You’ve replaced your worn-out nut, the string height is dialed in, but something still feels off.
Photo: Martin Hesketh from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Perhaps your bass strings feel cramped, your fingers stumbling over each other on chords, or certain single-note runs feel surprisingly awkward. The real problem? Inaccurate string spacing. It’s a subtle but critical detail often overlooked in DIY setups, leading to what pros call “crowded bass strings” and that nagging feeling that your guitar isn’t playing as comfortably or “fast” as it could be. Look, as dedicated builders and serious hobbyists, our time and the quality of our work are everything. Sure, a master luthier can probably eyeball perfect proportional spacing after decades on the bench, but you shouldn’t have to. The path to doing more, quicker, and constantly improving applies here too. As I always say, I’m no pro, but I want pro tools so with my limited skills, I know at least the tools aren’t holding me back. True mastery is often about leveraging the right tools to get pro-level results **without the tedious repetition of trial and error.**
📐 Pro String Spacing? Here’s How Dan Erlewine Simplifies It
When it comes to string spacing, Dan Erlewine from StewMac is basically *the* guy. In this essential video, he walks through his proven method for getting perfectly aligned strings on a new bone nut. Sure, the know-how behind it took him years to nail, but he’s got it down to an art that’s now surprisingly straightforward for us to follow.
📏 The Game-Changer: The StewMac String Spacing Rule
For us, who aren’t trying to spend years developing Dan’s exact knack for eyeballing it, there’s a game-changing piece of gear. His accumulated mastery? It’s been built right into the StewMac String Spacing Rule (Amazon). This isn’t just any old rule; it automatically handles different string thicknesses. Unlike those basic methods that just put strings equal distance from center-to-center (which almost always gives you those frustratingly ‘crowded bass strings’), this rule has Dan’s proportional spacing baked right in. It means your strings will feel just right under your fingers – making complex chords and fast runs smooth and effortless. Honestly, it transforms a good setup into a genuinely professional-feeling instrument, quick as a flash.
🧰 Before You Start: The Nut Blank & Essential Tools
Before you even grab the spacing rule, you’ll need your materials and tools lined up. For the best tone and classic feel, we always lean towards a quality bone nut blank. This StewMac Unbleached Bone Nut Blank for Fender (Amazon) is a great place to start. Just a heads up, bone can be a bit ‘slippery,’ so being super precise when you mark your slots is key. The rule helps with the layout, but when it comes to cutting those perfect, binding-free slots—the ones that truly make a difference—you really can’t skip on quality files. The StewMac Gauged Nut Slotting File Set for Electric Guitar, for Medium Strings (Amazon) are basically designed to eliminate guesswork, giving you clean, accurate slots that are crucial for a truly great setup.
📝 Beyond the Tool: Nailing the Full Pro Process
While the String Spacing Rule makes a massive difference, getting truly perfect results still means following a careful process:
- Set Your Boundaries First:
This is critical. Get your high and low E strings on the nut with just enough tension to keep them in place. Nudge each one carefully so it’s sitting about 1/16th of an inch in from the fretboard edge. This is what keeps your strings from flying off while you play! Once they’re exactly where you want them, make a small mark and nick these points with a sharp file. That defines your overall string width. - Let the Rule Work Its Magic:
With those outer marks in place, grab your String Spacing Rule. Line it up against your nut blank and slide it until the rule’s six pre-marked spots line up perfectly with your outside E string marks. Suddenly, the rule tells you exactly where your inner four string slots need to go. No more guessing, no more complicated math. - Mark with Precision:
Dan’s got a couple of ways he likes to do this. You can simply “pencil in the other marks” right onto the bone through the rule’s slots, or if you’re feeling keen, you can directly “scribe the marks into the bone through these slots” with a sharp scribing tool. Either way, you’re transferring that perfect proportional spacing straight onto your nut, ready for filing. - File Carefully:
Now for the cutting. Using your precision nut slotting files, gently work each slot down to the right depth at those newly marked points. Remember, bone is notoriously slippery, so take your time and file slowly and deliberately. This is where you keep your spacing spot-on and avoid any nasty slips.
✨ The Payoff: Effortless Playability & That ‘Pro’ Feeling
Plug in, fret a chord, run a scale. The difference in feel is huge. Those strings will just fall perfectly under your fingers, chords will sound more open, and suddenly those complex licks feel super fluid. That satisfying feeling—of everything just *working* perfectly—is what happens when you nail details like proportional string spacing. It really does make you feel like a next-level pro in your craft. You’re taking a master’s insights, using the right tools, and seriously elevating your own work, producing a result you can genuinely sleep at night knowing is absolutely spot-on.
The line between ‘correct’ and ‘comfortable’ string spacing is personal. What method or discovery made it finally feel right for you? Join the conversation below.