What is your preferred nut width?

[NotveryGood]

I have just sold the last of my 1 11/16, guitars ,and now for the first time in 40 years all my nuts are 1 3/4. I used to convince myself that I would adjust to the narrower width and never really did. To be fair, it used to be harder to find a left handed acoustic (at a reasonable price) with anything but 1 11/16, but there is more choice now.

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by DanR

I don't mind either 1 11/16" or 1 3/4" nut width. I suppose then that 1 23/32" would be ideal for me.

Oh no! I missed out 1-23/32” too.

[bufflehead]

To be admitted to my herd, one must have a 1 11/16" nut. The herd is entirely exclusive in that regard.

[donlyn]

What is your preferred nut width?

To a greater or lesser degree, all those choices have a positive reaction, so my poll answer would be "All of the above".
If such a choice existed.

Originally Posted by Cool555

Hi Don. That would be option 4.

I could have just checked off all the boxes, as they appear to be the type that are not exclusive (round), but will accept multiple answers. But the poll is not limited to just nut width, but also other guitar construction factors. So therefore option 4, 'I'm flexible and can adapt to any nut width', doesn't cover everything, just the nut width.

So upon further reflection, I will amend my answer to "None of the Above". To me, the most important thing about any guitar is the sound I can make with it.

Don
.

[Steve DeRosa]

1-5/8" like the mid-60's Gibsons and pre-1994 Westerly Guilds, not to mention any Fender electric that ever interested me - I'm OK with a 1-11/16" if (and only if) the shape is right, and it's a very rare 1-3/4" that I find playable (got an Avalon and Martin D-15S that qualify)...

[Cool555]

Thanks for all the votes & comments! Please vote if you haven’t.

[whvick]

1 & 3/4. I just do not feel good with my 1 & 11/16 Martin, but do fine with my 1.75 guitars. I would like to try some 1 & 7/8. And I do fine with my 2” classical.

[guitarlifestyle]

1 11/16” for me. I can do 1 3/4” if the neck is on the thinner side.

[Birchtop]

Although I have a few others, it’s 1-11/16 for me.

[jaymarsch]

I prefer 1 and 23/32” but I have guitars that have nuts that are anywhere between 1 and 11//16” to 1 and 25/32” and I play them. For me, the nut width is most comfortable when married with the right neck shape, string spacing and scale length.
Best,
Jayne

[BluesKing777]

I have found the Waterloo WL-14 to be the nicest for my fingerpicking! 1 3/4” nut to the generous 2 3/8” bridge spacing on a chunky V neck that is very, very similar, possibly copied off, my 1935 Gibson Black Special #4 archtop!

But I have, and have had, all kinds of things over the years! In another thread, I mention playing on a 1 11/16” nut but with a capo on 3. It can be done! I had a flat that had a kitchen hidden behind the front door and I could make dinner ok....squeezy but do-able......same with guitars!

BluesKing777.

[mawmow]

As nut width is generally a good guide for string spacing, it is not an absolute indicator of string spacing.

For example, I changed the original Tusk nut on my Godin 5th Avenue for a nut made for a Taylor which resulted in a larger string spacing.

[raysachs]

It really depends on what I'm doing. Back when I was only strumming and picking (with a pick), I wasn't very picky (NPI). I was OK with about anything and didn't even give spacing at the bridge a second thought. I'm still that way with my electrics.

But once I got into fingerpicking, I came to prefer 1.3/4" at the nut and string spacing of at least 2 1/4" at the saddle. I love V necks too, so I prefer those, but I've been OK with other neck profiles. Frankly, it's these preferences that led me to the CEO-7 as my all-rounder - 1.75" nut, 2 5/16" string spacing, mod-V neck, and the body size is a perfect fit such that my hand naturally falls just barely to the left of the bridge, so it's very easy to move back for palm muting or anchoring my right hand. I trusted from sound clips I'd be fine with the sound and I was, and it's growing on me more and more since I bought it several months ago...

-Ray

[Cool555]

Thanks for all the votes and comments! Feel free to vote if you have not.

I have unintentionally left out 1-23/32” and 1-13/16 nut width, which some posters have highlighted to me.

[Skip Ellis]

I don't really care - takes me about 30 seconds to adapt. Same with neck shape and string spacing - it's just not that big of a deal to me. My Brook Torridge is 1-11/16", Martin 000-18 is 1-3/4" and my Godin Multiac (for sale) is 1-7/8". I've also owned many classicals with 2"+ nut width - no problem. IMHO, it's more in the mind than the guitar, ruling out physical limitations, of course. Watch Muriel Anderson's left hand some time and you'll see what's possible. Honestly, would you turn down a '39 D28 just because it's neck width/string spacing varies 1/16" from your preferred?