Nylon string with a narrow Nut - $500ish dollars? Suggestions?

[gr81dorn]

Looking to add a nylon string back into my life. Previous such endeavors ended with frustration over the wide fingerboards and thin neck profiles.

Any suggestions for someone looking for a beefier neck profile and a narrower nut (1 3/4 ideally)? If I can't have both, the narrow nut is more essential.

I realize why it's typically wider, but it's just uncomfortable to the point where I can't/won't play it.

I believe there is some genre of gutiars aimed at folks like me (crossover, hybrid, etc). That may be what I'm looking for. Not looking to spend too much. I'd like to be in the $500ish range, give or take for the right instrument.

Thanks in advance.

[Gordon Currie]

You are right on target with the crossover type. They are designed to get steel-string players to 'cross over' to the nylon side.

To that end, the fingerboard is narrower than standard for classical guitars, and they often include a cutaway, which is probably even more reviled in classical circles than here on AGF

I have a Cordoba Fusion 14 that has a 1 7/8 nut. But as many have posted, since nylon strings are wider than steel strings, the same nut width can feel more cramped on nylon vs. steel.

I got mine for a great price ($350) on a MF SDOTD. If you are OK with used, you could find a lot that would come in at your desired price.


Here's some other threads discussing this:
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=178398

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...=551716&page=2

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=490907

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=481862

[JERZEY]

In this price bracket there are only 2 guitars. The Yamaha NTX and the Cordoba Fusion series.

The Yamaha has recently been revamped. It has fantastic fit and finish. It comes with a fantastic pick up system. Its a slim body so it sounds like you would expect it to sound unplugged. 48mm Nut with a 14 fret to the body neck.

The Cordoba is nearly full sized classical body. Its a pretty much what you would expect for a 500$ hybrid from that manufacturer. The pick up system is a pretty cruddy under saddle setup. You can find them in 12 and 14 fret versions with 50mm nuts.

There really are no other slim nut hybrids in this price bracket.

[birkenweg42]

I think that you will have difficulties finding a crossover with a 1 3/4 nut width. During my search a couple of months ago I didn't come across anything smaller that a 1 7/8.
Good luck with your search. Crossover nylon strings are a lot of fun!

[Marley]

https://www.lunaguitars.com/query?upc=818896025126

1 11/16" nut.

I'm looking to possibly get one

edit: Now that I look at the direct link it says 1 7/8 but other sites list it as 1 11/16, such as this one and many others--

https://www.wwbw.com/Luna-Guitars-Lu...s%20-%20Guitar

[Bax Burgess]

Is there such a thing as a 1 11/16 nylon? Maybe an infant's $40 starter guitar. 1 7/8 is common/popular.

[Agogany]

I'm about to give away a plywood nylon string guitar that has a 48mm but, and as was implied above, the thicker treble strings meant it did feel a bit cramped. I made a new nut for my classical guitar where I shrank the string spacing. Ideally I'd have shrunk that slightly further, but I don't think it'd be practical in terms of using thumb-over-the-top fingerings at times. I think I have a 52mm nut and 44 or 43mm spacing.

I watched a woman play classical guitar on YouTube the other day where on her guitar the space from the edge of the neck on the bass side was a bit weird-looking, maybe 6mm, which is tempting to try.

I had been regretting the lack of money for a crossover type myself but I'm adjusting now and finding I need a resettling period when I'm in the mood for steel strings as my fingers fall wrong. An electric guitar is already impossible for me.

[MikeB1]

I believe Ortega is a German company. They make a nylon string crossover type in a traveler guitar. It is a 43mm nut, 24 inch scale, with pickup.

Here is a demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woUOYJuCuTk

Here is a link to the company site: https://ortegaguitars.com/en/product...mm-m13202.html

They sell for $450 new.

[Don Lampson]

Originally Posted by MikeB1

I believe Ortega is a German company. They make a nylon string crossover type in a traveler guitar. It is a 43mm nut, 24 inch scale, with pickup.

Here is a demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woUOYJuCuTk

Here is a link to the company site: https://ortegaguitars.com/en/product...mm-m13202.html

They sell for $450 new.

What an interesting company specializing in only nylon string guitars, yet selling a decent line of banjos?

Don

[Garthman]

The Fender ESC105 classical guitar has a 45mm width neck. Nice guitar at a very reasonable price.