Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:14 am


All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: 12 string tuner spacing
PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:55 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:34 pm
Posts: 507
Location: ottawa, ontario, ca
First name: Mike
Last Name: McNerney
City: Ottawa
State: On
Country: Ca
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
What is a good machine head spacing for 12 string. I have a harmony that is 4.6" ish. I'm thinking more like 5" ish.
I'm using Schaller 506a mini. Is there a string winder out there that works on 12 strings?

_________________
Mike McNerney


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 10:06 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:46 pm
Posts: 126
First name: William
Last Name: Bustard
Country: CANADA
I used vintage style Klusons like on a strat on one I did. So 4 11/16ths seems to work well for those.

_________________
You just pick up a chord, go twang, and you're got music. -Sid Vicious


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 10:17 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:44 am
Posts: 5398
First name: colin
Last Name: north
Country: Scotland.
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
I used 5" with minis, comfy spacing.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:36 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:46 pm
Posts: 2124
First name: Freeman
Last Name: Keller
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I think that 4.61 (0.922 between posts) is pretty common for the industry. Both StewMac's six on a plate paddle head and slot head tuners use that spacing, I did on both of my 12 strings

Attachment:
IMG_2018.JPG


I used mini Grovers on mine and happen to hate the big washers, I would change the tuners but there is already an imprint in the lacquer. I think I can get my little plastic string winder between the knobs, but I honestly don't find stringing or tuning either guitar the hassle that people seem to think it is.

I did make drilling jigs for both guitars - it was very important on the slot head to have the spacing exact so there wouldn't be any binding

Attachment:
IMG_1966.JPG


Attachment:
IMG_0509.JPG


Last comment - the paddle head is an OM body and long Martin scale, it (barely) fits in a standard case - if the head was any longer it would require a custom case. The slot head is a very long scale 000 and did require a custom case. Just one of those minor things that I like to think about before I start building.


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 7:42 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:34 pm
Posts: 507
Location: ottawa, ontario, ca
First name: Mike
Last Name: McNerney
City: Ottawa
State: On
Country: Ca
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
thanks all. I've gone with 5.125. cause I find the standard ones hard to tune so close together. mines a 12th fret at the body so it may look a bit oversize but it fit's in the case.

_________________
Mike McNerney


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: bobgramann, Ken Nagy and 50 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com