Spacing between strings

[MaineGeezer]

For my latest guitar I took the string widths into account and carefully figured string positions on the nut so the open gap between each string is the same, since I had the idea that doing so was "better" than simply making all the string center-to center distances the same. This results in the center-to-center distance between, say, the 6th and 5th strings being greater than the center-to-center distance between the 2nd and 1st strings.

I'm not sure I like it. I'm going to make another nut with equal center-to-center distances and see how that feels to me, but I'm curious: how do you do it?

[tippie53]

I do centers

[Diane Kauffmds]

I use equal center to center distance.

[Rag Thumb]

I use the spacing ruler from Stewmac, which I am guessing is center to center. I don't think they could compensate for different string diameters the way it works.

[ruby@magpage.com]

Rag

The SM ruler has the spaces gently wider between pairs so the space between the strings stays almost the same - not quite because of the G and B strings being wound and unwound, but close. My daughter has a shop (brooklynlutherie.com) and most of the pros she works with want the equal spaces rather than the equal spacing.

I can't tell the difference, but then again I am ham fisted and half deaf anyway

Ed Minch

[MaineGeezer]

Well, I made a new nut with equal center distances, and for me it's more comfortable to play. So that's what I'll use.

[Diane Kauffmds]

I've started using the Stewmac string space ruler with the slots. It's a nifty tool.

[tippie53]

I am old school and use a caliper spacing plotted on centers. Use what works best for you .
I tried the equal space between strings and it felt awkward to me.
Think of this till you get to the base string the centers are moved farther apart on the lower string
.012 .017 .024 .032 .046 .054
that really pushes the center lines.
if you have a gap of .300 per string the centers on the first 2 are about ..314 on center the 5th and 6 are about .0350 on center

Edited post math error

[MaineGeezer]

Yes -- when I drew equal spacing between strings for a 1-13/16" wide neck, the center distance between 6-5 came out to 0.3245" and the center distance between 2-1 was 0.2905". The difference is 0.034". One wouldn't think it would make much difference, but the difference in the way it feels to play is huge, at least for me.