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What determines the string spacing at the nut? Does it affect tone or just playability or something else, or all of the above?

Thanks,
Ed

nut width is by design. Most common nut widths are 1 11/16 in and 1 3/4 in. If you have a kit you can measure the nut width off the fretboard. If not that, you can measure the string spacing.
Common spacing is
nut 1 11/16 in 12th fret width 2 1/8
nut 1 3/4 in 12th fret 2 1/4 in

I measure my 2 outside strings just under 1/8" from the nut edge and use a string spacing guide (Stewmac brand) to locate the other 4 strings positions.

Ben posted what I forgot.
I agree with Ben your spacing off the edge of the fretboard for the 1st and 6th strings should be .100 to .125 then measure center to center divide by 5 and there you have it. Ben uses a gauge I use a dial caliper
use that you feel most comfortable with

Love that stew mac string spacing ruler. It has made my life a simpler.

Thanks, you've answered my real question. I'm assuming from the responses that one does not need to use the spacing commonly found on guitars as standard spacing. There's no reason I couldn't use a spacing that differs from the commonly used ones. I hope that's a correct interpretation anyway.

Ed

there are a few industry standards.
1 11/16 at the nut and 1 3/4 are most common

You have a couple things going into the equation Ed. 1. Nut width and 2. string spacing on the nut itself. Then making sure it all lines up correctly going down the FB. Usually the saddle string spacing is around the same as the 12th fret width (but that varies to).

The thing you have to be careful of at the nut is not spreading that spacing out to far so that the strings when fretted get "pulled or pushed" (the hi and lo E) off the FB.

Thanks guys!

Ed