String spacing vintage Melita bridge, too wide?

[Pemberton]

The string spacing on my vintage Melita bridge (57 Streamliner), seems to be about as wide as physically possible, making the E strings awfully close to the edge of the fretboard. Too close in my opinion, causing the E strings to sometimes roll off the ends of the frets if I’m not careful when fretting chords. Spacing right near the bridge measures 2 1/16” from the outside of both E strings (my other guitars with the same width necks and different bridges measure 1 7/8” and seems perfect to me, with no playability issues). Spacing on the Melita can’t be adjusted. I’m wondering if this is typical for these bridges? Were they all made the same? Anyone else notice this or have similar issues, or is it just me?

 

[Electrosynthesis]

They seem to be on top of the PU poles, though. If you go for a bar bridge you might be able to choose the spacing and have a killer tone. At least I could choose on a Compton bridge.
Nice guitar by the way!

 

[TV the Wired Turtle]

I'd love that pickguard for my 53' electro

 

[Pemberton]

They seem to be on top of the PU poles, though. If you go for a bar bridge you might be able to choose the spacing and have a killer tone. At least I could choose on a Compton bridge.

I guess I like the idea of keeping the original bridge, I like it, even if another bridge might function better.

Also, whoever in the past cut the replacement nut, also spaced out the E strings really wide, maybe to match the bridge (I’m referring to the distance from the E strings to the fretboard edge up and down the neck). I’m thinking of having a new nut cut without so much spacing. I believe that would help with playability.

 

[nielDa]

Melita bridges are all the same. Here’s a photo of a 1957 Streamliner I have. I can take some measurements and post them here. Not a major problem on mine, I’m using .011 strings. What gauge strings are you using, and what’s the e-to-E spacing on the nut?

 

[Pemberton]

I’m using light gauge, 10 to 46. The string spacing at the nut is 1 7/16” outside E to E.

 

[Pemberton]

Here’s a closeup of the nut. I feel that the 2 E strings have a slightly wider spacing than the 4 inside strings.

 

[nielDa]

On mine, center to center e-to-E at the nut is 1 13/32”. On the Melita it’s 2 1/32. At the 21st fret it’s 1 27/32.

 

[Pemberton]

Yep, I think a 32nd of a inch does make a difference. Your low E definitely looks further away from the fret end than mine. And my low E will sometimes roll off the fret end if I’m not careful enough when fretting.

 

[j.s.c]

Golden eyes boys !
The nut has ben cut a little wider than it should be and strings could be 12 on high e (for pleasure of fingers and to avoid any slipage).