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Author
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Topic: Ideal string spacing for lap?
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Bill Hatcher
Member From: Atlanta Ga. USA
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posted 06 September 2005 07:20 PM
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I know that everyone is a bit different in what they like in string spacing and scales and such, but what would you guys consider a good overall spacing between the strings at the bridge and at the nut on lap steel guitars. Is there is a different nut spacing for slanting than for a non slanting style? Thanks for the opinions. |
Stephan Miller
Member From: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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posted 06 September 2005 09:45 PM
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Bill- many people say you can slant successfully on any steel guitar if you work hard enough at it, and that's probably true, but after doing some homework in the Forum archives and playing as many non-pedal guitars as I can in the last year or so, I've come to think that 3/8" string spacing at both nut and bridge ("Straight No Taper")for 6-8 strings is ideal for slants (working especially well for the 22"-23" scale lengths). The typical taper, with spacing that narrows a little (3/8" to 11/32", bridge to nut) like a GeorgeBoards or a West Coast, or a lot (Fender, Sierra) on the way to the nut, may offer the advantages of picking room for the right hand and bar coverage for the left. But for slants, that taper is somewhat of a liability. I wouldn't avoid an otherwise great-playing/sounding instrument for that reason, though. Lots of better and more experienced players than me don't know or care what the string spacing of their guitars is, or the exact scale length, for that matter. The harder you work on slants, the less of an issue it becomes. If you don't slant at all, then other factors will form your preference. --Steve
[This message was edited by Stephan Miller on 07 September 2005 at 10:02 AM.] |
Richard Brandt
Member From: Waymart, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 07 September 2005 07:10 AM
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Jerry Byrd recommended to me many years ago that the 3/8 spacing was the best and also a 22and a half inch scale.A long scale may give you a little better sustane but your bar slants at the low end of the neck will be more difficult to make accurate.
Richard Brandt
Triple Rickenbacher
Jerry Byrd Sho Bud
J.B Fry Pan,Elva West Fry Pan
Johnson Resonator (Dobro) |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
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posted 07 September 2005 08:38 AM
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I have a 3/8 inch spacing , and a 22 1/2 inch scale on my 7 string Elva West Frypan, and it work's VERY well for me ...Plenty of room to pick, pole pieces are on the money, and the 22 1/2 inch scale work's well for slants .... There is plenty of sustain, especially when I run it through a tube amp ....Jim | |
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