I Narrowed the String Spacing on My Classical Today

[Thumbs-R-Me]

I've had a classical guitar for many years. It has a 2" wide nut. The string spacing was 1.70" center to center from high E to low E. I decided that I wanted the string spacing to be a little smaller (i.e. closer together) so today I removed the old nut and installed a new one. I made the string spacing on the new nut 1.53". I kept the high E string in the same location as before and just moved all the strings slightly closer (downward) to narrow the string spacing.

Now the guitar will still have a 2" wide nut and fingerboard, but the strings will be spaced as if the nut were just slightly less than 1 7/8" wide. I didn't try to change the spacing of the strings at the saddle.

If I ever decide I want to go back to the original string spacing, all I have to do is change back to the original nut (a very simple job).

[Odie1974]

And how do you like the change? Is it easier to play now?
Should be excelent for fingerstyle I think - easy on the left hand and lots of string space for the right hand...

[Thumbs-R-Me]

Originally Posted by Odie1974

And how do you like the change? Is it easier to play now?
Should be excelent for fingerstyle I think - easy on the left hand and lots of string space for the right hand...

I haven't played it yet. I wanted to let the glue which was used to hold the new nut in place dry overnight before bringing the strings fully up to tune. I also replaced the treble strings with new ones. I'll tune it up later today and give it a try and let you know how I like it.

I also sanded down the top of the saddle slightly before putting the strings back on. The saddle height was reduced very slightly, but not very much. I didn't measure it.

[johninmass]

Originally Posted by Thumbs-R-Me

I also sanded down the top of the saddle slightly before putting the strings back on. The saddle height was reduced very slightly, but not very much. I didn't measure it.

Is the right way to lower the action at the saddle? I always thought you sanded down the underside of the saddle.

[Garthman]

Originally Posted by johninmass

Is the right way to lower the action at the saddle? I always thought you sanded down the underside of the saddle.

So you should. But I suppose on an uncompensated straight classical saddle you could get away with sanding the top as long as you round off the sanded edges.

[Thumbs-R-Me]

Well, I got it tuned up and it works good. Occasionally if I pick/pluck a string real hard, I'll hear a slight buzz coming from the saddle area. I may need to go back and do a better job of rounding the top of the saddle the next time I change strings. I don't think I'll take the strings off now just for a very minor occasional buzzing.

The closer spacing of the strings at the nut makes some of the chords easier to reach. An added benefit is that when I switch over and play my electric guitar which has much tighter string spacing, there won't be as much of a change from one guitar to another. Now if I could just get an electric guitar with about a 1 7/8" nut, I'd be all set.