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Topic: String Spacing |
Ken Frazier
From:
Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2002 1:56 pm |
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Is there any Difference in the string spacing between Carter Steels, Zum Steels,Emmons and the others or do all of them use a standard
Just wondering
Thanks
Ken Frazier |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2002 2:41 pm
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| The "standard" spacing at the bridge is 11/32" or 0.34375". Some of the older guitars had narrower and a few had wider spacing. Most, if not all, of today's guitars have standardized, although a lot of 12 strings have narrower spacing to squeeze into a narrower guitar or neck. |
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Ken Frazier
From:
Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2002 2:46 pm
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| Thanks I appreciate the reply |
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George Kimery
From:
Limestone, TN, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2002 6:37 pm
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| My Kline U-12 has a 9/32" spacing, for example. |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 23 Jul 2002 7:07 pm
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| The string spacing on my '74 MSA D-12 is definitely closer than my '70-something Sho-Bud 6139. |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2002 8:07 pm
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Right. My Williams is closer than my Sierra, and sometimes it throws me off when I switch guitars.
------------------
 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6) |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 23 Jul 2002 8:44 pm
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I seem to notice that the S12's that I had were a narrower spacing than the D10's. 11/32 is ok with me, but 10/32 or 9/32 would be too narrow.
I wouldnt be able to get my fingers in there and would hit a lot of wrong strings. (lack of practice, right?) ....al  |
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chas smith
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2002 11:17 pm
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Joaquin Murphey played .375 (3/ at the nut and the bridge. Same from one end to the other. |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 4:29 am
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On my 14-string Sierra the string spacing goes from approximately .250" at the nut to about .375" at the changer. Before playing the Sierra I played an Emmons S10 p/p and it took me about two weeks to get comfortable with the narrow spacing of the Sierra.
Keep on pickin'!
Glenn |
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Jay Jessup
From:
Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 6:50 am
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| I thought most all modern guitars had about the same string spacing at the bridge but the MSA's and their descendants ie: Carter, GFI, MCI and others are narrower at the nut than the Emmons descendants (Zum, Franklin and many others) and this does give a distinctly different feel to them even back in the picking area. For a period of time when I was working on pick blocking I thought that the narrower string spacing was a disadvantage but that may not be true for someone who has a lot of experience with it. |
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Doug Seymour
From:
Jamestown NY USA (deceased)
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 8:16 am
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I always thought ShoBuds had a bit wider spacing than the Emmons, MSA, Zum & others.
Used to have the measurements, but not anymore. |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 10:22 am
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Yes the ShoBuds are 3/8" at the Bridge and 5/16" at the nut. But the Permenant ShoBuds had a narrower string spacing....probably same as new modern pedal steels.
Ricky[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 31 July 2002 at 11:26 AM.] |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 11:08 am
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Ricky, are you sure Sho-Buds are that wide at the changer?  If they're really that wide, standard pickups which are spaced at 11/32" wouldn't line up with the strings very well. Back in the 70's I put stock Sho-Bud pickups in an old MSA and the magnets lined up perfectly.
Could someone please measure the spacing on their Sho-Bud and confirm? |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 11:24 am
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| I can't tell you what the measurements are, but I can tell you for sure that the MSA D-10 I bought new in '79 was narrower than the Sho-Bud Pro II and Pro III's I bought in the early '80's. As b0b said, it was (and still is) enough to throw me off until I get used to it. In fact, I'm going to sell my MSA D-12 because even after playing it for a year I'm just better at the wider string-spacing of my Sho-Bud S-10, even though I like having the two extra strings. [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 31 July 2002 at 12:25 PM.] |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 3:27 pm
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Ok I just Measured me ShoBud Pro II....and ok I'll go with 11/32" at the bridge.
It's very very close to 3/8".....ah....ha.
Ricky |
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Steven Welborn
From:
Ojai,CA USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 3:31 pm
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| My friends' MSA clasic is narrower than my Emmons, and all others i've owned - Sho bud, Mullen, ZB s10. |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 4:31 pm
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Thanks Ricky!   |
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Andy Greatrix
From:
Edmonton Alberta
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Posted 31 Jul 2002 5:29 pm
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I can understand a spanish guitar getting narrower at the nut than the bridge, because of the grip and maybe because of the tension on the headstock, but why can't a steel be the same at the nut as the bridge, other than cosmetic reasons?
It would make slants easier, for one thing. As BE said, slants have a different sound than the same lick with a peddle. |
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