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Topic: Wider spacing on lower strings? |
Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 1:52 pm |
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What da? I ran across this product for guitar builders. It is used to increase the string spacing at the nut for the lower strings.
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| The String Spacing Rule locates string positions so that heavier strings get the wider spacing they need. The Rule's spacing is progressive, so that each space differs from the next by exactly .004". This creates the comfortable string spacing that players expect from quality instruments.  |
I'd never heard of such a practice before. I always assumed that all strings were spaced equally. Do any pedal steel builders increase spacing for the lower strings?
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 Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)[This message was edited by b0b on 03 August 2005 at 02:55 PM.] |
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Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 2:04 pm
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The spaces BETWEEN strings are equal. At least that is what I learned when I read one of those fancy classical/accoustic guitar making books and trying to learn how to cut a nut. If you spaced strings using the center of each string, the distance between strings would get smaller as strings get fatter.
Chris |
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Mark Herrick
From:
Bakersfield, CA
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 2:11 pm
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I have two older versions of that product that are based on standard Fender and Gibson nut widths and various standard string gauge sets. The spacing gets progressively wider from the high strings to the low strings. I thought this was normal in order to keep the spacing "between" the strings constant.
D'oh! Chris beat me to the button.
But to add, the markings on the template indicate the center of the string, or where the slot would be cut in the nut.
I don't think string spacing at the nut really affects steel players so much since they don't use their fingers to fret notes. It seems like it would make sense, however, if the spacing between the strings at the changer was constant.
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[This message was edited by Mark Herrick on 03 August 2005 at 03:13 PM.] [This message was edited by Mark Herrick on 03 August 2005 at 03:22 PM.] |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 3:45 pm
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| Quote: |
| I don't think string spacing at the nut really affects steel players so much since they don't use their fingers to fret notes. It seems like it would make sense, however, if the spacing between the strings at the changer was constant. |
Yeah, that's what I was thinking, too. I wonder if it would feel more natural if the fingers of the bridge got wider towards the lower strings.
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Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) |
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Hans Holzherr
From:
Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 4:08 pm
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Look at a thumb-index pinch. To keep the finger distance constant, the string spacing would have to get NARROWER on the low strings. Just the opposite with an index-middle finger grip. So, graduated string spacing makes no sense, IMO.
Hans |
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Mark Herrick
From:
Bakersfield, CA
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 5:01 pm
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| Graduated finger widths would also enable keeping the overall width of the changer the same. The only drawback might be that you couldn't swap fingers indiscriminately. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 5:17 pm
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| When I first read this, I didn't see the point of keeping the spacing between strings constant rather that the spacing between the centers of strings. Then I realized that there is always the problem on fretted instruments of fretting one string without having your finger touch adjacent strings. Because of that, it does make sense to keep that distance between strings optimum, to avoid having a bigger "finger touch" problem on the thicker lower strings. This is not an issue on steel guitar. So I can't see any point in changing the spacing for thicker gauges on a steel. |
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