Increasing the width between strings
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- berg
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Increasing the width between strings
I've had this Hondo strat for a couple of years now and it plays really nicely. However, the space between the strings is a little on the narrow side for me. I've measured this against other guitars I have and they all have a little more width between the strings. The width between the strings is at it's smallest right by the nut, at the bridge it's slightly wider.
I only want to expand the width between the strings slightly so... would replacing the nut to a wider spaced one help to space the strings out more? Or to achieve spacing the strings wider involve replacing the nut, bridge, and possibly the whole neck? The neck and fingerboard don't look too thin to me, i think they have space to accommodate for a little more space between the strings.
Any advice appreciated.
I only want to expand the width between the strings slightly so... would replacing the nut to a wider spaced one help to space the strings out more? Or to achieve spacing the strings wider involve replacing the nut, bridge, and possibly the whole neck? The neck and fingerboard don't look too thin to me, i think they have space to accommodate for a little more space between the strings.
Any advice appreciated.
Last edited by berg on Mon Jul 11, 2022 8:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Jay
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
If you don't bend and don't play such that you would 'slide' off the frets, you can increase the gaps at the nut end easily. Moving both E strings 1mm closer to the edge will give you 0.4mm increase in the space between strings
For the bridge you could cut new grooves but I it appears the fatter strings are already on a funny angle disappearing into the body.
Edit - corrected a major spelling error
For the bridge you could cut new grooves but I it appears the fatter strings are already on a funny angle disappearing into the body.
Edit - corrected a major spelling error
Last edited by Jay on Tue Jul 12, 2022 10:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
Do a Billy Gibbons and run a set of 7s on there, should gain a few microns between strings!
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
Been a while since I've explored this same thing. I think the American imperial gauging is wider than the Asian metric form.
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
Yes, it is. It looks like you have a little room at the nut to widen the spacing...but as has been pointed out, be careful to not run them too close because the strings will be liable to shoot off the edge when you press down.calling card wrote: ↑Tue Jul 12, 2022 10:35 am Been a while since I've explored this same thing. I think the American imperial gauging is wider than the Asian metric form.
The proper way to fix the guitar at the bridge end is to get a US-sized bridge, take the old one off, dowel the holes, redrill the body for the new bridge (which will have different screw spacing)...done. This has the advantage that the string spacing will be correct before they get to the saddles, so tuning stability will be better.
The easy way to fix it is to just buy a set of US-sized vintage* saddles and fit those to your existing bridge. It will be a bit of a squash to get them in there, but they will fit. The strings will need to spread out a bit from the trem block to the saddles, which is not ideal, but it will give you the spacing you want.
*it won't work with modern saddles, they are too bulky.
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
As others have mentioned, but from my own experience I have an 80's Charvel Model 4 that was built in the days before Charvel and Co. realised FR guitars should have slightly wider necks, so both high and low E are just a fraction too close to the edge of the fretboard. It means I need to play more gently when fretting on either E strings, otherwise I can easily pull them off the side of the fretboard, which is a pain and I don't play it much as a result. Looking at my guitar you can't tell, so it really is a small distance that makes a reasonable problem.
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- Bg
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
Start with a new nut before you go down any other rabbit hole, get a luthier to cut you one with wider spacing.
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
i have a guitar with a similar problem, but i think its just the wrong size Floyd nut. Low string goes north often if the music gets angry (which is 24/7 of course)Danger Mouse wrote: ↑Tue Jul 12, 2022 12:02 pm As others have mentioned, but from my own experience I have an 80's Charvel Model 4 that was built in the days before Charvel and Co. realised FR guitars should have slightly wider necks, so both high and low E are just a fraction too close to the edge of the fretboard. It means I need to play more gently when fretting on either E strings, otherwise I can easily pull them off the side of the fretboard, which is a pain and I don't play it much as a result. Looking at my guitar you can't tell, so it really is a small distance that makes a reasonable problem.
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
Apparently there is a Floyd (Pro I think) that is designed for narrower spacing, I've thought about getting one of those but I'd lose the originality of the Charvel.Kris wrote: ↑Tue Jul 12, 2022 12:43 pmi have a guitar with a similar problem, but i think its just the wrong size Floyd nut. Low string goes north often if the music gets angry (which is 24/7 of course)Danger Mouse wrote: ↑Tue Jul 12, 2022 12:02 pm As others have mentioned, but from my own experience I have an 80's Charvel Model 4 that was built in the days before Charvel and Co. realised FR guitars should have slightly wider necks, so both high and low E are just a fraction too close to the edge of the fretboard. It means I need to play more gently when fretting on either E strings, otherwise I can easily pull them off the side of the fretboard, which is a pain and I don't play it much as a result. Looking at my guitar you can't tell, so it really is a small distance that makes a reasonable problem.
The older I get, the more disappointed in myself I become.
- berg
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I reckon I'll try a wider spaced nut to start with and see how that goes.
BG suggested getting a luthier to cut a new nut, any ballpark idea how much a basic nut would cost?
BG suggested getting a luthier to cut a new nut, any ballpark idea how much a basic nut would cost?
- Bg
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
not sure what the charge is these days, I do all my own nut work. I can do you one if you want, I'll charge in beers lol You'll need a blank though, I'm all out of stock!
I should visit my butcher, but I only ever see him when I want sausage casings or bone for nuts, I feel guilty I'll have a hunt in the basement just in case I have one squirreled away somewhere.
I should visit my butcher, but I only ever see him when I want sausage casings or bone for nuts, I feel guilty I'll have a hunt in the basement just in case I have one squirreled away somewhere.
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.
- berg
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Re: Increasing the width between strings
That'd be brilliant BG! I'm currently out of commission with the corona (not the beer or chorus pedal unforch) but will pm you when I'm fighting fitBg wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 4:29 pm not sure what the charge is these days, I do all my own nut work. I can do you one if you want, I'll charge in beers lol You'll need a blank though, I'm all out of stock!
I should visit my butcher, but I only ever see him when I want sausage casings or bone for nuts, I feel guilty I'll have a hunt in the basement just in case I have one squirreled away somewhere.