Archtop with wide string spacing?

MD1983 · #1 10-24-2016, 12:53 PM

Anyone know what my cheapest options are to get an archtop with at least 1 3/4" nut width and at least 2 5/16" string spacing at the bridge? I'm coming from acoustics and play fingerstyle with bare flesh, so would really love wide spacing. Thanks.

mr. beaumont · #2 10-24-2016, 01:30 PM

I don't know about bridge spacing, but the Loar 600/700 series are 1 3/4 at the nut.

The non-cutaway versions do have a pretty pronounced V-neck, just FYI.

Steve DeRosa · #3 10-24-2016, 03:47 PM

1-3/4" is easy to get - have a tech trim and reslot the bridge top to your preferred spacing...

MD1983 · #4 10-24-2016, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

1-3/4" is easy to get - have a tech trim and reslot the bridge top to your preferred spacing...

Yeah, this was what I was hoping was a reasonable solution. Thank you!

tdq · #5 10-24-2016, 04:24 PM

I have a Loar 700 and although it is spec'd at 1 3/4 it feels smaller - it seemd to measure a bit less when I tried measuring it. I tried putting on a 1 3/4" nut, it was a bit wide and the E strings on either side were very close to the edge. I'm no expert though and one of these days I'll take to someone who knows what they are doing - I really would like it to feel like my other 1 3/4 nut guitars under my left hand. I really like the guitar but it does feel a little cramped for me when finger picking.

hesson11 · #6 10-24-2016, 06:11 PM

Eastman archtops are, I believe, all 1-3/4" nut widths. I don't know about bridge spacing.
-Bob

MC5C · #7 10-24-2016, 06:37 PM

1.75 nuts are often paired with 2.125" bridges for steel string archtops. The issue is the taper of the neck. You may need to have a custom build to get the geometry you desire. I am currently building an archtop with 1.950" or so nut width, and 2.25" to 2.325" bridge spacing in order to emulate a classical guitars.

tdq · #8 10-24-2016, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC5C

1.75 nuts are often paired with 2.125" bridges for steel string archtops. The issue is the taper of the neck. You may need to have a custom build to get the geometry you desire. I am currently building an archtop with 1.950" or so nut width, and 2.25" to 2.325" bridge spacing in order to emulate a classical guitars.

So are you saying, in my case at least, that I should be looking at the string spacing on the bridge end as well? I'll look at my flattop measurements and see how they compare.

Steve DeRosa · #9 10-24-2016, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC5C

1.75 nuts are often paired with 2.125" bridges for steel string archtops. The issue is the taper of the neck. You may need to have a custom build to get the geometry you desire...

- or not, although you're absolutely right about the taper of the neck; Gretsch used (and still uses) their Space Control bridge to allow for settings from ultra-tight to Chet-approved fingerstyle wide - any good tech should be able to determine whether or not a simple re-cut bridge top would in fact be a viable option...

Epiphonist · #10 11-03-2016, 12:22 AM

My c. 1932-1935 Epiphone archtops have rather wide fretboards which are similar to a Martin OM which typically have a 1 3/4" nut with 2 5/16" string spacing at bridge. The Epis' original setup is more narrow with much space between E strings and edge. I guess you could easily make the spacing wider with reworked slots on nut/bridge (may need a slightly wider bridge).

Felix

Jabberwocky · #11 11-03-2016, 04:33 AM

1.75" nut width is pretty hard to come by on a factory archtop. The aforementioned Loars started out at 1.75" but they have been gravitating towards the 1 11/16th" nut width for some time now. If you want one take a Starrett ruler along with you.

But we are really talking about wider string spacing here, not necessarily a wider nut. You could have a nut cut with wider string spacing. Move the bass E2 string closer to the edge of the fretboard and leave more room on the treble e4 string side. You require more room to keep the e4 from slipping off the fretboard. With the E2, not so likely to push it off as we tend to pull on it more.

That opens up your options to many more guitars with the 1 11/16th" nut width.

Mr. Scott · #12 11-03-2016, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hesson11

Eastman archtops are, I believe, all 1-3/4" nut widths. I don't know about bridge spacing.
-Bob

You're dead right there. Eastman make some nice archtops, some carved, some laminated but they all, as far as I know, have 1.75" nuts. They fall into the "reasonably priced" bracket, too.