I also recall Jim Soloway playing his guitar tuned down, perhaps to D.
The long scale means higher string tension.
I've have enjoyed fighting my strats and teles for years, but I'm not sure I would want even more resistance for those big bends. I also wonder what the long scale would do to the accuracy and intonation of playing
slide?
Jim's guitar was too pretty for me to start banging my slide against the frets to find out, although I'm sure he wouldn't have minded.
b.