Help me understand nut width....

[Brad13122]

I have bigger hands and fat fingers so I'm wondering would a 1 3/4 nut be better for me. I've just been playing a few months and doing fine but sometimes i feel like an extra 1/8th " of space would help me on some chords. Should I just roll with my 1 11/16th or try out a 1 3/4? Does it really make that much difference? I've noticed most guitars are 1 11/16th now.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Brad13122

I have bigger hands and fat fingers so I'm wondering would a 1 3/4 nut be better for me. I've just been playing a few months and doing fine but sometimes i feel like an extra 1/8th " of space would help me on some chords. Should I just roll with my 1 11/16th or try out a 1 3/4? Does it really make that much difference? I've noticed most guitars are 1 11/16th now.

Not true. Plenty of guitars are 1 3/4. Why don't you just try some and see what you think. We can't tell you what is best for you.

[Placida]

You may need a 1-13/16 nut, or a 1-7/8. Like Paul said try a selection. Personally I cannot tell the difference between 1-11/16 and 1-3/4.

[harmonics101]

It doesn't matter if you play and can't tell the difference. I think neck profile has more or just as much to do with comfort of the fretting hand. Lots of variables, maybe you are an individual that can adjust easily. I can go back and forth between 1 3/4 " and 1 11/16" for my Martins, and then I have my Gibsons, that have a totally different neck profile. String spacing may be a bigger difference, which doesn't necessarily correlate directly with nut width. Try 'em out for about 15 minutes and judge for yourself on what neck profiles and nut widths are more comfortable for you,

H

[tysam]

Any small change to nut width is noticeable to some people. I am in the same boat as you, big hands and wide fingers. I can't play an 11/16 with the same accuracy as a 3/4......went so far as to build myself a 000 with a 1 15/16 nut width. Now that I have no trouble playing well. Try a few 1 3/4 width...I think you will notice a difference.

[Teleman52]

The above post is correct. Hand size MIGHT help determine what nut width you like, but not always

I have very small hands for a guy and I enjoy guitars with 1 7/8 nut width for fingerstyle. I find I can get comfortable on any nut width thouhh. The shape of the neck is much more important to me. And there again, even though I have small hands, I really like my necks to have a bit of meat on them. I'd rather a neck be too big than to small

Yes there is a pretty big difference in feel from 1 11/16 and 1 3/4

[Brad13122]

I'm definitely gonna play some I just wanted to understand if it definitely affects string spacing all the time or not. Plus when I get to gc it's hard to remember which guitars have what nut width. I end up on my phone the whole time looking it up. I agree that neck profile is huge as well. My drs2 is easier to grab chords on than my nephews 214ce and they both have 1 11/16. I can't tell what's different about the necks but I definitely play mine better.

[vintageparlors]

The profile of the neck has just as must to do with comfort as the nut width. I always encourage my customers to play as many different nut widths and neck profiles they can before their left hand decides on what feels comfortable.

[justonwo]

For me I think the tradeoff is the ability to cleanly, particularly while fingerpicking, vs the extra work of having to stretch your fingers across a wider fretboard. Of course, classical guitar players would look at us flat top players and laugh, since they are playing with super wide necks relatively speaking.

As a newer player, you will probably feel that the narrower neck is more comfortable and easier to work with. As you develop finger strength, you will probably find the extra space to be helpful. But, yes, it does really come down to personal preference. There is probably no replacement for trying one. It really does feel substantially different.

[DanPanther]

Personally many of my guitars have varying nut widths. I don't think it should be an issue.
Most electric guitars have narrow necks. If you ever plan to play one, you need to get used to close strings.
Dan

[jseth]

Even though the difference is only 1/16th" (not 1/8" as you described) it is AMAZING how much more space there is with that 16th" more at the nut!

I have smaller hands/fingers, and for 32 years I played one 6 string acoustic; my Mark Angus F-40, built for me in 1979... I never even knew what the nut width was until I came to this site; truth is, I never cared!

Now I have a second 6 string, a Goodall Grand Concert with... you guessed it, 1 3/4" nut width... and that's when I realized that my trusty old Angus had a 1 11/16th" nut! Switching back and forth between them, it is very easy to feel the difference; truthfully, I prefer the 1 11/16th nut width, although the 1 3/4" is not undoable, by any means...

Some smaller guitars are made with 1 7/8" nuts, too... that may be just the ticket for you! The only way to find out is to get out and play a few...

Don't forget that the string spacing at the saddle will have a big effect on the overall feeling of width...

[cke]

To me the difference between 1 11/16 and 1 3/4 is like a freeway. My hands cramp at the narrower width and fine at the wider. I am good on the 2 " classical width too. I do have large hands, but there seems to be a strong trend toward wider on the better brands. Try it you might just like it.

[Toolfool]

I had the same issue: fingers muffing chords.
I ordered a 00 with a 1-7/8 nut.
Since then (4 months later) my chords a getting much cleaner. I still think
1-11/16 is a little to narrow for me but I'm hoping 1-7/8 won't be to wide.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by DanPanther

Personally many of my guitars have varying nut widths. I don't think it should be an issue.
Most electric guitars have narrow necks. If you ever plan to play one, you need to get used to close strings.
Dan

Not sure how you can say that. Everyone is different. What is not an issue to you a can be big issue to others. There is no one answer.

[patticake]

i have small hands, but find a wider neck more comfortable to play up to 1 7/8" - usually 1 13/16" or 1 7/8" is better for me than 1 3/4", but 1 3/4" is often easier to find.