#16
|
|||
|
|||
a particular nut width (say 1 3/4 for instance) will feel pretty different on different guitars
- the string spacing can be diff on a nut width that still comes advertised as 1 3/4 - the depth and shape of the neck and the radius of the fretboard also have a lot to do with how cramped or not it feels, but these factors are not as widely acknowledged.... I've played both comfortably but have gotten rid of guitars with a really narrow feeling 1 11/16 and really wide feeling 1 3/4 |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
For some folks nut width doesn't matter, for others (myself included) it is critical. We all have different size hands/fingers and some also have to deal with arthritis or other issues. Different strokes for different folks, and please don't presume what works for you necessarily works for someone else..
__________________
Rich - rmyAddison Rich Macklin Soundclick Website http://www.youtube.com/rmyaddison Martin OM-18 Authentic '33 Adirondack/Mahogany Martin CS OM-28 Alpine/Madagascar Martin CS 00-42 Adirondack/Madagascar Martin OM-45TB (2005) Engelmann/Tasmanian Blackwood (#23 of 29) |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Rick "Reputation is made in a moment:Character is built in a lifetime." |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
At some point though, it does become about the fingers. You either have enough room to play or you don't. My preference is wider nut. On both of my custom builds I have a 1 7/8 nut. I can maneuver on a 1 3/4 but I much prefer having a little more room.
__________________
Jim 2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi 2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood 2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar 2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce 2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce 1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos. YouTube |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
For steel string guitars, from 1939 until probably the '90s or even '00s (I'll check when I get home tonight), the 1 11/16" nut was pretty standard. |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
Stubby Fingertips and Short Arms!
I fought the neck of 14-fret, 1 11/16" guitars for years, never considering how much better I might feel with a little more room.
Then, into my life came a Guild Orpheum 12-fret slope-shouldered dread, and I saw the light. It is short scale, and has a 1.8" nut. Perfect. A guitar that fits you is a beautiful thing! Neal |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Nut width, fact or fiction
I don't have trouble on anything 1 5/8 to 1.75. I have had several vintage style Fender electrics with 1 5/8 and several Gibson electrics with 1 11/16. My Taylor is the only guitar I have owned with a 1.75 inch nut width and I immediately adjusted to it and like it. I also have 2 Martin acoustics and a Gibson acoustic and the 1.72 is fine. Anyway, each width has its advantage and disadvantage but no problem playing any of them. I actually like the variety and try to have different guitar sizes and designs to keep things interesting and add more tonal options. I hope to add a resonator, mandolin and ukulele to the stable to mix things up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#23
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I do however prefer the 1.75 finger picking.
__________________
Some Martins |
#24
|
||||
|
||||
Rick, I totally agree with you: I find very little difference in feel and playability between 1-11/16" & 1-3/4" nut widths.
For me (and I know I am in the exception) fretboard radius makes a much bigger difference in playability than nut width. If a guitar has a 12" or more arched radius on the fretboard, I find it very playable pretty much regardless of its nut width or neck profile (within reason).
__________________
2017 Alvarez Yairi OY70CE - Sugaree c.1966 Regal Sovereign R235 Jumbo - Old Dollar 2009 Martin 000-15 - Brown Bella 1977 Gibson MK-35 - Apollo 2004 Fender American Stratocaster - The Blue Max 2017 Fender Custom American Telecaster - Brown Sugar Think Hippie Thoughts... |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I played 1 11/16 until joining the AGF, I then gravitated towards 1 3/4, convinced I needed the extra space. A lot of it was the "in" thing At the same time I bought my D18GE (since sold) and a D21 Special (since sold), but in my case I really think the difference was all in my head. I really am enjoying everything about my HD28 and my only regret is I didn't face my own head sooner.
__________________
Rick "Reputation is made in a moment:Character is built in a lifetime." |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
I'm sure that if all I played was cowboy chords I wouldn't care. But I play exclusively Fingerstyle so it is a measurement of importance to "me". I do play both and I must change my technique accordingly.
__________________
Breedlove Oregon Concert-spruce/myrtlewood Larrivee L 03E-spruce/mahogany Stonebridge OM 21 SO-spruce/ovankol Mackenzie&Marr "Opeongo"-spruce/mahogany |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
There are 11/16 necks and 11/16 necks... Martin guitars with 11/16 necks have a strings spacing of 37 mm, a couple of mm wider than most guitars with 11/16 neck, and it makes a difference.
|
#28
|
|||
|
|||
No, not at all. I generally prefer a bit wider than standard at the nut, but I've played some guitars that while they had my preferred width of 1 3/4, had a very shallow neck with a soft C profile. Not comfortable for me at all. In fact I had an otherwise nice Guild that I ended up selling for those very reasons.
|
#29
|
|||
|
|||
Horses for courses, I'm sure it's detectable, by enough to matter? depends on the individual.
I have 2 at 1 11/16" & 1 at 1 3/4" & can't notice enough to care. My 12 string is a full 2" (51mm) at the nut & I can sure notice that.
__________________
Mick Martin D-28 Maton EA808 Australian Maton EBG808 Performer Cole Clark FL2-12 Suzuki Kiso J200 |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
I suspect it's really individual. I remember reading an interview with Julian Lage where he said that though his 000-18 and Chris Eldridge's D-28 were both '39s, his was after the switch and he couldn't play Chris's, which came before, without causing himself trouble. If you play as little, and as poorly as I do, I guess it doesn't matter too much, except that it does to me. I have trouble adjusting to my two old Martins, but I just live with it because I love them so much.
__________________
website: https://www.steveyarbrough.net Bourgeois, Collings, Eastman, Gibson, Martin |