String spacing ?

[pirate]

So I've been thinking about my first build, that I do love a lot, but always loved the feel from the string spacing of my Taylor T5 I used to have. I have the same neck width on my tele build as the T5, but the T5 had 2 3/16" string spacing at the bridge, and the Wilkinson tele bridge is 2 1/16" I think.

So I see these online....

http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/string-saver/product-detail/pg-8000-f0-string-saver-classics-strat-tele-style-2-3-16-string-spacing---brushed-steel?id=a4c03122-2bbe-485f-b3ad-4d4e157144ce

and wondering it they are a simple swap out, or do I need a larger bridge to accommodate. Anyone try these before? Tele bridges with 2 3/16" spacing aren't common except in so called vintage bridges, and I do like the "boxes" on the saddles, smoother on the hand, as opposed to the open, bent steel ones.

 

[stratamania]

You would need a bridge to accommodate the string spacing for the saddles. Its more of a vintage spacing that means the E strings are closer to the edge of the board which is less preferred by many.

Does the Taylor have a wider neck at the heel?

 

[pirate]

You would need a bridge to accommodate the string spacing for the saddles. Its more of a vintage spacing that means the E strings are closer to the edge of the board which is less preferred by many.

Does the Taylor have a wider neck at the heel?

Good question, I'd have to research that. I no longer have the T5. I know the nut width was the same, 1 11/16".
All the tele bridges I see, run from 2 1/16" to 2 3/16". The neck on my tele is gibson scale, not sure if that matters any or not as to the neck width at the body.

 

[Cagey]

It's not scale length you need to worry about, it's neck heel width. Standard Fender heel width is 2 3/16", so a bridge with saddles near that dimension are going to put the strings on the very edge of the fretboard, which can be tough to play without pushing/pulling strings off the neck.

 

[pirate]

Gotcha, I'm guessing the T5 neck is wider at the heel then to accommodate that. Makes me wonder then if vintage Fender necks were a tad wider back then, to allow that wider string spacing?

 

[Cagey]

That number has been around a long time. I suspect it had more to do with playing style. You find a truly old Tele/Strat and you'll often find the strings pretty close to the edge, with tinier frets. Not real easy to play by today's standards/preferences.

 

[Bikertrash2001]

My Strat build was a vintage body that has a 2 7/32" bridge with a neck that has a 1 11/16" nut width. I really haven't had any problems with the strings coming off the fretboard. I'm not a strangler, but I'm not gentle with bends either. I did however order a new bridge with vintage hole mounts but has a narrow string spacing. I found I liked the opposite after all with narrower spacing.