Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey, I've been using the SM string spacing ruler and so far I love it...I'm trying to make a nut for the 12-string I just finished, and am nervous about the string spacing...I came in 1/8" from each side of the nut and used the string rule to find the centers of the remaining "4" strings ala a 6-string model, but I'm not sure how far to part the pair strings or if this will work at all. Anyone out there built a 12-string and done this math? Howard?

Thanks,
Larry

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Larry -
I just did two 12 strings and ran into the same problems you are thinking about. Turns out that the 12 string nut is quite complicated to lay out properly-6 courses of two strings with enough room in between each course so that it could be played and differentiated between courses. Laying it out with Stew Mac ruler or proportional dividers did not work. I found that laying out according to the rulers or divider made the big and little string courses either too close together or to far apart. I finally resorted to laying out (and stringing up)the two outside strings (as far out as I could go) and then laying in the big "E" string next to its' smaller brethern started the process. I cut the slot for the big "E" and installed the string. Then from the big "E" to the little "E" I marked out just like a 6 string using Stew Mac's steel ruler. I cut those slots and installed those strings. Then I added all of the rest of the high strings and laid them out by eye so that they looked right. Marked them with a pencil and then cut the slots. Now they looked proportional to each other and to each course of strings. Job finished! Good luck!!!! Sylvan38534.7426388889

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

Sylvan, thanks for the quick reply! I'm trying to get out in the shop and do this thing, but I wanted some wisdom from the forum first! So, you're saying to string up the hi E treble, and the hi E bass...then string up the low E by eye and then use the SM ruler to go from the low E on thru the rest of the low strings in a normal manner, laying the paired strings in by eye?

Thanks,

Larry

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Larry -
That is exactly correct!

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

Hi Sylvan, I got excited and gave it a try last night...I figured I could just make another nut if I ruined this one, but it seemed to work fine. Now if I can just get the action top and bottom where it should be, I'm home free!

Thanks again!

Larry

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http://www.presnallguitars.com