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Old 08-14-2014, 08:48 PM
mam8dg mam8dg is offline
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Default Acoustics with 1 5/8" Nut Width

I am looking for a decent quality acoustic with a very skinny neck...preferably with a 1 5/8 nut width. I've done a bunch of research and basically what I've come up with is:

[EDITED list of guitars w/ 1 5/8 Nut Width to reflect responses...thanks everybody!]

Vintage:

Epiphone Cortez FT-45 (60's)
Fender Palomino (late 60's)
Fender King (late 60's)
Fender Kingman (late 60's)
Fender Malibu (late 60's)
Fender Concert (late 60's)
Gibson B-15 (late 60's)
Gibson B-25 (late 60's)
Gibson LG-0 (late 60's)
Gibson LG-1 (late 60's)
Gibson J-50 ('68)
Guild D40 (70's)
Guild D44 (40's)
Guild M20 (60's)
Guild D25 (80's)
Gurian (S3M, 70's-80's)

Modern:

Epiphone Ltd. Ed. Elitist "1964" Texan (1.56" nut width)
Fender Kingman SCE
Fender Sonoran
Gibson Brad Paisley J-45
Gibson Arlo Guthrie LG (1.575" nut width)
Martin 7-28

I would appreciate any other suggestions as to other decent quality acoustics with a 1 5/8 nut. I have a Taylor 214ce with a 1 11/16 nut and it just isn't working for me...I like skinny necks so that is what I am looking for.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Last edited by mam8dg; 01-23-2015 at 01:09 PM.
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Old 08-14-2014, 09:11 PM
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Jim Owen Jim Owen is offline
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Hi Mam8dg,

Late 60s Gibsons will have a narrow nut (1 5/8), and will generally be pretty thin--sort of a nod to electric necks. Those were different times.

I can think of some smaller builders from the next decade, too. Gurian, for example.
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Old 08-14-2014, 09:17 PM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mam8dg View Post
I am looking for a decent quality acoustic with a very skinny neck...preferably with a 1 5/8 nut width. I've done a bunch of research and basically what I've come up with is:

Gibson B-15
Gibson B-25
Gibson LG-0

I would appreciate any other suggestions as to other decent quality acoustics with a 1 5/8 nut. I have a Taylor 214ce with a 1 11/16 nut and it just isn't working for me...I like skinny necks so that is what I am looking for.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
These are correct. My wife has a 1965 Gibson LG0 and it's 1 5/8" nut width. Also my Rickenbacker 360-12 has a 1 5/8"nut width. Man, that is narrow for a 12-string!

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Old 08-14-2014, 09:27 PM
mam8dg mam8dg is offline
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Thanks for the replies! I'll expand my search to all late 60's Gibson models and see what I come up with. I think I've seen some LG-1s listed with a 1 5/8 nut width too.

I can't imagine a 12 string with a 1 5/8 nut, but now I want to try one!! Always wanted to try a Rickenbacker and I think I would dig it.
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Old 08-14-2014, 09:31 PM
zombywoof zombywoof is offline
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Gibson started building guitars with a 1 9/16" or 1 5/8" nut in 1965 (the result of re-tooling with new automatic neck machines). I have seen late 1960s J-45s that also have the 1 5/8" nut so you can add those to your list.

Quality in terms of sound though starts to fall off in 1968 when Gibson changed the design of their top bracing going to a heavier version. It got even heavier in 1969 and then ridicuously heavy in 1971. So your window of opportunity is pretty narrow.
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Old 08-14-2014, 09:35 PM
Gorquin Gorquin is offline
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My 70's Guild D40 has a 1 5/8" nut width so you can add Guilds to the list if you like the sound.
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Old 08-14-2014, 09:39 PM
AllThumbsBruce AllThumbsBruce is offline
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My mid 60's Gibson LG-1 has a 1 5/8" nut.
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Old 08-14-2014, 09:40 PM
mam8dg mam8dg is offline
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Awesome, I appreciate the info about the Gibson build history and the Guild.

I'll update the OP to reflect the responses in case anybody else is in the same boat as me!
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Old 08-15-2014, 04:19 PM
mam8dg mam8dg is offline
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Bought a Fender Kingman SCE on a whim. I am hoping it works out. Pretty cheap laminate, it was $330 shipped brand new. Has the 1 5/8 nut width...literally looks like a Stratocaster neck, which is what I was going for. I read some reviews where people had some problems with high action from the factory, but I am hoping a good setup will fix any issues like that. We will see! I am still planning on getting one of those vintage Gibsons too, I've researched them too much not to at least try one. Anyway, thanks for the replies everybody.
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Old 08-20-2014, 09:07 PM
mam8dg mam8dg is offline
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Update: The Kingman arrived today. I'm a bit disappointed. I knew it wouldn't sound as good as my Taylor, but I was hoping the neck would suit me better. It turns out that the neck is still chunkier than I am looking for.

I am pretty much looking for a neck that is nearly equivalent to that on my Fender CS '62 Strat...either 1.625" or 1.65" nut width, Fender Mid-60's Oval C neck, thickness of .790" at the 1st fret and .930" at the 12th fret.

I e-mailed Fender for help. I am also continuing to look for a late-60's Gibson to try out, and maybe one day a Gurian when I can afford one. My Taylor is up for auction so hopefully I will have some funds coming in to aid my search. I am thinking of keeping the Kingman around as a beater since I got it for $330 and would have to pay return shipping.

THE HUNT CONTINUES!
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Old 08-21-2014, 03:51 PM
Bradpaisleyfan Bradpaisleyfan is offline
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The Brad Paisley signature gibson has the 1 5/8 nut width. It plays pretty good and I think it has made me play a little better by developing better left hand technique.
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Old 08-21-2014, 07:09 PM
spock spock is offline
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Once owned a vintage 1964 Guild M20 which had a 1 and 5/8 " nut width. Awesome sounding and playing little guitar - all mahogany which is even better - but I eventually sold it due to the . . . . narrow neck.
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Old 08-21-2014, 07:41 PM
bohemian bohemian is offline
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The original Guild M-20s.
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Old 08-21-2014, 08:12 PM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
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Lots of older Guilds have those skinny 1 5/8" necks.
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Old 08-21-2014, 08:32 PM
rpatkin rpatkin is offline
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Default Gurian

1980 S3R had a 1 9/16" nut ... Way narrow.
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