JS1000/1200 string spacing

[chris101]

Hi,

Over the years I've had a few JS1000's and 1200's, but gradually sold them as I tended to prefer the slightly wider string spacing offered by RG and Jem necks. However now that I dont own a JS anymore (and sold my Jem) I'm interested to get a couple of measurements to compare against a few other guitars I own.

I'm interested in the overall width of the strings, when measured from low E to high E just after the nut and before the 1st fret.

So far I've measured the following guitars that I have to hand (ignoring my Universe!):

Ibanez Masa: Actual nut width = 42.50mm, string width after nut = 36.15mm
ESP M-II: Actual nut width = 41.44mm, string width after nut = 35.45mm
Fender delux american strat: Actual nut width = 42.00mm, string width after nut = 35.57mm

The reason I ask is becase of the 3 guitars, when playing between the 1st and 9th frets I am most fluid and precise on the electro-acoustic Masa, despite its high action, from 9th down its the ESP. Amazingly, that 0.7mm makes quite a difference.

If anyone out there has an accurate vernier/micrometer and could measure a JS for me I'm be most grateful, and the same measurement on an RG would be useful also! I suspect the JS might have a similar string spacing to the ESP.

Many thanks,

Chris

[Silverburst]

Here ya go:

both equiped with 042-009's
JS1200ca (2007) : Actual nut width = 42.08mm, string width after nut = 36.15mm
RG8470 J custom (2007) Actual nut width = 43.03mm, string width after nut = 37.20mm

The RG makes me play a bit faster/preciser as well for now.

[chris101]

Thanks for the info. Out of interest I measured my Universe, just from low E to high E, thats a 'cramped' 35.5mm!

[woodman300]

i measured my js-2000 and got slightly different measurements. 42.44 mm nut width and with 042-009 strings i got 36.44 string width at the nut. i have begun guitar building with a js replica that i made myself. the first neck i made started out with 42mm width at the nut but after shaping and sanding it got a little smaller. i too prefer a slightly wider neck so i guess i learned something from the first attempt.

[Silverburst]

It's the first time I've actually measuerd this difference in these guitars, and have to say I also have to work a little harder on the JS. But you universe 35.5 ?? that's really small, I can't remember that my UV777bk was that small, it felt like a big ruler

[chris101]

Originally Posted by pmike

It's the first time I've actually measuerd this difference in these guitars, and have to say I also have to work a little harder on the JS. But you universe 35.5 ?? that's really small, I can't remember that my UV777bk was that small, it felt like a big ruler

Yep, check it again and its 35.5mm, probably explains why I can’t do perfectly clean pull offs everytime from the 1st fret without clipping the adjacent strings on that guitar.

I'm suprised at how much wider the JS string spacing is compared to the ESP, maybe the radius on the JS mkaes it feel tighter to me than it really is.

[Silverburst]

Originally Posted by chris101

I'm suprised at how much wider the JS string spacing is compared to the ESP, maybe the radius on the JS mkaes it feel tighter to me than it really is.

Should be the opposite no ? the radius is a lot smaller on JS's, which would pull the strings a bit away from each other like they are on a cylinder. I've always prefered flatter radiuses myself, but I just can't step away from a JS being primarily a Satch fan when it comes to Ibanez signature models.