the concept of ‘The Rule Of Fifteen’: a simple but effective trick to get a great sound out of your guitar. This area is what Angus Young has referred to as the “dusty end of the neck.”. If you’re a lead guitar player, a 24-fret neck will give you a three-octave range on each string with better access to the upper frets and a brighter neck pickup!

Playing Style

Playing Style is an essential aspect of a guitarist’s approach to their instrument.
A 22-fret guitar offers the player more access to higher notes and greater scale length for bends, providing an improved range of suitable options. They can easily cover all musical styles, including Pop, Country, Folk, R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Rock.

For those who like to dig in and express themselves through their playing, choosing a 22fret guitar can be especially rewarding.

24-fret guitars offer players a unique playing style with more range of notes and the ability to access higher notes than conventional six-string guitars. With the extended fretboard, 24-fret guitars allow for greater expression with alternate tunings and new techniques.

COST

When selecting a guitar, the fret number comparison between 22 vs. 24 frets is an important consideration. It’s important to consider that fret number alone doesn’t make one guitar better than the other. Instead, there are several factors at play when it comes to the overall cost of a guitar. For starters, if you want more range and versatility on your instrument, you may opt for a 24-fret model. This type of guitar gives players access to two extra notes per string, making it easier to reach higher notes and achieve different sounds & tones with ease.

Some models come with additional features, such as cutaways and tremolo bars, which can increase their value even further. There are several other factors to consider when choosing which best suits your playing style and experience level. Tonewoods, hardware, electronics, country of manufacture, and collectability can all affect the sound quality and playability of a guitar and its resale value in the future.

Guitars With 22 Frets

Vintage Fender electric guitars have 21 frets, making them an iconic symbol of the golden age of guitar playing. The modern Fenders can have 22 frets and various features, making them the perfect choice for guitarists of all levels.
Here are some guitars that have 22 frets.

• • Fender Aerodyne Stratocaster
• • Fender Aerodyne Telecaster
• • Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster
• • Fender Jeff Beck Signature Series
• • Fender Eric Clapton Signature Series
• • Gibson Les Paul
• • Gibson SG
• • Gibson ES-335
• • Gibson ES-185
• • Paul Reed Smith McCarty
• • Epiphone Explorer
• • Ibanez JS-100

Most of the Gibson and Epiphone electrics have 22 frets.

Final Thoughts on Do You Need 24 Frets?

The answer to the question Do You Need 24 Frets? Guitars are better than 22-fret guitars because it depends on your type of musician. If you plan to play heavy metal and rock music, a 24-fret guitar may be for you. But if you’re looking for a guitar with a more traditional sound, a 22-fret model will suit your needs better. Upper fret access is important when looking for a guitar. The number of frets on the neck can improve the range, but twenty-four-fret necks give a three-octave range on each string.

Ultimately, cost and resale value are other factors that could influence your final decision. Before buying, it’s best to research and try out different models to ensure you select the best guitar for your needs. When it comes to guitar playing, the fret number comparison between 22 and 24 frets can make a big difference in the sound of your guitar. Warmoth Guitar Products recently released a video demonstrating how their neck humbucker pickup sounds differently when placed farther from the bridge on a 22 or 24-fret instrument.

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