1 11/16 vs. 1 3/4?

[wannad28]

For your fingerstylists out there. Do you prefer the wider neck or does it really make that much of a difference?

[Feste]

It does to me. I have tried to adapt to the 1 & 3/4" because it has become increasingly harder to find the 1&11/16" nut on many models. I had to special order it on both my Miclroy and a Goodall. I am just more comfortable with the smaller nut size. I have resigned myself to this and have given up trying to adapt. In fact I have a beautiful and brand new Lakewood M-32 up for sale because it has a 1&3/4' nut that just doesn't work for me. I am probably the odd ball in this regard because everyone I know prefers the larger nut size.

[wthurman]

For me, it's mostly what I'm playing that defines it. I'm fine with 1-11/16" on my electric, but I prefer 1-3/4" on an acoustic. So much so that I'm selling a wonderful SCGC D/PW because of the 1-11/16" nut... otherwise, it would be staying for sure.

[classicalman]

hold da' phone - Wade - you are selling your D/PW? you just got it... shock and dismay...

Back to the original question - it makes a difference but I'm with Wade on this one. 11/16th is plenty of room on my strat but I like bit more room at the nut but even more importantly I like a bit more room at the bridge. I can adapt with my fretting hand pretty easily but the extra room on my picking hand really helps with speed, accuracy, attack and execution.

[mojorison_75]

Originally Posted by Thumper

For me, it's mostly what I'm playing that defines it. I'm fine with 1-11/16" on my electric, but I prefer 1-3/4" on an acoustic. So much so that I'm selling a wonderful SCGC D/PW because of the 1-11/16" nut... otherwise, it would be staying for sure.

I'm with you on this one. I don't mind the 1-11/16 on an electric at all, but I really want a wider neck on my acoustics.

[KyleT123]

it really does make all the difference in the world for me

[Jeff M]

Originally Posted by KyleT123

it really does make all the difference in the world for me

Me to. Much easier to navagate the FB.

[mjz]

I'm not a very sophisticated fingerstylist, so I know that effects my perspective. I do finger pick a few songs, but mostly I strum.

I'm comfortable on any neck. I will play certain guitars for certain styles, but mostly any neck will do. A different neck may change my approach but doesn't really change my opinion of a guitar.

I'm glad I'm comfortable with different spacings. It keeps playing fresh and I don't have to limit available choices when searching for a guitar.

I always thought that in time, one can get comfortable on almost any size neck.

mjz

[cpmusic]

I have both sizes and I'm comfortable on both, but somedays one is more comfortable, and other days the other one is. I don't think there's anything I can play on one size that I can't on the other.

Fingerstyle is easier on the wider neck, but in my case I think it's because I don't have to be quite as accurate to get all the strings to ring. When I'm playing those pieces on the smaller neck I have to be a little more careful with my fingering.

On the other hand, for strumming and general Travis picking I really like the smaller neck because I can thumb the 6th string more easily. This has become more important as I get older and my joints complain a bit more.

[dreamincolor]

I just landed my first acoustic with a 1-3/4" fretboard. I have several with the 1-11/16". After playing for a couple of weeks, I find that there is a bit of an adjustment going back and forth, and I have to really be conscious of my technique when going back to the narrower board. I believe this is a good thing - the narrower board sort of keeps me "honest."

That said, the neck profile is every bit as much a factor as the the nut width. My new guitar has a thicker profile (Martin modified V), which also makes it feel quite different.

[ricks]

I'm not much of a finger style player, mostly a pick for chording and single and double line lead stuff. I just am one of those that has to have the wider neck. My feeble fingers on the left hand get in there own way on the skinny boards. 1 3/4 or even better to get to 1 13/16 for me, and the bridge spacing makes a big difference as well. I just traded off a fantastic Collings cause it felt too "tight" for me. The Martin LJ I traded for has the same nut size (technically) but a wider string spacing and it made all the difference in the world.

[MiddleAgesMan]

[QUOTE=mjz...I always thought that in time, one can get comfortable on almost any size neck.

mjz[/QUOTE]

True dat.

I hated the tight nut on my new BR-160 when I first started playing but it gets better every day. If I had big fingers it would either take a lot longer but I would probably get used to it eventually.

[John G.]

I have large hands so I much prefer a wide neck and a beefy profile.

The Taylor necks, even the 1 & 3/4 versions, made my hands cramp up because of the thiness of the neck.

JG

[mtnByker]

1 3/4".

As soon as I got my Larrivee parlor I didn't want to play 1-11/16" at all any more, and I have sold the 2 I had. Too bad as there seem to be more cheap but decent guitars like this. The 1 3/4"s mostly seem to be mid price and up. I'd like to find a true cheap and fearless beater guitar w/ a 1 3/4" nut and a 24" or so scale.

[mellowman]

I prefer the 1 & 3/4 or even a 1 & 13/16 for fingerstyle. 1 & 11/16ths works fine for all electric playing as well as acoustic strumming & flatpicking. I've got pretty big hands though.