what's the deal with nut size on the CA Cargo?

[zenpicker]

I can't figure out the standard nut size for these guitars. I see some listings for a 1-23/32" nut width (e.g. Dream Guitars' current listing), but others for 1-3/4" (Sweetwater's, eBay etc.). What's the deal? Is the Dream instrument a fluke or some custom item, or are there really two different versions of the instrument floating around out there? I need to be sure I'm getting a 1-3/4"...

[Kerbie]

The CA (now Peavey) web site lists the nut width as 1 3/4"...

http://assets.peavey.com/literature/...8060_18007.pdf

I thought they were all 1 3/4." It might be worth a call to Dream Guitars to clarify. Nice little guitar though. I own the Cargo Raw and have had a lot of fun with it.

[zenpicker]

Originally Posted by kerbie

It might be worth a call to Dream Guitars to clarify. Nice little guitar though. I own the Cargo Raw and have had a lot of fun with it.

Good thought - I think I'll call Paul H and see what I can find out. Somewhere, on some site, I thought I read that CA had slightly widened the nut sometime in the last couple years, but then I couldn't find it again. Hence my post. I'll see what I can find out.

Thanks!

[Kerbie]

I've had a Cargo Raw for only about a year and a quarter, but I bought it new. And it is 1 3/4" as advertised. Paul will certainly be able to help you though… good guy. And a really fun little guitar. It's my camp guitar, beach guitar, travel-anywhere-in-the-car guitar…

Zen, I know Bill at Artisan Guitars sells a lot of them and has been down to the Peavey factory to watch the process. He might be another source of good information.

[zenpicker]

Originally Posted by kerbie

I've had a Cargo Raw for only about a year and a quarter, but I bought it new. And it is 1 3/4" as advertised. Paul will certainly be able to help you though… good guy. And a really fun little guitar. It's my camp guitar, beach guitar, travel-anywhere-in-the-car guitar…

Zen, I know Bill at Artisan Guitars sells a lot of them and has been down to the Peavey factory to watch the process. He might be another source of good information.

Thanks, indeed!

[zenpicker]

Just an update - I talked to Dream and they confirmed that it was their measuring that was off. Interesting that they measure even NEW instruments... Anyway, they confirmed 1-3/4" and updated their site.

In the mean time I bought a Cargo used on eBay...more my color (blue) and free shipping. Should have it in the next few days. Excited!

[AndyFrank]

Glad to see Dream figured it out but the rest of us knew CA = 1 3/4" nut.

[witzelsucht]

FWIW, when Peavey first started putting their newly acquired Composite Acoustics on the market they experimented with 1 11/16" nuts on their OX line but abandoned that fairly quickly because they felt there was not enough demand for the narrower neck - so there are narrower neck models out there. Not sure if they ever did this on the Cargo though.

[mchalebk]

The original CA models from their first factory had 1 11/16" nuts. When they opened their new factory in 2006, all models had 1 3/4" nuts. When Peavey took over, they started with 1 3/4" across the board, then added some narrow neck models. I know the GX was one of these. Don't think any Cargos were ever produced with a narrower nut than 1 3/4"

[zenpicker]

Yep, just received the guitar and it certainly feels like a normal 1-3/4" nut (I don't know how to measure it perfectly, but I'd know the difference - have made that mistake before).

Now, the action is another matter...feels quite high for fingerstyle. It's a used instrument, but CA claims the action never budges, hence no truss rod. Looks like the only solution is sanding the saddle. ):

[mchalebk]

The action shouldn't change with time. However, it can be adjusted and it's possible the previous owner was a heavy strummer and preferred high action.