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Topic: String height. |
Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2018 10:41 am |
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Is a string height of 7/8" from the top of the guitar to the bottom of the string too high or doesn't it really matter?
I've noticed most of my lap steel's strings are between 1/2" to 5/8" in height (top of guitar to bottom of string).
I've been kicking a few ideas around...which is a dangerous thing  |
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 3 Jul 2018 11:37 am
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| It really doesn't matter as long as you can still use the fret markers to get good intonation and the pickup is at a reasonable distance from the strings. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 3 Jul 2018 3:08 pm
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7/8" seems a bit excessive to me. But is that space needed to accommodate a "tall" pickup?
The distance from the pickup to the strings can make a huge difference in the volume and tone of a steel guitar.
But the distance from the "fretboard" to the strings can vary greatly from instrument to instrument.
If the strings are too close you run the risk of bottoming out on the frets or fingerboard. If the strings are too far away, your intonation may suffer due to parallax between the bar and fret position markers. My suggestion is from about 3/8" to 1/2" is the perfect compromise.
Dom
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2018 3:58 pm
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Thanks for the replies!
You've answered what I needed to know. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2018 6:24 pm
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FWIW I'm more concerned with 1) distance between strings and pickup, and 2) having the top surface of all strings evened out by careful notching of the saddle and nut.
I want the bar to rest on the strings with full contact on all of them. No buzzes/rattles. The instrument will play much easier with lighter bar pressure.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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