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  #1  
Old 02-21-2018, 12:33 AM
Arjan1961 Arjan1961 is offline
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Default 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?
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Old 02-21-2018, 12:56 AM
ChalkLitIScream ChalkLitIScream is offline
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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?
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Old 02-21-2018, 01:23 AM
pbla4024 pbla4024 is offline
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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.
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Old 02-21-2018, 01:40 AM
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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.
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Old 02-21-2018, 02:29 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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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.
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Old 02-21-2018, 02:32 AM
Cas-v86 Cas-v86 is offline
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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.
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Old 02-21-2018, 05:50 AM
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My Martin 5-16 is just under 41mm and it's a joy to play.
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Old 02-21-2018, 07:20 AM
musicman1951 musicman1951 is offline
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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.
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Old 02-21-2018, 07:26 AM
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Default 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.
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Old 02-21-2018, 08:11 AM
WindChaser WindChaser is offline
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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.
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Old 02-21-2018, 08:45 AM
Joe Beamish Joe Beamish is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChalkLitIScream View Post
...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?

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.
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Old 02-21-2018, 09:05 AM
Arjan1961 Arjan1961 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cas-v86 View Post
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.
The Eastman E20D is 1.75 and plays very well. Neck is indeed chunky no issue for me. This guitar by the way is a dream guitar. Bought a 2015 D28 but could not get used to the sound. Went back to the store and played the E20D and i was struck by sound lightning. Swapped the D28.... the new one however i now have is much better to my ears (re-imagened)
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Old 02-21-2018, 09:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arjan1961 View Post
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?
How will I possibly know how your fingers feel and fit?


You might as well ask me if size 9 shoes are comfortable on you
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