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Topic: string spacing on 8 string vrs 10 string |
Fred Bova
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 9 Jan 2008 11:49 pm |
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Hi, I am wondering what the differant string spacing is on 8 string non-pedal (and pedal) guitars vrs 10 string.
I am useing my S-10 Fender/ShoBud as an 8 string Non-pedal at the moment and I really Like the string spacing, and the sound of the longer string lenght. However I was trying to play a friends 10 string today and it felt very narrow to me. I know my Fender/Sho Bud is narrower than my Rickenbacker 6 string Lap Steel but it is not as narrow as the psg I played today. Is 3/8" at the bridge about right for an 8 string ?
Thanks in advance, Fred |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 10 Jan 2008 12:36 am
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If memory serves, it is. I think Fender does 5/16 at the nut and 7/16 at the bridge. I think others do as well.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Fred Bova
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 10 Jan 2008 2:11 pm
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I just checked out an old Magnatone triple 8
5/16 at the Nut
3/8 at the Bridge |
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J D Sauser
From:
Wellington, Florida
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Posted 12 Jan 2008 6:38 am
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My B10 Rickenbacher has a similar sting spacing as most 8 string non-pedals.
I can't measure it right now, because the B10's sleeping overseas.
... J-D. |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Stephan Miller
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 1:27 pm
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Tom-- seems to me that most lap steels of 8 strings or less have spacing at the BRIDGE of at least 3/8". So whether or not the spacing is considered "narrow" or "wide" is gonna be determined at the NUT-- to me, 3/8" at the nut ("wide") is ideal for in-tune slanting, especially on the lower frets.
So thanks to Rick Aiello (Dustpans), Mark Vinbury (Dynalaps), and all other steelmakers who use 3/8" at the nut as standard 8-string spacing.   Wish there were more!
--Steve |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Stephan Miller
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 4:48 pm
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Well, the geometry of slanting certainly doesn't change as the number of strings increases.
It's a good question-- and from the player's standpoint, I don't think there's a persuasive argument to be made for tightening up the spacing as you graduate to 8 strings. There are reasons though, if you look at the practices of vintage steel-makers. Often 8-string models were offered using the components originally meant for 6-stringers: same neck, bridge and nut...or a new wider bridge would be made, but the 6-string nut would remain, but slotted for 8. I guess they figured, why retool for the small demand that existed for 8-string instruments, the more expert & ambitious players that wanted them would adapt.
Thus a "tradition" came to be...? |
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Fred Bova
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2008 5:33 pm
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My main interest is the spacing at the Bridge, as this effects the Right Hand playing spacing and also the spacing for the pole pieces on pickup.
I just bought a Fender 400 8 String pickup that I planed to put on my Fender/Sho Bud S-10 that I use as an 8 string. I knew the spacing of the Fender 400 Pickup before it arrived, and I measured the S-10 spacing and it looked very, very close, however when the pickup arrived I was surprized at how much of a slant the Fender pickup would need to be on in order for the pole pieces to line up with the strings properly. I believe the slant may be a good thing, as I will slant the treble side further from the bridge, but it is surprizing how exact it needs to be for eveything to line up centered.
I have three 10 string "orphan" pickups in a parts box and the pole piece spacing varies quite a bit.
I have a Dekley student model, with the original pickup, and the pole pieces do not line up perfectly. It sounds fine, but the strings are not exactly centered over the pickup pole pieces..
If pickups had Blades, like the Bigsby and the Wright pickups, string spacing would not be a problem, but with pickups with ind. pole magnets it is an issue to consider. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 25 Jan 2008 9:29 am
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I just decided the 10 string bridge I had built is just too narrow,
And I am going to make two new ones.
1, a 10 string as wide as the pickup will allow,
until I can get a super wide horseshoe some time.
And an 8 or 9 string which ever can be closest to my Supro 6's spacing.
and fit all the strings in the old Shobud' pickup width.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 26 Jan 2008 6:57 pm
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Check this out....
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=112683&highlight=close+together
...and in that thread, Buddy Emmons nails it..
| Buddy Emmons wrote: |
Paul,
The decision to go from 3/8” to 11/32” centers was made when we stopped building the Sho~Bud double 8 string steel and went to the double 10. The purpose of the narrower spacing was to keep the width of the new D-10 cabinet as close as possible to the D-8. I think players were so focused on pedals at the time that few were bothered by the string spacing.
I totally agree with you about speed and accuracy. One of the first things I discovered with closer strings was how much more difficult it was to apply an accurate bar slant. I relied a lot on bar slants before knee levers, so most of my early Sho~Bud levers were set up to replace the slants I lost.
I do miss the old spacing. Today, when I want a quick fix, I’ll drag an old lap model out and play it for while. It never ceases to be fun and always brings me back to the basics. |
There you have it from the horse's mouth... |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 26 Jan 2008 7:12 pm
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| Buddy Emmons wrote: |
....
I do miss the old spacing. Today, when I want a quick fix, I’ll drag an old lap model out and play it for while. It never ceases to be fun and always brings me back to the basics. |
Even with all the years and all the many innovations
for pedal steels he personally created and popularized,
When he just feels like playing something to
get the musical itch to recede,
he goes back to HIS roots; The Lapsteel.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!
Last edited by David L. Donald on 27 Jan 2008 5:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2008 4:01 pm
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My fender D8 Deluxe?, T8 Custom, and Stringmaster T8, all have 3/8 spacing at the bridge/
My MSA 12 string
Super Slide is 11/32 at bridge. My MSA U12 steel is also 11/32.
Hope that helps some.
Ron |
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