is a 1 7/8" nut too big?

koko61 · #1 05-20-2022, 12:42 AM

I am going to buy a boutique guitar that was originally built with a 1 7/8" nut at the request of the buyer, which is about 4.76cm.

I'm used to 1 3/4" nuts on my other guitars. It's not much of a difference, but do you think it will be inconvenient?

Although I have to say that I come from classical guitar and was used to 5cm nuts before.

Thanks!

JayBee1404 · #2 05-20-2022, 01:08 AM

What ‘we’ think is completely irrelevant. It’s how it feels in your hands that is important, and nobody, but nobody, can tell you how that will be.

If in doubt, ‘try before you buy’ is a good principle.

As always, the standard disclaimer applies - IMHO. However, I realise that YMMV, and I’m cool with that.

jontewright · #3 05-20-2022, 01:09 AM

I'd say coming from a classical guitar background you should be fine. Personally I find the neck profile to be equally if not more important than nut width.

Edit - I owned a Martin 00-28vs with a 1 7/8 nut and combined with the mod v neck I struggled with it a little. It felt wide.
On the other hand I recently purchased a Gibson L-1 1928 Blues Tribute with a 1 7/8 nut and a slight v neck (although less chunky than the 00-28vs) and if I hadn't read the specs sheet I wouldn't have known it had a 1 7/8 nut, it feels more like the 1 3/4 I'm used to.

tbeltrans · #4 05-20-2022, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jontewright

I'd say coming from a classical guitar background you should be fine. Personally I find the neck profile to be equally if not more important than nut width.

Edit - I owned a Martin 00-28vs with a 1 7/8 nut and combined with the mod v neck I struggled with it a little. It felt wide.
On the other hand I recently purchased a Gibson L-1 1928 Blues Tribute with a 1 7/8 nut and a slight v neck (although less chunky than the 00-28vs) and if I hadn't read the specs sheet I wouldn't have known it had a 1 7/8 nut, it feels more like the 1 3/4 I'm used to.

Another factor in addition to neck profile is string spacing. Guitars with identical nut widths can have differing string spacing, both at the nut and at the saddle. This contributes to the overall feel of the instrument.

Tony

Malcolm Kindnes · #5 05-20-2022, 02:38 AM

I like a 1 7/8 nut and wide saddle spacing to match this, in fact I now hardly ever play anything else. The interesting fact is that when any of my friends plays one of my guitars they don't notice the wide nut although they would never consciously go out looking for one.
So personally I wouldn't hesitate, but check your return policy as it will be more difficult to sell on due to prejudice against wide nuts.

Silly Moustache · #6 05-20-2022, 03:45 AM

The Martin style guitar "evolved" from the European or classical guitar, primarily designed for fingerstyle.

The 0 and 00 style designs standardised in 1898 had a scale length of 24.9" with a nut width of 1 & 7/8" and (I beieve) a string spacing of 2 & 5/16."

The 000 "auditorium" introduced in 1902 had a longer scale - 25.4" but the nut width and string spacing was as above.

The original dreadnought (1931-1933) had similar dimensions to the 000 but with a string spacing of 2 &3/8.

As the guitar changed purpose to a "rhythm" instrument string spacing and nuts widths reduced to benefit those changing from plectrum banjo to guitar as dance bands changed from dixieland to swing, hence the long lasting fashion for very thin necks.

For basic strumming or comping, thinner necks and string spacing is probably suitable for many.

More complex fretting hand work is usually better served by wider dimensions.

I covered this aspect in this video a couple of years ago :

koko61 · #7 05-20-2022, 04:48 AM

This guitar is going to be primarily fingerstyle, so I think it will suit me very well. It is a McNally parlor of cedar and rosewood

fitness1 · #8 05-20-2022, 04:54 AM

There are obviously other factors, but your comment about coming from classical guitars mostly should make 1 7/8 feel like home to you.

RJVB · #9 05-20-2022, 05:23 AM

One thing to consider that I haven't seen mentioned is scale length, or more precisely how far out the nut is - so number of frets to the body counts too.
I've seen quite a few posts here from people who realised they could deal with a wider nut when the fretting hand could remain closer to the body - and this is my experience too.

What counts in the end is the string spacing. I strongly doubt that the slightly wider neck will give you problems if you could play a classical so if need be you can simply have a different nut made with a tighter spacing (probably shifted a bit towards the treble side to keep the high E at the same distance from the edge). A lot easier than increasing spacing on a too-narrow nut

koko61 · #10 05-20-2022, 05:41 AM

It's a 12 fret!

mawmow · #11 05-20-2022, 05:53 AM

I have average hands.
The standard nut width for classical guitar is two inches.
My steel strings guitars all have 1,75 (1 3/4) in.
1,725 in. is a little narrow for me.
I once tried a Gibson Keb'Mo that was just fine for me
and it has 1,805 in. nut width, in the range you mention.

Comfort is your friend.
If you do not fret the sixth string with thumb over the fretboard...
Though I can do that on a nylon...

Gee Man · #12 05-20-2022, 06:39 AM

Having owned a guitar with a 1 7/8" nut, I can confirm its too big FOR ME, I have no idea how your hands would get along with it.

Guitarplayer_PR · #13 05-20-2022, 07:02 AM

My Ovation Folklore has a 1 7/8 nutwidth. Actually is the guitar I play the most

RLetson · #14 05-20-2022, 09:14 AM

Going to reiterate a point made above: Fingerboard width is not the only important variable. I have three guitars with 1-7/8 flat fingerboards, and when my left thumb started giving me problems (a touch of arthritis), I had to stop playing the one with the very shallow profile. And I noticed that I also had much less discomfort on my 1-3/4 guitars with radiused fingerboards. So I figure that the combination of a deeper profile and a bit of radius would make my otherwise-beloved Michael Dunn Daphne comfortable again.

And the OP's classical background probably means a lack of the bad left-hand habits (specifically, thumb-over grips) that I cultivated for decades and that finally caught up with me at age 73.

Daddyo · #15 05-20-2022, 09:22 AM

I Have a Larrivee SD50 with an 1 7/8" nut (25 1'2" scale) and a Taylor 312CE with a 1 3/4" nut (24 7/8" scale) - both 12 frets
I find the Larrivee better for more intricate fingerstyle but some stretches are a more of an effort. But then my fingers get bunched up on the Taylor for somethings. The scale length also plays a big part.
Overall I find the Larrivee fine and I have average to small hands.