Anyone with a 7/8 Gibson Console Grande, String Spacing Help

Stephen Bedell · Post by **Stephen Bedell** » 2 Jun 2013 11:04 am

Thanks,

Just wondering if anyone that also has the 7/8 model (one 7 seven string, one 8 ) could measure their string spacing on the 7-string neck?

If no-one chimes in with theirs, I have a general question as I am new to lap steels.

Are the strings parallel or do they taper narrower as you come closer to the headstock?

The reason I ask is that if they are parallel, I could just measure the distance between strings on my 7-string bridge....

(the backstory is that my late 40s example is missing its nut and I am researching how to build a new one out of brass)

THanks so much.

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 2 Jun 2013 12:21 pm

I don't own a CG but I would imagine that if the string spacing is the same at bridge and nut on the eight string neck it would be like wise on the seven.

Stephen Bedell · Post by **Stephen Bedell** » 2 Jun 2013 1:00 pm

Why the heck didn't I think about that???

THanks.

I just checked and there is a pretty significant taper, the nut is much narrower than the bridge on the 8 string neck.

--

Would still love to know the proper spacing for the 7 string nut if someone out there has one they can measure. Thanks again.

John Rosett · Post by **John Rosett** » 2 Jun 2013 1:49 pm

I don't know for sure, but I bet that the string spacing, string-to-string-wise, is the same as the 8 string neck.

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 2 Jun 2013 2:17 pm

I did an image search for Gibson Console Grande,and it looks to me like it's the same nut but with grooves in different places .If you know what I mean.

Stephen Bedell · Post by **Stephen Bedell** » 2 Jun 2013 3:52 pm

I agree, I would bet it is the same as the 8, with the middle string (out of 7) dead center on the nut. The 8's nut is a bit under 3/8...

I found someone with a 7/8 for sale on Craigslist in Michigan; I called asking if he would help a random person out trying to restore by measuring the spacing. Fingers crossed that I hear back.

Russ Blake · Post by **Russ Blake** » 3 Jun 2013 9:27 pm

Send an email or pm to Paul Brainard. He should be able to help you out.

Ron Mielzynski · Post by **Ron Mielzynski** » 4 Jun 2013 6:50 am

I make a Gibson style consoles and lapsteels. A few years ago we had the opportunity to measure an original D8 and the bridge string spacings were about a 3/8". There were no string notches so the string widths can vary a bit. The 7 should have the same spacing. I believe that Gibson used the same nut , bridge and fretboard pieces on 7's and 8's( the difference was that the bridge had differently spaced notches for the string ball end). The metal nut is a total of 2.5" wide on an 8 string and the string spacing is a little narrower than the bridge. It measured 5/16" so the 7 should have about the same spacing. The string spread is tapered from the bridge to the nut on both the 7 and 8 string versions.

Heres an overhead shot of a 7/8 CG showing the same nut widths. Notice how the 7 string nut has more space between the outside strings and the edge of the nut(as compared to the 8 string neck). Same idea over the fretboard.

Stephen Bedell · Post by **Stephen Bedell** » 4 Jun 2013 12:41 pm

Ron,

Thank you so much for posting. Your work is beautiful, and it is great to see someone out there making consoles!

My 8-string nut has string grooves cut into it. No idea of course if they were there to start from the factory. The previous owner was a "tinkerer" (for lack of a better term) and may have modified his.

By chance, do you think you would be willing to sell one of your seven strings nuts separately from one of your instruments? Do they happen to conform to the specs of my 8-string pictured below? (since we agree the 8 and 7 strings are identical and so I wouldn't have to drill new holes)

Thanks