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Permalink Reply by David L. on August 21, 2016 at 12:35pm

Hi Will,

I made an 8 string guitar a while back and found it difficult to get an answer. The discussion on this site asking about 8string Ukes suggests 6mm between double courses at the nut and 9mm at the bridge. The final comment at the end says there is a large variation between different makers (which also seems to be the case with guitars)
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukulele/comments/3b3m38/anyone_with_an_8_s...

Attached should be a photo of 4 strings originating from the same point and expanding at the same rate. For a 4 string instrument you hold it against the nut and decide the width you want on the nut of the two outer strings. Fold the paper at this point and you can use it to mark evenly the position you want the four string slots to be on the nut. From the information above if you add 4 more lines 6mm (if you decide this is the gap you want) to the right of the four strings marked you can use it in the same way to mark the 8 slots.

Good luck,
David L.

Attachments:

• image.jpeg, 131 KB

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Permalink Reply by Will T on August 22, 2016 at 1:12am

Thanks so much - I really appreciate the info!

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Permalink Reply by JL on August 22, 2016 at 1:05am

spend a few minutes at your favorite instrument store playing an 8 string mandolin, and a 12 string guitar. Functionality comes before rules, so you want the doubles 'juuuuuust' far enough apart to be able to play one or both, and just enough space between sets for YOUR fingers to fit so you can play a fingered chord without a fingertip overlapping to the next set...

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Permalink Reply by Will T on August 22, 2016 at 1:12am

Good advice... I have owned a couple of 12 string guitars - that can be a real issue. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on August 22, 2016 at 9:04am

Try googling mandolin string spacing

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Permalink Reply by Will T on August 22, 2016 at 10:32am

Thank you - I think I have it figured out now.

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