Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

  1. #1
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Danmark
    Posts
    725

    Default Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

    I have restored a 100 year old mandolin but found after stringing it, that the strings went closer and closer to the edge of the fretboard as they got closer to the bridge.

    When trying to correct this I wondered if the pair should be totally parallel all the way or the distance between strings in a pair should go a bit wider at the bridge.

    I checked my mandolins and mandola and the result was 2-2 for parallel or wider.

    I feel that they should be parallel, for ease of playing, but my 2 most expensive mandolins go wider at the bridge.

    I decided on parallel for the restauration, as the original bridge but am still wondering.
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

  2. #2
    Registered User Tom C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Warwick, NY
    Posts
    3,985

    Default Re: Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

    I have one of the harmony bat wings. The strings get so far apart by the bridge, it makes it hard to play - A lot of taper. But the string dont get closer to edges of fretboard.

  3. #3
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    SD
    Posts
    3,658

    Default Re: Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

    I think it is more of a personal preference. In a perfect world I would like the pairs to be parallel all the way to the bridge but I would have the string to string spacing increase a bit moving up the board. I do t know if there is a Wright or wrong.
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

    It's best to make it a little wider at the bridge. This is because the strings move more in the middle of the string than they do at the stopped ends. Since we have less leeway due to ergonomics at the nut end, it works well to make the strings spaced more apart at the bridge. Due to the way each course of strings move, the higher courses can be quite a bit closer together than the lower courses.
    Using a progressive/proportional scale to establish this takes the guesswork out of it.

    Here's an example, not sure who posted it on here originally (maybe Andrew Mowry, maybe Tom Ellis, maybe Chris Baird) but it's labeled "Ellis nut/bridge spacing" so you know it's a keeper.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	ellis nut bridge spacing.jpg 
Views:	116 
Size:	63.8 KB 
ID:	193046

  5. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Marty Jacobson For This Useful Post:


  6. #5
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Danmark
    Posts
    725

    Default Re: Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by Marty Jacobson View Post
    It's best to make it a little wider at the bridge. This is because the strings move more in the middle of the string than they do at the stopped ends. Since we have less leeway due to ergonomics at the nut end, it works well to make the strings spaced more apart at the bridge. Due to the way each course of strings move, the higher courses can be quite a bit closer together than the lower courses.
    Using a progressive/proportional scale to establish this takes the guesswork out of it.

    Here's an example, not sure who posted it on here originally (maybe Andrew Mowry, maybe Tom Ellis, maybe Chris Baird) but it's labeled "Ellis nut/bridge spacing" so you know it's a keeper.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	ellis nut bridge spacing.jpg 
Views:	116 
Size:	63.8 KB 
ID:	193046
    Hehe. I was looking for an either/or but here is a third possibility. Thank You.
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

  7. The following members say thank you to poul hansen for this post:


  8. #6
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London, UK.
    Posts
    817

    Default Re: Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

    I tend to use approximately 4mm between each string of course at the bridge, and 2mm at the nut.

    I build a lot of nylon strung instruments though, so... needs more space.
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dusepo For This Useful Post:


  10. #7
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    SD
    Posts
    3,658

    Default Re: Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by Marty Jacobson View Post
    It's best to make it a little wider at the bridge. This is because the strings move more in the middle of the string than they do at the stopped ends. Since we have less leeway due to ergonomics at the nut end, it works well to make the strings spaced more apart at the bridge. Due to the way each course of strings move, the higher courses can be quite a bit closer together than the lower courses.
    Using a progressive/proportional scale to establish this takes the guesswork out of it.

    Here's an example, not sure who posted it on here originally (maybe Andrew Mowry, maybe Tom Ellis, maybe Chris Baird) but it's labeled "Ellis nut/bridge spacing" so you know it's a keeper.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	ellis nut bridge spacing.jpg 
Views:	116 
Size:	63.8 KB 
ID:	193046
    Well, I didn’t realize it but had to go check my Old Wave oval A. Pairs are
    About 2mm at the nut and 4mm at the bridge. I didn’t realize it!
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

  11. The following members say thank you to John Bertotti for this post:


  12. #8
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London, UK.
    Posts
    817

    Default Re: Distance between string pairs, the same or wider at bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by John Bertotti View Post
    Well, I didn’t realize it but had to go check my Old Wave oval A. Pairs are
    About 2mm at the nut and 4mm at the bridge. I didn’t realize it!
    Well there we go! I guess it's not just a nylon string thing then.
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •