String Levelness

Mike McBride · Post by **Mike McBride** » 9 Apr 2006 11:12 pm

Do you have all your strings level at the nut? I have recently moved to 8 strings (on a 12 string guitar) after playing 6's for a year or two. The larger, wound strings result in poor bar-string contact on my largest plain string at the first fret.

Matthew Prouty · Post by **Matthew Prouty** » 10 Apr 2006 1:51 am

They really should be level. If you take a look at this site and you can see how the strings should be set up at the nut and the saddle or bridge.
http://www.buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/assembling3.htm

I have a beater that is not set up right and I just don't have the time to get around to it, but one day I will.

M.

Tom Baylis · Post by **Tom Baylis** » 10 Apr 2006 7:42 am

I think that this is perhaps the important part of setup on a lap steel. The tops of the strings should all be on the same plane to avoid the bar chattering in lower positions or having to use excessive pressure, driving the "tall" string sharp. I have two acoustics that got new nuts...one wasn't done right and it bothers me with chatter all the time (still haven't changed it though) and one that was done right and it's a pleasure to play.

Tom