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Topic: Spacing of 12 strings |
Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 18 Dec 2014 11:50 am |
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This is a bit of an odd question from someone who's just finished building a 12-stringer, but what should be the distance between the top and bottom strings (at the bridge)? My first effort has definitely come out too wide at 4.2", and the 1st & 12th strings are not quite as loud as the others. (This is to do with the metric/imperial twilight zone we Brits are forced to live in.) My next effort will measure 3.9" - is this within what a typical pickup manufacturer expects?
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Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 18 Dec 2014 12:04 pm
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I'm not near mine, but I recall them as being 3/8“ apart, so they'll be 4.125 (11 gaps)
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 18 Dec 2014 12:23 pm
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Aim for 3.77" from centre of 1st string to centre of 12th string, this will give you the 'standard' string spacing of 11/32".
I'm sure that I've played a 12 string sometime, possibly a Zum, which had a narrower than standard string spacing (5/16"), and was very difficult to play with such a narrow string spacing. |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2014 12:40 pm
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| richard burton wrote: |
Aim for 3.77" from centre of 1st string to centre of 12th string, this will give you the 'standard' string spacing of 11/32".
I'm sure that I've played a 12 string sometime, possibly a Zum, which had a narrower than standard string spacing (5/16"), and was very difficult to play with such a narrow string spacing. |
Richard is correct, the accepted string spacing for 10 and 12 string pedal steels is 11/32".
11/32" = 0.34375" x 11 = 3.78125 |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 18 Dec 2014 1:26 pm
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This is promising. Steel is sold in metric sizes here, so if I use 6mm fingers with 3mm spacers, it'll come out at 99mm = 3.90" which is only 0.12" over Jim's 3.78" Now there are 44 surfaces between the 23 components and 0.12/44 = 0.0027" - I should be able to lose that when I shine the parts up on the sander. Thanks, everyone! 
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Glenn Uhler
From:
Trenton, New Jersey, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2014 2:27 pm String Spacing
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Instead of buffing down the 6mm stock, I would just use slightly thinner spacers. Unless the 6mm bar stock has a ground finish, I would sand it very lightly with 400 grit paper to make sure it is perfectly flat and there are no burrs on it.
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1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 18 Dec 2014 3:26 pm
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For this first changer I used black steel for the fingers and the spacers (which are also the axle braces) as it was pretty much experimental - I had no idea it would turn out as well as it did. For the next one it makes sense to do what Glenn suggests and use cold finished bar (unground) which will be flatter and need only minimal sanding, and then thin the spacers as required.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Glenn Uhler
From:
Trenton, New Jersey, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2014 7:29 pm Cold Finished Bar
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Ian,
I don't imagine ground stock 6mm x 20mm would be that much more expensive than cold-finished (or cold-rolled, as we say here in the States). You want as smooth a finish as possible where the fingers touch the spacers. (No binding.)
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1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 19 Dec 2014 12:40 am
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If I can get it I'll try it - anything to save buffing!
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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