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If you had to pick one, what's your preference for DOOM...and why?

It's really a preference of string gauge and tension between the scales at least in my eyes.
I've got a 24" Jaguar, a 24.75" Obstructures, and a 25.5" Jazzmaster. All of them are strung with .12's except the Jazzy, but only because I keep that in drop D.
The 24" Jag is in G# which is borderline floppy with .12's, but somehow works. I should mention it's fixed bridge.
The 24.75" Obstructres is in B and the tension is perfect with .12's, not much of a struggle at all.

So do you like your strings like spaghetti or tight like a suspension bridge??

25.5" and due to the extended range of intonation over 24.75".

I learned to play guitar on a les paul anything longer than 24.75 really bothers me

I have a 24.75, 25.1, two 25.5s, and a 30" (Bass VI).

I used to think I loved the Gibson scale length above all others but Fender's 25.5 has really grown on me over the last few years. Like others mentioned, it's more a matter of your preferred string gauge, tuning, and tension and whether or not that jives on a particular scale length. I use DR Tite Fits 10-50s and 11-50s depending on the scale/guitar, don't need much variety in terms of string gauge for those setups, all feel the same to me in the end.

Holy Schnikes wrote:I have a 24.75, 25.1, two 25.5s, and a 30" (Bass VI).

I used to think I loved the Gibson scale length above all others but Fender's 25.5 has really grown on me over the last few years. Like others mentioned, it's more a matter of your preferred string gauge, tuning, and tension and whether or not that jives on a particular scale length. I use DR Tite Fits 10-50s and 11-50s depending on the scale/guitar, don't need much variety in terms of string gauge for those setups, all feel the same to me in the end.

I have guitars in both scale lengths set up for our retardo-low AGCFAD, and with slight string gauge differences, they feel pretty similar in terms of action/neck relief/string tension. I wondered what like-minded dudes prefer, sometimes seems like les pauls and the like still dominate so much of this "style" music (but obviously there's a lot more to that than just scale length.)

Ancient Astronaught wrote:25.5" and due to the extended range of intonation over 24.75".

I'm starting to wonder if I'm leaning towards this.

24.75. It sounds bigger with the right woods. The longer scale lengths have way better clarity and tightness, sure, but you miss out on that Iommi flob- which is more important (to me) than any fuzz box.
I'm also weird with strings- I buy .15-.73s from Circle K. I'm secretly a bass player.

hashshashin wrote:I'm secretly a bass player.

I am too, but not so secret. Nothing to be ashamed about

I have two Fenders. Both of which are 24.75" which is pretty unusual for Fender. Goddamn Cyclone. Goddamn Toronado.

That being said, I don't know that I have a preference, per se.

hashshashin wrote:24.75. It sounds bigger with the right woods. The longer scale lengths have way better clarity and tightness, sure, but you miss out on that Iommi flob- which is more important (to me) than any fuzz box.
I'm also weird with strings- I buy .15-.73s from Circle K. I'm secretly a bass player.

Keep in mind, a lot of that Iommi flob comes from using like 8 gauge string sets. Considering I use my 2 different scale length guitars for different things, I guess I prefer the 24.75" for ease of bending; however, my 25.5" LTD is set up to put out Les Paul tones, and I'll take it's scale length and playability over a Paul any day.

HeavyXIII wrote:

hashshashin wrote:24.75. It sounds bigger with the right woods. The longer scale lengths have way better clarity and tightness, sure, but you miss out on that Iommi flob- which is more important (to me) than any fuzz box.
I'm also weird with strings- I buy .15-.73s from Circle K. I'm secretly a bass player.

Keep in mind, a lot of that Iommi flob comes from using like 8 gauge string sets. Considering I use my 2 different scale length guitars for different things, I guess I prefer the 24.75" for ease of bending; however, my 25.5" LTD is set up to put out Les Paul tones, and I'll take it's scale length and playability over a Paul any day.

Light gauges in C# are about as floppy as .73s in F on a Gibbo scale. The strings tighten up around A.

For Doom, 24.75". Bitches love 24.75".

I think one of the foundations of Doom is a 24.75" neck. That dark, loose, foggy sound is partly because of less tension in the neck and less spank. Telecasters work great for Sludge and all sorts of metal, just as well as a Les Paul or SG, but there is something about a Les Paul Custom that cannot be compared. It has a more overbearing vitality to it that you cannot find with most other guitar. It's not necessarily a good thing. I personally prefer something a little tighter and brighter. But it is what it is.

Fender's hate me...at least Tele's and Strat's. I always sound terrible when using a Tele or Strat. My baritone Jaguar VI seems to like me (28 5/8") though. I'm typically a Gibson guy though my EGC seems to suit me fine and I think that's a 25". I have no troubles getting my intonation with my Gibson's down to B and A but it takes fairly large string to compensate. I had a SubSonic Strat (27") and that thing just always sounded terrible no matter what pickups I used (even Lollars), it just always had a twang to it that could never dirty up right. I also have a 24.75" Fender Cyclone and that thing seems to get along with me pretty well but I only use it for surf stuff.

I think with a good setup the difference is negligible. You can change string gauges if it really isn't working, but really, either is fine. I love the sound of a big heavy mahogany guitar with humbuckers, which naturally leads me towards 24.75 Gibson scale guitars. I think that sound is a foundation of heavy music, and not because of scale length, so that's what you see a lot. Of course, people use what they use and if it works it works and expands the horizons of the style, so I don't think it's something to spend too much time worrying about. Pick the guitar that plays and sounds best to you. A good setup and the right strings and you'll be set.

I prefer the shorter scale most of the time because with lower tunings longer scale guitars just start sounding like standard tuned basses to me and I really like that flob.

I have a Gibson in A standard and even with heavier strings it still sounds more like a guitar to me than my baratone for example. I think that maybe when the intonation and harmonics are perfect it just doesn't sound right.

It's a dumb thing to say but my ears prefer a bit lighter gauge, bending chords, open note flub, and a guitar that sounds downtuned and a bit less than perfect.