Between fretboard radius and nutwidth. . .
 

. . . which one is more important to you in terms of playability and feel?

Nut width and string spacing are first for me. Radius is 3rd after the neck profile. I spend a fair amount of time on flat classical fret boards so I can go either way on radius.

nut width is the most important to me.
I prefer a small radius, but if the width is wide enough I can get by.

Radius and nut width aren't important to me. A comfortable neck profile is my #1 priority.

If any 'spec' were not as important as any other 'spec', it wouldn't be on my spec list.

If it's on a guitar being made for me, EVERY spec holds separate, but equal importance.

Sorry that I can't answer your question as posed.

Regards,
Howard Emerson

This is my experience as well. When I have had instruments made for me (two now) I have worked with the luthier to discuss all the specs and how shifting one or another impacts the whole. This approach has resulted in two outstanding instruments that fit my needs for tone and feel very well. So, I can't say that one spec carries more weight than another.

Best,
Jayne

Neither is as important as the tone of the instrument.

Nut width determines how cleanly I can play and individual note; radius determines how easily I can play barre chords. Since I don't want to compromise on either of those things, both specs are equally important.

Doesn't the ability to play cleanly effect tone?

But a big part of the tone comes from the way we play and how easy (or hard) it's for us. We may play an instrument which can sound great with others and bad with us (or viceversa) and one of the reasons is how we feel the instrument.

Neck radius and shape is more important to me than nut width. (It took me three guitars to figure this out.)

[QUOTE=jim1960;6246599]Nut width determines how cleanly I can play and individual note; radius determines how easily I can play barre chords. Since I don't want to compromise on either of those things, both specs are equally important.

Tell me about radius and barre chords. Flatter board = easier or more difficult to barre? I'm new to this level of technicality! And barre chords!

Thanks!

Probably radius.

I can go back and forth between a 6-string and a 12-string pretty easy, and don't tend to notice a 1/16 of an inch or so.

Anything tighter than 15" radius I find pretty difficult to play though.

1. Nut Width. On a flat-top in which I'd play my normal style - 1 & 13/16" but 1 & 7/8" fine. 1& 3/4" on archtops

2. String spacing - 2 & 3/8" is ideal, 2 & 5/16" on short scale, 2 & 1/4" on archtops.

3. Profile, soft "mod-V" or C profile.

4. Camber - not particular.

It took me a long time to find a fretboard geometry that really suited me.

I think I'm fairly insensitive to either, given I can't feel the difference between my 16", 1 & 11/16 gs mini and my 12" 1.75 hummingbird.

I notice scale length the most out of all the neck measurements. I really dont like 25.5. After a lifetime of playing les pauls it feel like playing a bass to me, though I'm sure I'd get used to it quickly enough if I had to

I agree. Nothing else matters as it doesn't take but a few moments to adapt to neck profile, nut width, string spacing and all the other things used as an excuse to change guitars.

The radius doesn’t seem to matter. My guitars have a pretty wide range: 14” radius SCGC, 14" - 26" compound radius Collings, and 20” radius Froggy Bottom. They all barre equally well. I do seem to prefer 1-3/4” nut and 2-1/4 string spacing.

Nut width and then string spacing, if forced to prioritize.

I don't find a skinny neck helpful for my old fingers, but I rarely find a neck that hinders my playing anywhere near as much as uncomfortable nut width/string spacing.

Of course if I'm spending my money it better have all three.

If I don't find a tone that satisfies in the first few seconds I don't play the guitar long enough to find out if I like the nut/string spacing or neck.

• Fretboard radius can vary for me. I have guitars with 12’, 16’ and 16’-20’ fretboard radii.
• String spacing can also vary. I have guitars with 2-1/8”, 2-3/16”, 2-1/4” and 2-5/16” string spacing.
• Fretwire can also vary. I have guitars with .043” x .080”, .047” x .095”, .047” x .104” and .055” x .095” fretwire.

That said, nut width is always 1-3/4” for me...:)