Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have been trying to read up about string spacing on 12 string guitars but I am somewhat confused. Can anyone advise what dimensions should be equalized as per the diagram below:

i.e.

A = Distance between the center of each string pair
B = Distance between inside edge of each string in a pair
C = Distance between the center line of each string in a pair
D = Distance between outside edge of each string in a pair
E = Distance between the outside edge of string in between string pairs



Thanks in advance for any advice!

Great question. I've never seen anyone tackle it in such detail, but I do think such study is totally worthwhile. All I can say is, there is wide variety among all RIC models and eras. I had a 2005 PRS 22/12 that I loved the string spacing of, and I had it replicated on a Hohner TE Custom XII. The strings within each course are very close together. It doesn't work as well on the Hohner as it did on the PRS, unfortunately, and the tech that did it had a hard time not breaking the little piece of nut in the middle of each course, since it was so thin. Since I accept so many other quirks as a part of being firmly rooted in the RIC world, I've never bothered to nail down a custom nut on a Rick. I think my most comfortable to play is probably my 370/12RM. It's a Sept 1989, and measures as follows:

Going in order EADGBE in mm:

Distance A: 6.3, 7.0, 6.0, 5.9, 6.2
Distance B: 1.5, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.8, 1.4
C: 2.3, 2.1, 1.8, 1.7, 2.0, 1.6
D: 3.0, 2.9, 2.8, 2.2, 2.2, 2.1
E: 3.0, 4.1, 3.6, 3.9, 3.7
F: 2.4, 2.2
G: 41.3

These are not very accurate - I only have the common cheap digital calipers most people buy online. Give or take 0.1-0.2mm with each of these measurements, unfortunately.

Peter, it's impossible to answer this question and still be accurate for all models, years and variation in production.

The big variable is the width of the nut/fretboard end. When repair techs and luthiers make a nut for a guitar, they measure the nut width first, then subtract a standard width from the edge of the fretboard on the high/low E strings.

Then it's a math equation dividing the rest of the space between the other four pairs of strings (allowing room for the thickness of the string itself and the space between the octave and standard strings).

Hi jdogic12 and Colin

Many thanks for taking the time to read and respond – your inputs are very appreciated! I am going to give the spacing as shown in the sketch below a try. My rationale was to set the distance from the outside diameter of the bottom and top E strings respectively to be as close to the edge as I dared.

I then went to equalize the spacing based on the centers of each string pair. I have no idea if this will work out or not!

I got an aluminum custom nut 3D printed to these dimensions which arrived the other day. I just started to file the slots a little deeper and will finish them once I get the nut on the guitar. I don’t have much free time these days and I am a slow worker so it will probably be a few weeks before I know how this comes together. Like you mentioned jdog, I worried about breaking the space between the pairs but the aluminum material seems pretty robust…. so far…

I got a set of Infeld IF210 flat wound strings:

.010 .013 .010 .013 .020 .025
.010 .013 .020 .025 .035 .044

This is the set I ultimately want to have on. However I got a set of D’Addario XL first to use for the initial set up and practice with – those Infelds are damn expensive so I don’t want to mess them up!

The D’Addario are not exactly the same sizes but hopefully should be close enough to allow for an initial good set up:

.010 .013 .008 .012 .018 .026
.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046

Thanks again and wish me luck!

So, it's been over 6 months since I posted this thread.... well I did say I was a slow worker...

I finally got around to installing this custom spaced aluminium nut and you can see what it looks like.... note I busted the octave G - actually not busted as such.. when I was all done and feeling quite proud of myself, I was trimming the string ends from the tuners, I managed to cut the actual string in this case rather that the end.... .... damn I think I need new glasses...



I think I've taken the dimensions to most I can get away with, but with my huge hands and fat fingers, seem I can actually play this a bit now! I need to live with it a while but initial feeling is positive... of course I can judge better when I get a new string.... it would be a damn .008.... new set ordered and in the post!