I have small hands with long fingers, if that matters. For 25 years, my only guitar was a classical with a two inch nut. When I was deciding on commissioning a custom steel string, I researched a lot of neck widths.
At that time, being accustomed to the classical, I could not play a 1-11/16 Martin standard at all. However, trying a wide variety of neck widths led me to decide that 1-7/8 was too wide for me, in a steel string. I found 1-3/4 to be just right.
It's still my favorite, but I have gotten accustomed to it, and I now can play 1-11/16 without trouble, although that's not my favorite. I have played 1-13/16 and found them pleasant and comfortable.
All of this withstanding, what Larry says about string spacing at the nut and the saddle is the real crux of the matter. Using nut widths as a sort of shorthand for all the neck measurements tends to disguise the fact that different makers space the strings differently for a given nut width.
Probably, getting out and trying is the best way to find what fits you best.
-Raf
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-Raf
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