#1
|
|||
|
|||
42mm nut, is it playable?
I thought 43mm was the most narrow nut width but someone wants to sell me a guitar with 42mm nut. Is it still ok for fingerstyle?
__________________
2019 Brook Tamar -Red gum custom shop 2015 Martin D35, 50th anniversary custom shop 2017 Lowden F32 2010 Martin D41 special 2009 Mcilroy A56 Cocobolo 2017 Taylor GS mini Koa |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
You tell me.
We have different ways to play, different fingers and the way we fret notes. As a general rule of thumb though, wider string spacing (1.75 or more) is what works best for fingerstyle. The biggest element here is being able to fret notes cleanly in the limited space. Perhaps you could get the string spacing of the 42mm, and try it on your current guitar? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Probably a rounding issue. Standard narrow nut is 1 11/16, that equals 42.8625 mm. Some people round it to 43, some truncate to 42. Same with 1 3/4 nut, it is 44.45 mm, can become both 44 and 45.
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
My Strat is 1 5/8", which is 41.275 mm, so yes, playable, and some people even like it. Doesn't really matter whether it's flatpicked or fingerpicked, since that's going on way down by the saddle where the string spacing is wider and not necessarily related to the nut width. The main impact of a narrow nut is going to be on cowboy chords and barred chords up by the nut, making them somewhat easier to play but harder to play cleanly.
__________________
'17 Tonedevil S-18 harp guitar '16 Tonedevil S-12 harp guitar '79 Fender Stratocaster hardtail with righteous new Warmoth neck '82 Fender Musicmaster bass '15 Breedlove Premier OF mandolin Marshall JVM210c amp plus a bunch of stompboxes and misc. gear |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
the 43m/m or 1 & 11/16" nut width was designed just for plectrums style ... for tenor banjo players to change to guitars in dance bands .... or simplistic strumming. All this changed when Martin redesigned the 000 and Dreadnought as rhythm guitars rather than for more intricate stylings.
However if you have very thin fingers and the neck profile is quite deep - then you might be able to use one for fingerstyle. For me this would be impossible.
__________________
Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
couldnt help but notice the Eastman dread in your signature. How is the nut of the E20d? The spec sheet says 1.75 but every reviewer says they measured it at 1 11/16....How does it feel to you? Also, the neck is nice and chunky right? Thanks.
About 42mm....that would be like my Blueridge BR60, which has a 1 11/16 nut AND the strings are placed inwards too, like, it's the narrowest nut I ever played and it's the reason I want to go E20d or E8d. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
My Martin 5-16 is just under 41mm and it's a joy to play.
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Of course it is. I wouldn't like it, and you may not like it - but it's playable. I won't buy a guitar with a nut smaller than 1 3/4, but lots of people do.
__________________
Keith Martin 000-42 Marquis Taylor Classical Alvarez 12 String Gibson ES345s Fender P-Bass Gibson tenor banjo |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
42 mm
It's whether or not it's comfortable to you, as others have said.
For me, no. it wouldn't work. I've had to pass on some great instruments because the nut width just wasn't wide enough. You can try having a new nut made with wider spacing but you get into other issues such as the width of the fretboard, ramp angle for the frets, etc. Best to start out with something that works for you. Just my less than humble opinion, but you did ask.
__________________
1995 Taylor 412 1995 Taylor 612C Custom, Spruce over Flamed Maple 1997 Taylor 710 1968 Aria 6815 12 String, bought new |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
I have no problem playing on a 1 11/16 vs 1 3/4 nut. I actually cannot feel the difference. I would imagine it depends on the person, but yes, it is definitely playable for most. Look at John Mayer for example, that man can play and he uses 1 11/16 as well as 1 7/8. His Martin OMJM and D45 both come with 1 11/16, and his 00-42sc is 1 7/8. I think most of us can adapt to different nut widths, we just have to mentally jump the hurdle of thinking we can’t.
|
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Where does this myth come from? Most of the greatest “fingerstyle” players, from the old country blues guys to Bert Jansch to Tommy Emmanuel, played on guitars with 1 11/16” nut widths. Some had huge hands and fat fingers. There is no “rule of thumb” whatsoever about wider string spacing working better for fingerstyle. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
2019 Brook Tamar -Red gum custom shop 2015 Martin D35, 50th anniversary custom shop 2017 Lowden F32 2010 Martin D41 special 2009 Mcilroy A56 Cocobolo 2017 Taylor GS mini Koa |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
You might as well ask me if size 9 shoes are comfortable on you
__________________
Fazool "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter" 000-15 / GC7 / GA3-12 / SB2-C / SB2-Cp / AVC-11MHx / AC-240 |