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Topic: I Need Help With String Spacing |
John Swindle
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2009 4:18 pm |
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I'm saving my pennies to buy my first pedal steel. In the meantime, I'm going to try to make do with a home-made non-pedal instrument.
This will be my fourth home-made steel; all the others have been built with the strings spaced about the same as on my nylon-strung classic guitar. I assume that's a bit wider than the spacing on pedal steels. I'd like to make the string spacing on this next one about the same as most PSGs so I'll have less to get used to when my "real" instrument finally arrives. Thing is, I haven't been able to find any statement anywhere about the string spacing on PSGs. So here are my questions:
- How far apart should I place the strings on this guitar?
- Am I correct in assuming that most PSGs are spaced about the same?
- Or, do different builders use different spacings?
Thanks for your help.
John |
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Stan Schober
From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2009 6:57 pm
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My Carter measures 5/16" between the strings, and I think that's pretty standard.
It -does- take some getting used to, if you've gotten in the habit of reaching for those wider spacings.
I've always adjusted the lap steels I've built for myself, depending on whether they had 6, 8, or 10 strings. I think the widest I ever used was 7/16", with 3/8" being the norm.
A non-pedal instrument will force you to learn bar slants, too. Which I may just get better at, sometime next century. |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 28 Aug 2009 10:57 pm
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| Most steels are 11/32" at the changer, 9/32" at the nut, scale length 24" |
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Stan Schober
From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2009 5:25 am
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I just re-measured mine, and I stand corrected by the measurements of Mr. Burton.
And I believe I need to schedule a trip to the optometrist. |
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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 29 Aug 2009 6:53 am
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Here are some string spacings I measured to put to rest the false belief that 12-string pedal steels have narrower spacing:
| Tab: |
Nut Changer Spacing
MSA Mill. 12 2 29/32 3 23/32 11/32
Zum 12 3 3/32 3 23/32 11/32
Carter 12 2 29/32 3 25/32 11/32
Emmons p/p 12 3 1/32 3 26/32 11/32
ShoBud Pro III 10 2 21/32 3 2/32 11/32
Fender Str. Mst. 8 2 6/32 2 19/32 12/32
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John Swindle
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2009 12:27 pm
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This helps, Gentlemen.
Thank You!
John |
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