Narrow String Spacing

[Elias Graves]

Hey all, I'm working on a new hollow body and the string spacing is narrower than standard. It measures 46mm at the neck pickup location and 48mm at the bridge pickup location.
Spacing off the top is about 3/4" at neck and 1" at bridge.
Flat top.
I haven't cut it yet, so routes are a non issue til I buy something.
What would work well for a narrow spaced guitar? Should I stick with a blade style or does someone offer alternate pole spacings?

The guitar in question:

[LtKojak]

May I ask you the motivation for the narrower string spacing?

I, for one, have modded all my guitars so they have 52mm at the bridge and 35mm at the nut. All seven of them!

Before that, It felt awkward when playing different guitars, specially the picking hand. I couldn't be as precise as I wanted to be.

YMMV.

[Elias Graves]

Just my preference. I'm setting this one up for my solo gig, which is nearly all rhythm work. I like the narrower spacing for barre chords with my short fingers.

[David Schwab]

You should get some pickups that use blades and not individual poles. Of the commercial pickups that would work well for that type of guitar, try either Bill Lawrence/Wilde (not Lawrence USA), or Bartolini.

That's a nice looking guitar. I hope you are going to put a finish on it.

[Elias Graves]

You should get some pickups that use blades and not individual poles. Of the commercial pickups that would work well for that type of guitar, try either Bill Lawrence/Wilde (not Lawrence USA), or Bartolini.

That's a nice looking guitar. I hope you are going to put a finish on it.

I've been thinking about putting some firebird pups in it.

Yeah, the finish isn't done yet. It's walnut and the black stain is actually an ebonizing solution made from steel dissolved in vinegar. The ferric oxide reacts with the tannic acid in the walnut and turns black.
I'm starting with an oil/varnish finish. I'll see how that goes and I may top coat it with shellac or something.

Here's what it looks like with the oil finish.

[David Schwab]

Nice looking guitar. What's the fingerboard made of? Looks like bubinga.

Get some Watco danish oil. it's an oil varnish blend. I used it on this fretless:

[Elias Graves]

Fretboard is Honduran rosewood.

[Elias Graves]

I installed the tele neck pickup last night to test everything out and see how the pole piece alignment issue works out. The pickup is the neck pup of a Fender original vintage set.



It sounds really good but the high E especially has a volume drop. I guess a blade is gonna be the way I need to go as it seems 48mm spaced pickups are hard to come by.

[Elias Graves]

And a quick video of my son noodling on it after installation. Played through a blues junior.

Walnut hollowbody first check - YouTube

[tedmich]

some like it narrow!

[Elias Graves]

Haha. I like the narrow spacing, myself.
Limits pickup choices, but, whatever. I'll find something that fits.

Actually, it looks like a set of casino pups might work. They have 48mm and 50mm spacing and that's pretty close. Have a set rewound so they aren't so damned hot and I might be in business.

[David Schwab]

some like it narrow!

Geeze... and I thought my Mosrite Ventures bass was too narrow!

I do like my Ibanez SR-885LE five string though. It's fairy narrow. I got so used to it that I reshaped the neck on one of my hand made basses to match.