String Height

Mike D · From: Phx, Az

I'm a relative newcomer to lap style, having played bottle neck for a few years. I recently made a lap steel and am building a Weissenborn-type guitar. My question is what is an average string height for a lap/Dobro/Weissenborn. I've got the height on my lap steel about 5/8" off the board, this sounds and plays fine but creates a pretty steep angle over the nut. I'd like to lower it, and keep the heights the same when the Weissenborn is done. Anybody see any reason not to?

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Hiya Mike. Let me provide you with some specs on what I've got lying around.
Carter pedal steel: 1/2"
Fender Stringmaster: 3/8"
Fender Dual Pro: 7/16"
Flinthill sqareneck: 5/16" at nut, 1/2" at 19th fret.

I leave interpretation of the numbers to yourself or someone else. I would think that the shorter the scale, the slacker the strings, and hence the higher you may want them. Sound right?

Mike D · From: Phx, Az

Thanks Jon. Mark also e-mailed me with some string heights on his guitars. You're idea on height in relation to scale makes sense. The consensus on height for an acoustic instrument seems to be 1/4-5/16" at the nut.

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