Nut width vs. String space at saddle

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Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Nut width vs. String space at saddle

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

I've been looking at the Martin specs for string spacing at the saddle vs. nut width. Using 1 3/4" nut width and assuming 16" fretboard radius, I found varying string bridge spacing depending on neck profiles, ie:

2 1/6" string space for modified V, 2 1/8" for performing artist, 2 1/16" for modified low oval, and 2 1/4" for low profile.

Why?
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
tippie53
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Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Nut width vs. String space at saddle

Post by tippie53 »

where did you find that info
I can tell you that martin spacing's are
usually
nut 1 11/16 in
12th 2 1/8
bridge may be 2 1/8 to 2 3/16

nut 1 3/4
12 th 2 1/8 to 2 1/4
bridge
2 3/16 to 2 5/16

some custom spacing had been done but the standard is this.
In the older days before PLEC they nut was done with gauge and by eye so there may be
a variance because of that.
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Nut width vs. String space at saddle

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

tippie53 wrote:where did you find that info
I can tell you that martin spacing's are
usually
nut 1 11/16 in
12th 2 1/8
bridge may be 2 1/8 to 2 3/16

nut 1 3/4
12 th 2 1/8 to 2 1/4
bridge
2 3/16 to 2 5/16

some custom spacing had been done but the standard is this.
In the older days before PLEC they nut was done with gauge and by eye so there may be
a variance because of that.
Haha.

I transferred all of my notes into my new phone and it messed up the formatting. It dropped the note I made that these were the widths of necks at the 12th fret, but moved the bridge string spacing wording up, without the rest of the notes.

I knew that didn't seem right, because I copied and pasted info from Martin into my phone.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
ruby@magpage.com
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Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: Nut width vs. String space at saddle

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

John

I have always wondered about this. You want the strings to make a nice parallel to the edges of the fretboard. Scale length would have a tiny effect on it. Why would there be a variation at the bridge with a constant at the 12 fret?

nut 1 11/16 in
12th 2 1/8
bridge 2 1/8 to 2 3/16

Ed
Ed M
tippie53
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Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
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Re: Nut width vs. String space at saddle

Post by tippie53 »

that is the way they did it
Just tradition
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
bftobin
Posts: 64
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 12:27 pm

Re: Nut width vs. String space at saddle

Post by bftobin »

John, do you have the spacing for the old OM's 1 7/8" or 2" ?
Thanks
Brent
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