String spacing -- nut and saddle -- thoughts?

[ken cierp]

I fool around with all sorts of stringed instrument and all the different styles of guitars -- my favorite being the nylon string hybrids - and actually I never gave "optimum" string spacing any real thought they all seem to work fine and there are so many -- even banjos, ukes etc. I think maybe the old brain just figures it out and away go the fingers? Thoughts?

[Dave Bagwill]

I agree within limits.
The single best sounding guitar I've ever heard was a Breedlove 'asymmetrical' - funny looking thing in a way, but, well, the best I've owned.
But - the string spacing was just too close, and could not be changed. I tried and tried to get the spacing 'into my fingers' and it would not. I sold it.
OTOH, the classical 2"+ neck is outside my limit. Can't do it.

Within those two, yeah, it seems the fingers keep the knowledge of the spacing and the brain does not have to worry about it too much.

That being said, I have found that for my fingerstyle playing, the 1 3/4" nut and the wider 2 3/8" string spacing at the bridge is very comfortable.