Nut width? Are we obsessively crazy?

[Ray175]

The difference in spacing from top E to bottom E on my 2 main guitars is 1/8 inch (Martin JM and Ibanez 754) . For picking soft folk and celtic folk I can feel a real difference. The neck profiles, string height, relief and strings are identical, but I need to concentrate for a few minutes to achieve more precision on the (marginally) narrower neck. I didn't even know ahout the difference in width until I actually measured the two guitars.......

[Jimmy Recard]

I think just as important and often overlooked is bridge spacing. I find 2 1/4” about as narrow as is comfortable, and 2 5/16” is perfect.

The strange thing is I like 1 3/4” to 1 7/8” nuts, but when I pickup my fender telecaster I find it’s just as easy to play so I don’t really know. If anything though it’s the bridge spacing on the Tele that gives me trouble (when fingerpicking).

Another thing is if I’m just holding chords (especially cowboy chords) the wider nut spacings are noticeably better. If I’m playing finger style that involves only partial chords as I move around the fretboard nut spacing is less of an issue, probably because I’m not tying to squeeze so many fingers in together. Still though bridge spacing is more important, probably because of the thumbing.

[dan!]

Originally Posted by woodbox

A recent thread about a Martin 0, 00, 000 and various nut widths from the factory

got me thinking once again about the absurd notion that nut width matters.



It’s really quite simple:

REAL GUITARS have 1 3/4 nut width.

There, there it is right there!



Martin was wrong building 1 11/16 for decades.

They finally got it right.

Taylor floundered at the start, but quickly saw the error.

Gibson apparently has some old worn out calipers and continues to struggle... what’s with the almost-but-not-quite-right 1.72?



(okay enuf of my lame attempts at humor)



My first guitar - 1928 Martin 0-18 - has a 1 7/8 nut.

My second - 1988 Martin J65M - came with 1 11/16.

My next - Taylor 714CE - had 1 3/4

Then came a long list of about 150 guitars ranging from 1 5/8 (Gibson B25) to 2 inch (various classical models).



I’m finishing my second hand-built-by-me, and it will have (as did my first build)

a 1 13/16 nut width.

So I guess that tells ya what my preference is.



I’ve had them all, and yes, it makes a difference.

But sometimes I think we guitar players are a bunch of little princesses complaining about a pea under the mattress.

(anyone remember that fairy tale?)



I mean really, think about it... 1 11/16 vs 1 12/16

Why/how could a sixteenth of an inch divided between five spaces between 6 strings, make THAT much difference?!?

But we buy/sell/trade/inquire/refuse/avoid/choose based on such minute increments.



“What’s the nut width?” we see asked in classifieds.

‘Oh, Okay. It’s gotta be ... ... for me. Good luck with sale.’



I’m afraid I’m a bit obsessively crazy to be so finicky.

And I know there’s one or two of you who have a similar affliction.. to be nuts about nuts

Your FIRST guitar was a 1928 Martin?? What's the story there?

I hope you still have it

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by woodbox

A recent thread about a Martin 0, 00, 000 and various nut widths from the factory
got me thinking once again about the absurd notion that nut width matters.

It’s really quite simple:
REAL GUITARS have 1 3/4 nut width.
There, there it is right there!

Martin was wrong building 1 11/16 for decades.
They finally got it right.
Taylor floundered at the start, but quickly saw the error.
Gibson apparently has some old worn out calipers and continues to struggle... what’s with the almost-but-not-quite-right 1.72?

(okay enuf of my lame attempts at humor)

My first guitar - 1928 Martin 0-18 - has a 1 7/8 nut.
My second - 1988 Martin J65M - came with 1 11/16.
My next - Taylor 714CE - had 1 3/4
Then came a long list of about 150 guitars ranging from 1 5/8 (Gibson B25) to 2 inch (various classical models).

I’m finishing my second hand-built-by-me, and it will have (as did my first build)
a 1 13/16 nut width.
So I guess that tells ya what my preference is.

I’ve had them all, and yes, it makes a difference.
But sometimes I think we guitar players are a bunch of little princesses complaining about a pea under the mattress.
(anyone remember that fairy tale?)

I mean really, think about it... 1 11/16 vs 1 12/16
Why/how could a sixteenth of an inch divided between five spaces between 6 strings, make THAT much difference?!?
But we buy/sell/trade/inquire/refuse/avoid/choose based on such minute increments.

“What’s the nut width?” we see asked in classifieds.
‘Oh, Okay. It’s gotta be ... ... for me. Good luck with sale.’

I’m afraid I’m a bit obsessively crazy to be so finicky.
And I know there’s one or two of you who have a similar affliction.. to be nuts about nuts

It makes the difference between a CLEAN sound and choked sound, especially if we have sausage fingers.

[Cheezeweggie]

I have both 1 11/16 & 1 3/4. I notice the difference. I play both and it doesn't matter much to me, if at all. A good setup is more important. I've played wider than 1 3/4 and didn't like them. To each his own.

[Russ C]

My standard contribution to nut width threads is that I like all my guitars to feel similar and 1/16th” is a noticeable difference.

Since I play electric mostly I won’t buy a 1 3/4” acoustic.

Take that all you 1 3/4” people 😉

[Bluenose]

Originally Posted by Cheezeweggie

I have both 1 11/16 & 1 3/4. I notice the difference. I play both and it doesn't matter much to me, if at all. A good setup is more important. I've played wider than 1 3/4 and didn't like them. To each his own.

I was going to write something quite similar but you beat me to it. Cheers!

[bufflehead]

Every guitar I've ever owned has a 1 11/16" nut, and every one of those guitars is perfect. If my fingers ever get too fat for those nuts, I'll know it's time to go on a diet.

[jschmitz54]

I’m not sure if it’s psychological or physiological but I have a tough time playing the 1 11/16 nut. Maybe it’s for a lack of trying. I bought a Martin LX “Little Martin“ for a travel/couch guitar and I seem to deaden strings constantly. It’s to the point where I just don’t play that guitar much and am thinking of selling it. Somewhat likely if I played it more I’d become accustom to it.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by woodbox

I mean really, think about it... 1 11/16 vs 1 12/16
Why/how could a sixteenth of an inch divided between five spaces between 6 strings, make THAT much difference?!?

You're ignoring the more important measurement: the size of the fingers. I have very thick fingers that are flatter on top than most others. A 1-11/16 nut has me muting a lot of strings inadvertently. It's a little better on a 1-3/4 but I can't really eliminate the problem until I get to 1-13/16 or higher.

[M19]

Wanna know what made me realize my two 1-11/16" guitars were just fine?

I started playing the Mandolin.

Now when I pick up the PRS Hollowbody the fretboard seems like a freakin' parking lot.

[jaymarsch]

I didn’t really pay closer attention to nut width until I had a fretting hand injury flare up. Then things like scale length, neck shape, string spacing and neck taper all took on a new significance to me. I can now pretty much switch between 1 and 11/16ths to 1 and 3/4ths. Anything outside that range tweaks my injury.
Best,
Jayne

[personatech]

FWIW, published specs aren't all they're cracked up to be. I'd decided that 1 3/4" nuts were the way to go (my 1.75" Eastman E1OM is easier to play than my 1.72" Seagull S6), but then I tried a 1.69" Breedlove Organic Concerto and found it to be very comfortable and easy to play - so much so that I asked a salesperson to verify the specs for me.

[Mark Stone]

I've never been able to tell the difference between a 1-11/16 and 1.75. To me they play identically. But I'm primarily a fingerpicker (American Primitive) and don't play Travis or "fingerstyle", so maybe my attack is of the type it wouldn't make a difference.

[Martin_F]

The nut width is only important because it is the maximum spacing that can be between the E to the e strings. Realistically, within those boundaries, the strings can be spaced in many different ways and widths. I have played some 1 11/16th guitars that had wider string spacing than a 1 3/4 width nut. With very wide spacing, you just tend to lose the real estate on the edge of the fretboard, which can make fretting accuracy essential.

Every guitar can feel different based on a lot of factors. Nut width just being one. String spacing is the more important measurement.

Stop worrying about your nuts! Just measure the spacing of the strings.

Martin