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Topic: Differences guitars? |
Ake Banksell
From:
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted 27 Dec 2019 11:35 pm |
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Am a little unsure if this topic has been around here before but can my feeling that there may be different string distances on different guitar manufacturers instruments?
I have had four pedal-steel of completely different brands in 40 years and felt the difference in the strings gap each time I had a new guitar. This latest Williams 700 is very tight between the strings which makes you feel a little clumsy in the right hand. Of course, it is a habit, but it takes hours of practice to become confident in new technology and ways of playing. More sliding and less picking is just what I need.
Buying a new pedal-steel in my country doesn’t bring much oportunity to test before buy. Is this a common task? |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 1:27 am
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The string spacing on the Williams is tight but it really improves your accuracy!
The traditional spacing is about 11/32" (8.73mm). Even the slightest variation from this feels like a lot.
Humans are very sensitive. For playing the trombone I normally use a mouthpiece with a 25mm inside diameter. If I pick up the 25.4mm by mistake it feels like a bucket!
_________________
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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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 6:36 am
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The spacing on my new Sierra is wide.
(One point I had somehow missed all my years of playing is that the spacing increases from roller nut to the changer.)
I'd think you could check with builders to learn what spacing their steels have.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amps w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Origin, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Landon Johnson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 7:17 am
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| There is a chart on here... somewhere. Might be dated tho. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 8:38 am
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I remember when I went from a Gibson lap steel to a Fender Stringmaster. The string spacing was a lot tighter on the Fender but I got used to it.
When I tried to play the Gibson, I found it somewhat difficult. 
Erv |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 9:32 am
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Whatever the differences between guitars, whether string spacing or scale should not be a big deal. I've switched between brands, both pedal and non pedal, and just "play the guitar". Sort of like several threads on here over the years about what shoes to wear for pedal steel - for me its "whatever I have on" and I "play the guitar" I don't let it bother me.
_________________
GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit (for sale) |
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Pete Nicholls
From:
Macon, Georgia, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 10:07 am String Spacing was a real issue for me!
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I had a Pedal Master that I left at the job and played a Justice at home during the week. Every time I went to the job I made so many string misses on the first set, then wondered about the string spacing and indeed they were both different. I sold the Pedal Master and got another Justice guitar and now don't have any more issues switching from one to the other.
_________________
Justice The Judge SD-10, 2007
Justice Pro Lite SD-10, 2011
Quilter Steelaire
Quilter Labs Tone Block 202 Head
Roland Cube 80-XL
American Stratocaster - Yamaha Bass Guitar
1 Fender Telecaster Nashville Edition
Ham Call: N4BHB |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 10:09 am
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On a whim, I shot these, instead of just talking about numbers/measurements: Williams vs. Fessenden. The differences are real.
But I agree with Jack that it is a non-issue. It really did not present itself with my new guitar (Williams) until I measured it.
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 1:05 pm
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It's always good to ask when choosing a pickup with pole pieces if the strings align with them. You don't have to be concerned with a George L or blade type pickups.
_________________
I survived the sixties! |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 2:07 pm
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| wow, that's quite the difference twixt the Williams and the Fessenden. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 3:18 pm
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Ake - I can see where that could cause problems with your picking fingers.
Here is an issue I have--->Click Here
_________________
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 3:26 pm
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That's an interesting one, Lee. I missed that post, first time around.
I've played nothing but SD bodies for the last 20 years. I've been considering picking up a single body guitar but I wonder if I need that parallax issue in my life. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 28 Dec 2019 7:13 pm Near impossible
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I've been having a serious issue with spacing as I'm getting older.
My right hand has become far more shaky as the last few years went by making it very difficult to play my pedal steels. Often I hit the wrong string.
The issue is less a problem on my Clinesmith lap steels with wider spacing.
However my Clinesmith T8 has become very difficult with the closer spacing to the point I've thought I should just sell it.
My doctor put me on a medication to help with that, Betaloc. It had the side effect at first on harming my balance but that went away. It very much helped steady my hand for a couple of months and I loved it then, but now it no longer seems to work at all.
I wonder if others have delt with this very frustrating issue?
It is now even hurting my ability to play a standard 6 string rhythm guitar and I sometimes can't even finger pick that... Stopped playing almost all together now.
I have started to build my own PSG with wider spacing, but it will be a long time before I get that finished.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Ake Banksell
From:
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted 29 Dec 2019 1:59 am Re: String Spacing was a real issue for me!
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| Pete Nicholls wrote: |
| I had a Pedal Master that I left at the job and played a Justice at home during the week. Every time I went to the job I made so many string misses on the first set, then wondered about the string spacing and indeed they were both different. I sold the Pedal Master and got another Justice guitar and now don't have any more issues switching from one to the other. |
Wonderful! Thanks for telling Pete. I was hoping for this answer, now I must keep on practice.
I am very pleased with my Williams. I’m 100% sure to develop my skills, not the guitar. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 29 Dec 2019 4:29 am
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Ake, I find that my Williams needs more accuracy than my other guitar, but I hope it's making me a better player, and hope it does you too! It's a beautiful instrument and I love the sound 
_________________
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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Ake Banksell
From:
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted 29 Dec 2019 6:57 am
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| Thank you, Ian. You are so kind I’m overwhelmed. |
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Ake Banksell
From:
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted 13 Jan 2020 4:46 am
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| Ian Rae wrote: |
The string spacing on the Williams is tight but it really improves your accuracy!
The traditional spacing is about 11/32" (8.73mm). Even the slightest variation from this feels like a lot.
Humans are very sensitive. For playing the trombone I normally use a mouthpiece with a 25mm inside diameter. If I pick up the 25.4mm by mistake it feels like a bucket! |
Haha! It seems like not everybody is as sensitive as u and me Ian. Of course it all depends a lot on what style you’re playing in. I’m not a Curly Chalker rather a Sneaky Pete (although he fought with his 8 string). Hard picking between strings requires a slightly heavier precision than gliding around the neck yawning.
In my heydays 80’s I did everything on my Dekley S10. Twenty years later I found my new Carter S10 slightly tighter but I belived my clumsiness of age was the reson. Now with this Williams which is even tighter I realize with your help among others it’s this darned guitar that’s drives me mad.  |
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Ake Banksell
From:
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted 13 Jan 2020 6:10 am
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The difference in string spacing between Mullen and Williams seems to be one mm or 5/16â€. 9mm in total. A too huge amount of difference to me. I will be searching for a Mullen or maybe a WBS if Wolfgang knows what these figures are on his guitars.  |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2020 7:09 am
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I like the Emmons an Sho Bud string spacing.
Last edited by Johnie King on 13 Jan 2020 5:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 13 Jan 2020 9:42 am
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| Quote: |
Whatever the differences between guitars, whether string spacing or scale should not be a big deal. I've switched between brands, both pedal and non pedal, and just "play the guitar". Sort of like several threads on here over the years about what shoes to wear for pedal steel - for me its "whatever I have on" and I "play the guitar" I don't let it bother me.
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What Jack Stoner said. From time to time I've noticed there seems to be a tendency here on the Forum to become too involved in the minutiae of playing steel...
Only my 2â§. |
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Tom Knowles
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 13 Jan 2020 4:47 pm
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My 2 cents about feel of different string spacings is like driving a different car or bicycle than what you're used to. Always feels odd at first but the more variety the less of an issue it soon becomes. I'm only 2 years a pedal steel player, but have worked weekends playing guitar, bass and strings for exactly 50 years now in 2020 (yikes!)..
So with my crappy eyes and nobbly fingers I prefer wider spacing if playing under pressures of gigging, but go towards narrower spacing at home and for fun mainly for comfort reasons.
For those of us with hands problems I also stopped using fingerpicks and flat pics about 20 years ago and learned to do without. Accuracy for me way easier as is with wider string spacing. |
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