The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi! Can anybody of you Supro Console 8-owners tell me something about the string-spacing at the nut? Is it rather narrow or rather comfortable? What's the space between two strings?
I play with Alaska-fingerpicks, by the way...
Thank you,
Tom

The Supro console I had years ago, had tight string spacing, more like a 10 string pedal steel than say a Fender Stringmaster.

Yes, you would be correct, although string spacing is a relative thing...some like it narrower, some wider. But, I had one that I recently sold, and although I liked the sound, I could never really get over the string spacing.

I have almost identical black-and-white 6 and 8 string Console Supros. Have not measured with calipers, but I'd say that width at nut and bridge are the same for both. That would mean approx 25% reduction in string spacing.

I just bought a Supro 8 and it's narrower than the spacing on my Fender stringmaster. Inexplicably, I find it easier to play than my Fender.

Yes, the spacing on a Supro Console 8 is a little tighter than a Stringmaster, but the guitar has a very satisfying tone, very punchy, and that's important. I never had a problem with the string spacing on the Supro 8, possibly because I enjoyed the sound of the guitar so much. Liz, I'm glad you like the Supro!

Thank you everybody!
The dealer told me the supro 8 nut width would be 2 1/8 (inch I guess), which is nearly 5,4 cm (German measure). Compared to the Guyatone nut width (6,7 cm = 2,64 inch) this seems quite narrow to me. Or did I make any mistake converting measures?
I'd rather prefer a wider string-spacing. I don't think I would buy this wonderful guitar without having tested it...
Tom

Tom, your conversions are correct. I just measured the string-spacing on my supro 8-string console. It's 5.4mm at the nut and 6.5 at the pickup cover. It's too bad you can't sit down with it and try it out. I find it easier to play than my stringmaster, which I've never felt comfortable playing.

After responding to your thread, I sat down and tried to understand why it was easier to play. I noticed something dramatic: to play this guitar, I have to have an impeccable right hand position. When I get it right, it's a dream to play. Now I think of this guitar as my technique corrector!

Good luck with your decision.

Compared to the Guyatone nut width...

Tom, All steel guitars have narrow string spacing compared to the Guyatone. The Guyatone-8 has extremely wide string spacing... the widest I've seen in my 43 years of playing steel. When evaluating Supro 8 string spacing, I think it would be more accurate to compare it to Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacher, etc, steel guitars, not to the Guyatone. Just my opinion.

I never thought about the fact that the string spacing at the right hand, the picking hand, might differ from the string spacing at the nut. 6.5 cm doesn't seem to be too narrow. Thank you, Liz, for your detailed information.
The dealer asks 399,- $. Even with shipping costs and more than 20% import tax this seems to be quite a good deal. The guitar has got legs, a case, just one knob is missing. Hard to say no.
Tom

That sounds like a good price to me, Tom. I think you'd not lose money if the guitar didn't suit you and you sold it.

Have you watched the video Doug Beaumier made of the Supro 8 I bought from him for $595? Doug is a wonderful player, of course, but the guitar sounds that good even in my inexperienced hands.

You can find the video if you search the forum for supro 8. Bon chance, Tom!

Thanks Liz, below is a link to the demo video I made of the Supro 8. It's a quick video to demonstrate how the guitar sounds and to show that the controls and the tone bypass switch work okay. Unfortunately it doesn't show the guitar's nut (string spacing). These are cool steel guitars with a real sweet tone.

-----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0b-htxm-G0

My National (Supro) triple 8 has average left-hand spacing. But mine has bone nuts. If I didn't like the spacing I'd change the nut, even if it hangs over a little. I am a luthier, so it's the sort of thing I do all the time, but I wouldn't think it would be a big deal for anyone who's handy. Right-hand spacing is much harder, or impossible, to fix. If you do decide to do that I'll happily give you detailed instructions.

Keith