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  #16  
Old 05-20-2022, 09:31 AM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
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I don't like a nut at 1 7/8", so I wouldn't buy a guitar with a nut that wide. I have a classical crossover with a nut that wide and I rarely play it. I have three guitars with 1 13/16" nut width and I wish they were all 1 3/4" or even better, 1 11/16".

I adapt to the differences and play these guitars, but there are a lot of playing techniques I can do only on 1 11/16".

But you may be different.

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  #17  
Old 05-20-2022, 09:32 AM
therbulus therbulus is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by koko61 View Post
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!
Your last sentence...I played a classical for a long time, and that's why I also prefer 1-7/8. I would think it should work fine for you.
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  #18  
Old 05-20-2022, 10:12 AM
RJVB RJVB is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RLetson View Post
And I noticed that I also had much less discomfort on my 1-3/4 guitars with radiused fingerboards.
I have been wondering about the importance of a radiused fretboard, esp. in conjunction with a classical position. It looks more comfortable for some reason, but isn't it mostly the radius in the saddle that makes flat picking easier, not unlike how a violin needs a radiused bridge?

For the left hand I see 2 drawbacks:
- quick fingering changes from the 1st string to the lowest string require you to negotiate a "hump" (no matter how small it is)
- barré chords may be a little bit easier on the treble side, but with a full-width one you need to press down the thinner tip of your index finger further - sideways so not in the way it bends naturally - to stop a heavier string that's more likely to buzz if you don't fret it just right.
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  #19  
Old 05-20-2022, 10:44 AM
RLetson RLetson is offline
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All I can testify to is what my hands tell me. For 40-plus years I could switch from a Guild's 1-11/16 radiused neck to a 1-7/8 flat fingerboard, to a 1-3/4 radiused Goodall (all with medium profiles), to the very-low-profile Dunn--with no awareness of different playability, let alone discomfort. And I switched between conventional barre to thumb-over fingerings as needed without much noticing. When my left thumb started giving me trouble, it was the wide-flat fretboard and low-profile neck on the Dunn that caused discomfort, and I quickly isolated the elements that caused the pain when I played thumb-over.

A radiused fingerboard is not as important as a deeper profile, but it helps. (And a conventional classical left-hand position would probably help most of all, but that would require an overhaul of my technique, such as it is.)
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  #20  
Old 05-20-2022, 10:50 AM
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One caveat about the classical guitar background - typically those necks, while wider at the nut, also tend to have a flatter spine. I think of them more U shaped as opposed to C or V. Many steel strings will be closer to a V so the left hand experiences a very different set of geometries.

In-hand testing is the only way - and even then I've found that certain necks will feel great at first but then find fatigue or other issues cropping up with extended play. Ymmv.
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  #21  
Old 05-20-2022, 11:50 AM
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Only you can answer that after playing one. I ordered my H12c (Froggy) with a 1-7/8" nut. I came from playing classical guitar for 30 years before ordering a steel string. It is perfect for me.

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  #22  
Old 05-20-2022, 12:04 PM
Msedg Msedg is offline
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You’ll need to play it - only you can tell. And even then I’d advise playing for an extended period if possible (20 mins in the shop may not do it).

I’m one of those people who seems overly finicky with nut widths. I had a Larrivee SD50 with a 1 7/8” nut that was a beautiful guitar in every way bar that, and had to be sold in the end as I just couldn’t live with it. If it had been a later version (they started doing them with 1 3/4 as standard) I dare say it would still be hanging on my wall.
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  #23  
Old 05-20-2022, 04:23 PM
Malcolm Kindnes Malcolm Kindnes is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by koko61 View Post
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
Does it have an oval shaped soundport in the upper bout? If so, I probably used to own it and I would describe the neck as very comfortable.
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  #24  
Old 05-21-2022, 01:27 AM
koko61 koko61 is offline
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  #25  
Old 05-21-2022, 06:25 AM
Malcolm Kindnes Malcolm Kindnes is offline
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Seen and answered.
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  #26  
Old 05-21-2022, 06:36 AM
donlyn donlyn is offline
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is a 1 7/8" nut too big?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JayBee1404 View Post
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.

koko61,

I think JayBee covers it simply and nicely. It depends on you and your hands and fingers.

My personal range is 1+11/16" and 1+3/4" (the Taylors) for six string guitars, four of each width. I can play 1+7/8", but only have that nut width on my two twelve string guitars. Wouldn't want anything wider, and happy where I'm at.

Don
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  #27  
Old 05-21-2022, 07:00 AM
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Mr. Jelly Mr. Jelly is offline
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I haven't read the replies. All I can say is that it didn't work for me. I thought it would be okay but in the long run it wasn't. The guitar continued to be a challenge to play, and the added effort didn't make sense. And there was no benefit in it at all. I would not advise buying a hard to sell guitar with a wide nut if you are unsure.
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  #28  
Old 05-21-2022, 08:16 AM
ewalling ewalling is offline
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Many people say 1 7/8 is good for fingerstyle, but a lot depends on the size of hands, the shape of fingers, and what the player is used to. I'm a fingerpicker and I like 1 7/8 on nylon string instruments but prefer 1 11/16 on steel strings.
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  #29  
Old 05-21-2022, 09:24 AM
koko61 koko61 is offline
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I see that each one gives a different opinion, so I don't think there is much difference between 1 3/4" (4,445 cm) and 1 7/8" (4,762 cm) are only 2mm. so I think my will be fine. The thing is, I can't test it before.
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  #30  
Old 05-21-2022, 12:09 PM
Malcolm Kindnes Malcolm Kindnes is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by koko61 View Post
I see that each one gives a different opinion, so I don't think there is much difference between 1 3/4" (4,445 cm) and 1 7/8" (4,762 cm) are only 2mm. so I think my will be fine. The thing is, I can't test it before.
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