String Spacing

Ken Frazier · Post by **Ken Frazier** » 23 Jul 2002 1:56 pm

Is there any Difference in the string spacing between Carter Steels, Zum Steels,Emmons and the others or do all of them use a standard
Just wondering
Thanks
Ken Frazier

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 23 Jul 2002 2:41 pm

The "standard" spacing at the bridge is 11/32" or 0.34375". Some of the older guitars had narrower and a few had wider spacing. Most, if not all, of today's guitars have standardized, although a lot of 12 strings have narrower spacing to squeeze into a narrower guitar or neck.

Ken Frazier · Post by **Ken Frazier** » 23 Jul 2002 2:46 pm

Thanks I appreciate the reply

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 23 Jul 2002 6:37 pm

My Kline U-12 has a 9/32" spacing, for example.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 23 Jul 2002 7:07 pm

The string spacing on my '74 MSA D-12 is definitely closer than my '70-something Sho-Bud 6139.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 23 Jul 2002 8:07 pm

Right. My Williams is closer than my Sierra, and sometimes it throws me off when I switch guitars.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 23 Jul 2002 8:44 pm

I seem to notice that the S12's that I had were a narrower spacing than the D10's. 11/32 is ok with me, but 10/32 or 9/32 would be too narrow.
I wouldnt be able to get my fingers in there and would hit a lot of wrong strings. (lack of practice, right?) ....al

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 23 Jul 2002 11:17 pm

Joaquin Murphey played .375 (3/8) at the nut and the bridge. Same from one end to the other.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 31 Jul 2002 4:29 am

On my 14-string Sierra the string spacing goes from approximately .250" at the nut to about .375" at the changer. Before playing the Sierra I played an Emmons S10 p/p and it took me about two weeks to get comfortable with the narrow spacing of the Sierra.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 31 Jul 2002 6:50 am

I thought most all modern guitars had about the same string spacing at the bridge but the MSA's and their descendants ie: Carter, GFI, MCI and others are narrower at the nut than the Emmons descendants (Zum, Franklin and many others) and this does give a distinctly different feel to them even back in the picking area. For a period of time when I was working on pick blocking I thought that the narrower string spacing was a disadvantage but that may not be true for someone who has a lot of experience with it.

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 31 Jul 2002 8:16 am

I always thought ShoBuds had a bit wider spacing than the Emmons, MSA, Zum & others.
Used to have the measurements, but not anymore.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 31 Jul 2002 10:22 am

Yes the ShoBuds are 3/8" at the Bridge and 5/16" at the nut. But the Permenant ShoBuds had a narrower string spacing....probably same as new modern pedal steels.
Ricky[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 31 July 2002 at 11:26 AM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 31 Jul 2002 11:08 am

Ricky, are you sure Sho-Buds are that wide at the changer?

If they're really that wide, standard pickups which are spaced at 11/32" wouldn't line up with the strings very well. Back in the 70's I put stock Sho-Bud pickups in an old MSA and the magnets lined up perfectly.

Could someone please measure the spacing on their Sho-Bud and confirm?

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 31 Jul 2002 11:24 am

I can't tell you what the measurements are, but I can tell you for sure that the MSA D-10 I bought new in '79 was narrower than the Sho-Bud Pro II and Pro III's I bought in the early '80's. As b0b said, it was (and still is) enough to throw me off until I get used to it. In fact, I'm going to sell my MSA D-12 because even after playing it for a year I'm just better at the wider string-spacing of my Sho-Bud S-10, even though I like having the two extra strings. [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 31 July 2002 at 12:25 PM.]

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 31 Jul 2002 3:27 pm

Ok I just Measured me ShoBud Pro II....and ok I'll go with 11/32" at the bridge.
It's very very close to 3/8".....ah....ha.
Ricky

Steven Welborn · Post by **Steven Welborn** » 31 Jul 2002 3:31 pm

My friends' MSA clasic is narrower than my Emmons, and all others i've owned - Sho bud, Mullen, ZB s10.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 31 Jul 2002 4:31 pm

Thanks Ricky!

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 31 Jul 2002 5:29 pm

I can understand a spanish guitar getting narrower at the nut than the bridge, because of the grip and maybe because of the tension on the headstock, but why can't a steel be the same at the nut as the bridge, other than cosmetic reasons?

It would make slants easier, for one thing. As BE said, slants have a different sound than the same lick with a peddle.