String spacing on mid 90's S-500

[Soli Deo Gloria]

Hi, new to the forum here.

I have a mid 90's 3-bolt neck S-500, which I love. But wanted to ask if there is a way to space the strings out a little wider like the Mayer strat is. It seems a little too close for me and I end up muting (not on purpose) some strings.

Does anyone have similar preference and have done anything to encounter this issue? Or any suggestions?

Thank you.

[Philby]

I have a 1996 S-500 and, yes, the strings are pretty close together. They have to be though, because the neck is very narrow at the nut. I installed a replacement Graphtech nut which has a standard strat string spacing, but the high and low E strings tend to fall off the fret board with this arrangement. So I ended up putting the old nut back.

I intend to put another Graphtech nut back in and cut it to the same width as the original nut. I like the way the everything stays in tune with Graphtech.

In the end you'll end up getting used to the tight spacing. Don't give up!

[Soli Deo Gloria]

Thank you for your reply.

Yes the neck by the nut is narrow. I guess I need to find a guitar with wider neck at the top. First string always seems to be falling off the neck if I'm not careful.

I guess I'll just have to adjust.

[Xochitl]

I don't exactly remembet but my S-500 is a 94 or 97 model. Its nut spacing is at 1.5/8 (if I measured correctly) and noticed that all my guitars are 1.5/8, which is finally quite a standard nut spacing. What do you call narrow?

[Soli Deo Gloria]

My fingers feel more cramped in versus Mayer strat and the Tele that I've played.

I read the nut spacing and it's very minor in terms of it being more narrow that the Fenders but I definitely feel it.

[californiakev]

I have an early 2000's legacy hb and a 09' s-500 and there is definitly a difference. The s-500 has a wider string spacing at the bridge and feels the same as my strat. The other one feels a bit narrow for me, but you do get used to it. But like you, I prefer the wider "normal" feeling string spacing. I think the only option is to buy a new tremolo with wider spacing since they don't sell saddles idividually. They're like 90 bucks if I remember right.

[Boogie Bill]

Do you play with fingers or pick? It doesn't really matter--I'm just curious.

I know G&L does make some optional necks that are wider. You might want to check with your dealer to see if it possible to have a wider neck retro-fitted to your guitar--or consider ordering a new guitar from the factory with the wide-neck option.

I had a Gibson ES-150DCN back in the '70s that had a a 1-9/16" neck. That was too narrow for me to comfortably chord on. I was much younger then, and it took me a while to figure why that guitar wasn't working for me. It was terrific for single note leads, but not for chords. If you have large hands, the 1-5/8" #1 neck can be too narrow at the nut.

I switch between the G&Ls 1-5/8"'; Martin and Gibson necks at 1-11/16"; my Taylor 710 with its 1-3/4"; and my twelve-strings also have a wider nut. I'm used to switching back and forth all the time, between big necks (like my Gibson Historic '58 Plaintop--baseball bat!) and super-slim G&L necks to the modified V-neck of my Martin HD-28V, and the 1960 "Slim-Taper" necks on a couple of my Gibsons. With the constant switching of guitars, adjusting to the various necks is almost more mental than physical. After playing the G&Ls, the '58 LP feels HUGE--but I take a deep breath, and deal with it. And a lot nights, it can feel a bit weird going back to the Number ONE Legacy. But i put my mind to it, and I know I can adapt.

Now some folks have problems adapting to close string spacing at the bridge, especially if they are acoustic finger-pickers. If you are using a pick, there is hope. What you can do in the case of a Legacy, is PRACTICE. I think people under-estimate the power of practice to develop the correct muscle memory to tackle these situations. Think about this, if you were stranded on a desert island for a years, with that being your only source of solace and recreation--you'd learn to master it. And when you got rescued, a wider-spaced guitar would probably feel very strange indeed. Sometimes it's easier to just buy new gear, LOL; but you should put the work in first. Make sure you're not dumping the guitar prematurely.

Consider two of my favorite Strat-wielding guitarists: Jimi Hendrix and Bonnie Raitt. Jimi had big hands and long fingers--and played narrow neck models. Bonnie has the small hands with feminine fingers--yet plays a vintage Strat with a bigger neck.

My attitude is to not defeat myself. If the other guy can do it, well, then I can too!

Good luck!

Bill

[darwinohm]

This has been an interesting thread and Bill makes a good point and I will relate my experience. One of my favorite all time songs has been Wildwood Flower and Chet did a fine job. I play that song in the key of C. I worked on it over and over and had the mechanics down but had trouble with string buzz from my fingers between the strings. I have a PRS with the wide fat neck and would play the song on that. It turns out that Wildwood Flower is one of our best crowd pleasers and Steve does a harmony part with me. My point is that now that I have performed this song many times, I can play it on any of my guitars. Last time I performed it on a 52 Tele reissue, I play it on a G&L every morning. That is what practice has done for me. I have discovered that what used to be difficult , becomes easy. Practice has certainly paid off for me. I bet that you will adapt to the nut on the S-500 if you use it a lot. If you widen the nut spacing the strings get too close to the edge of the neck and slide off. Although, in the end I am an advocate of buying more guitars.-- Darwin

[Xochitl]

Although, in the end I am an advocate of buying more guitars.-- Darwin

Are you?