A 1/16 of an Inch ?

[Cameleye]

Not for me. Even Martin's relatively new MOL/PA neck with its 1 3/4" nut is still too skinny overall and too thin down just about the entire neck for my tastes.

[BoneDigger]

I had an epiphany the other day. I was playing a guitar at a music store and was considering buying it. I played it and loved the tones and playability. But I was convinced it had to have a 1 3/4 inch nut in order to buy it. But, I could not tell. So, I asked the sales person to go look it up (cellular service was poor there). It was at this point that I realized that, at least for me, the difference really didn't matter. If I could not tell from playing the guitar that it was one width or the other, then it really must not be that important to me.

I have several guitars with 1 3/4 inch nuts and several with 1 11/16th and I tend to play both equally well (or equally poorly). I was finger picking my D35 last night and it has a 1 11/16th nut. I never skipped a beat.

For others it's hugely important. I play banjo and mandolin and occasionally bass guitar. They all vary so much. I also grew up playing guitars that likely all had 1 11/16th nut widths, or if they didn't, I did not know one way or the other. It was a guitar, so I played it.

It really wasn't until when I joined AGF several years ago that any of these "important" distinctions were revealed to me. Previously, if it was a guitar and sounded good to my ears, I was cool with it.

[RRuskin]

Only if it was 1/16" too narrow.

[FrankHudson]

Let's imagine there are no hypothetical questions.

In the real world, I would not go looking for that guitar. I've confirmed that I prefer 1.75 and wider. I have a couple of acoustics that are narrower than that. I know what it's like to deal with narrower nut widths, and even though I do, I don't prefer it.

Now if some wish-granting genie handed me the most amazing sounding rosewood b&s 00 or 000 like guitar (the thing I think I'm missing from my accumulation) with a lovely neck other than having a 1 11/16th nut-width, and yes, it has the sound of the angels singing--and genie said: "It yours for a cup of coffee." Yes, I'd buy it.

Not likely to happen. If I did, I'd grumble some about that tricky genie and "there's always a catch..." some days, and I'd prefer to capo it up a couple of frets to get some room for my no longer as flexible fingers when playing it.

[bufflehead]

Originally Posted by HFox

Or would you adapt and enjoy ?

Great name for a new band: The Adapters.

[mercy]

Yes, that is why I have to get my guitars made, 1 13/16 nut is hard, impossible, to find in anything but a parlor and I dont like those.
If the body was 1/16 wide difference, that wouldnt matter, length neither.

[BoneDigger]

Originally Posted by bufflehead

Great name for a new band: The Adapters.

Would be a good name for a capo.

[Kerbie]

Originally Posted by HFox

If you found a guitar that had a wonderful voice and was very attractive to your eye and was built by a superior builder.....BUT the nut was 1/16 of an inch different than your preference would you reject it ?

Yes, I would. Been there, done that... won't do it again. That's just personal preference though. Most guitarists I've played with care less than I.

[brencat]

If I’m familiar with the builder and their necks and have owned or played examples of their guitars, then No I would not settle for anything except what I really want.

[SkipII]

a 1/16 wider or narrower?

If you had a great price on it. I'm sure your butt would adapt to your slightly slimmer wallet.

Seriously. we are adaptable critters. I think having a narrower widths makes us work more on precise fretting and a wider one builds hand posture. .

[rmoretti49]

I wouldn't make the purchase myself. I know that I would regret it for such an otherwise perfect guitar. But on an inexpensive guitar that otherwise suits me, I just might do it. In fact, I have done it in the past. My Tanglewood parlor has a 1 and 11/16 in nut which is too skinny for me. But I enjoy the guitar by tuning down and capoing up so there's more room for my fingers.

Originally Posted by FrankHudson

Let's imagine there are no hypothetical questions.

In the real world, I would not go looking for that guitar. I've confirmed that I prefer 1.75 and wider. I have a couple of acoustics that are narrower than that. I know what it's like to deal with narrower nut widths, and even though I do, I don't prefer it.

Now if some wish-granting genie handed me the most amazing sounding rosewood b&s 00 or 000 like guitar (the thing I think I'm missing from my accumulation) with a lovely neck other than having a 1 11/16th nut-width, and yes, it has the sound of the angels singing--and genie said: "It yours for a cup of coffee." Yes, I'd buy it.

Not likely to happen. If I did, I'd grumble some about that tricky genie and "there's always a catch..." some days, and I'd prefer to capo it up a couple of frets to get some room for my no longer as flexible fingers when playing it.

[J Patrick]

...for me it would depend on what I intended to play on the guitar....if I was wanting a dedicated fingerstyle guitar I would prefer a 1-3/4” nut...I could go a bit wider but not thinner....

...if I wanted a flatpicking guitar I would prefer 1-11/16ths but could go with 1-3/4” if I loved the guitar....and an all rounder could be anything less 1-7/8ths and more than 1-5/8ths....

[rpguitar]

I play everything from 2" classical guitars to mandolin and 6 string bass. Nut width variations are not a big deal to me.

Neck profile, though, can make or break a guitar. The size, curvature, and amount of shoulder are key elements contributing to comfort or lack thereof.
It's much more difficult to use measurements to decide - I have to play a guitar for a while to know.

So no; I would not reject an instrument outright in most cases.

[Rev Roy]

I swore I’d stick with 1 3/4”...but broke that vow because a Martin I wanted had 1 11/16”. To my surprise, in just a few days I adapted and no longer felt the difference. But weirdly I’m struggling a bit to adapt to my new J-45, which has a nut slightly wider than 1 11/16”. What the heck? I suspect it’s a combination of the nut width and the beefier neck.

I now have my first boutique guitar arriving tomorrow (a Collings) and you can be sure it has a 1 3/4” nut. As does my custom Martin. So I’m retaking my vow and sticking with 1 3/4” from here on...I think.

[jrb715]

I wouldn't buy it. If it's any larger than 1 23/32 I will feel the difference. I've purchased one great guitar with a 1 3/4 nut. I've adapted, but I notice the difference, and I don't play it as freely as my other guitars.