Best 25.5" Scale Electric Guitars in 2024
Since the distance between bridge and nut is relatively long, you'll need to give the strings more tension to get them in tune. This higher tension will allow for a couple of things. First, you can get a lower action (get the strings closer to the fretboard) because the strings won't 'wiggle' too much when pluck and won't cause fret buzz. This can allow you to use lower tunings without increasing your string gauge, and it will make it easier to press down the strings fast.
However, the frets will also have a wider separation between each other, which can make it harder to play, especially if you got small hands. The higher tension will also make the strings feel stiffer, so bending will require more strength.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
1. Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (4 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (1 vote)
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 FR S
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Sustainer Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in South Korea
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
2. ESP E-II Horizon-III FR
What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Very Easy (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Won't get out of tune (1 vote)
- Weight: Heavy (2 votes)
- Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (1 vote)
ESP E-II Horizon-III FR
- Locking Tuners
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Coil Split Pickups
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
All Prices
3. Ibanez LM1
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (8 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (9 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Clean (1 vote)
Ibanez LM1
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
4. Jackson American Series Soloist SL3
What our users think
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: D (5 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (7 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (4 votes)
Jackson American Series Soloist SL3
- Locking Tuners
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
All Prices
5. Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (10 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (14 votes)
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Made in Japan
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Tap Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
6. ESP LTD MH-1000
What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Easy (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (5 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (9 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (19 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (16 votes)
ESP LTD MH-1000
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
ESP Horizon-III
- Locking Tuners
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
8. Schecter Reaper-6 FR S Elite
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (15 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (12 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Hot (2 votes)
Schecter Reaper-6 FR S Elite
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Sustainer Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in South Korea
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
9. ESP E-II Horizon FR-II
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (3 votes)
ESP E-II Horizon FR-II
- Locking Tuners
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Coil Split Pickups
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
All Prices
10. Schecter C-1 FR S SLS Evil Twin
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (15 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (12 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (19 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (16 votes)
Schecter C-1 FR S SLS Evil Twin
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Multi-Voicing, Sustainer Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in South Korea
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock