Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi
I am building another 12 string. Last time I set it up with a 1 7/8ths nut
with string spacing of 0.07 between strings in a pair and 0.19 between
pairs.

What do the rest of you do. I am considering placing each string pair closer
together. Any issues with that?
I was thinking of 0.0625 within a pair and 0.2 between pairs. Any
drawbacks with tighter spacing within each pair???

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Andy, I go .0625 between and have had no issues. I would think if you go much more than than you run a risk of them vibrating against each other when played. That could be bad. But I've had no problems with .0625.

there are two issues, one the space between stings in a pair, and the space between the centerline of each pair.

i would have to look for the figures, but i use an increasingly wider spacing between the centerlines of each string in a pair as i go from treble to bass, and use the s-m string spacing rule to set the centre line for each pair, which also of course gives an increasingly wider space as well. once i have the cl's marked, i use a compass to mark the individual strings, setting it to 1/2 the pair's string centreline spacing.

Michael My numbers above are the actual spaces. I have calculated the
actual spacing based on each string width center to center.
That data is actually:

Center to center numbers
Edge to center of 1 = 0.13
1 to 2 = .0725
2 to 3 = 0.212
3 to 4 = 0.0765
4 to 5 = 0.218
5 to 6 = 0.0785
6 to 7 = 0.219
7 to 8 = 0.0835
8 to 9 = 0.225
9 to 10 = 0.090
10 to 11 = 0.233
11 to 12 = 0.0995
12 to edge = 0.138
These numbers actually give 0.0625 BETWEEN strings in a pair and 0.20
BETWEEN pairs. This spaces the thicker strings further apart, but leaves
the spaces identical. My last guitar was a bit wider within pairs.   I was
just curious if 0.0625 was too close togther. It sounds like Paul uses this.

I calculated these numbers so I could actually mark out the nut for the
center if each string!!

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Andy,
Not sure you noticed, but I do now offer 2 12 string neck templates...one is the 1996 Taylor® 12 String Model 655, and the other is the 2002 Larivee® 12 String. If you need any information from the template that is not shown on the web site(like neck thickness at 1st and last fret), just let me know. Good luck with the build!

You can get them HERE
Tracy

_________________
Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Thanks Andy for starting this topic as I am just at the end of a 12 string build myself and am trying to figure spacing.
I assume you are building an acoustic.
Can I go a tad tighter for an electric 12 string or should I fallow the same numbers rule as described here?

Thanks guys!

Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com