Wider string spacing on 6 string pedal steel

[Steven Pearce]

Hello,
Has there ever been anyone that has made or could make a 6 string pedal steel with wider string spacing?
Crazy I know but my old arthritic hands are so used to 3/8 spacing on my laps, and my old but nice Maverick I’ve had for years with pedal steel spacing is a rough time.
Thanks,
Steve

[Jerry Overstreet]

All the 6 string pedal steels I've seen and played use a 3/8 string spacing.

FWIW, I had a Cougar Slidemaster 6 a few years ago. I enjoyed it right up to the time I needed to sell it. A friend of mine has one of the Hudson 6's.

Yes, the wider string spacing was a joy to play. Obviously some limitations trying to mimic 10 string setups, but very capable and funt to play.

There are a few builders out there for six bangers. The new Sho-Bud company. Then there's the entry level 6's from Growler and Sho-Nuff. A search here in the forum will lead you to the contact info.

[Les Ford]

I have the same kind of issues so I have made some guitars with 3/8 inch spacing. There is no reason why not.

Anywhere up to eleven strings works fine. After eleven strings you start to have issues with the length of the bar and unavailable pickups. Bear in mind that you have to use bar magnet pickups because pickups with individual poles that were made for narrower spacings will not line up properly with the strings.

You can also have pickups custom made for you that have a 3/8 inch spacing for the poles. If you only want six strings, none of this matters because there are lots of guitar pickups available.

[Steven Pearce]

Thank you for the replies. I have a few steels that are all 3/8ths spacing both bridge and nut All are 6 strings after 45 years I’ve stuck with 6 . I have an early 70’s Maverick that is ‘pedal steel’ spacing and I never knew what the spacing was on current 6 string pedal steels. .i will check some out. Thanks for that!
As far as pickups, over the years I had Bob Allen at Melbert Steel Guitars make me a couple if consoles, one single six and a double neck 6. They both have Steeltronics LT 10 2 blade humbucker pickups. Amazing sound and because it’s a blade style pickup, it doesn’t matter where the strings are, they’re right over the bars so they’re always centered.
Thanks for the heads up on the pedal steels!
Steve

[Les Ford]

Here is a discussion of how the narrow string spacing started:

viewtopic.php?t=29596&highlight=

Buddy Emmons, who happened to be there when it happened. chimes in and offers the story as he remembered it.

[HowardR]

Has there ever been anyone that has made or could make a 6 string pedal steel with wider string spacing?

Yes.......Williams Guitar Co.......they made a D6 3&4 with 13/32 string spacing for me......that's between an 8 & 6 string spacing and I love it!

williams D6.jpg