Does my fret spacing have to change if I use thicker strings?

[Vimana]

Title says it all.

 

[jeffadies]

No.. should be fine.

 

[Force666]

Your intonation will have to be changed. But you can't change the fret spacing.

 

[STINNETT]

If someone were to say yes, what exactly would you do about it?

Seriously, are you really talking about the action or the neck relief or something like that, perhaps?

The fret spacing only changes if you change the scale length, but as was mentioned - you'll probably have to adjust the intonation at the very least if you go with much heavier gauge strings.

 

[Saculus]

If by fret spacing you mean the distance between the string and the fret, what most around here would call action, the answer is no it doesn't have to change. However you may need to tighten the truss rod to keep the same action as a lighter gauge string at the same tuning. If you are not comfortable adjusting it have a good tech at a guitar repair shop do a set up for the new gauge strings.

 

[JBroll]

If you increase the tension (with thicker strings or a higher tuning) you can get away with a lower action because the string vibration is narrower, and if you decrease the tension you'll need a higher action to avoid fret buzz.

Jeff

 

[Vimana]

If by fret spacing you mean the distance between the string and the fret, what most around here would call action, the answer is no it doesn't have to change. However you may need to tighten the truss rod to keep the same action as a lighter gauge string at the same tuning. If you are not comfortable adjusting it have a good tech at a guitar repair shop do a set up for the new gauge strings.

What I mean by fret spacing is distance between each fret.

 

[JBroll]

No, you don't need to change that. If you did, you'd be fucked, really...

The fret distances are all calculated by taking a specific percentage of the scale length and shoving a fret there, then recalculating the distance corresponding to that percentage of the length left over, and so on and so forth. The string gauge doesn't matter much, apart from maybe making intonation adjustments necessary.

Jeff

 

[guitarguru1969]

Jeff is dead on! I even had a client of mine ask why i'd changed his fret spacing because the low f, and f# were a little off from his open E. The funny thing is you can't change the relation between these notes at this range by neck relief or bridge placement. The guitar frets are placed by mathmatical formula, not by note recognition. Therefore the relation of space between frets has been determined by a formula, not by cents of a note. The neck relief plays a part in this but it is sooooo minimal that I BEG you to tell me the difference intoanation wise without a real accurate tuner, and even then maybe not. I actualy experimented with a real accurate tuner, an old guitar neck, a piece of wood with a radius cut out to match the radius of my neck. a rubber mallot, and a few beers. I began to pound every fret into close to perfect tuning by bumping them sharp flat or a combination of both and I drove myself nuts! Moral of this story, get a reputable guitar and have it checked by a tech or luthier and have them make the proper adjustments dependng on string gauge and tuning. If you find the right tech he'll help you by explaining the adjustments made and work with you to make "it" right, and you'll have a wealth of information on how to set up your own guitar to "your specs." Ask around I am sure their is someone real near you that can get you on the right path to making your guitar right.