#1
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Nut width, fact or fiction
Until recently I was firmly in the 1 3/4 nut width camp and convinced it had to be that over 1 11/16.
Then I bought my used Martin HD28 and decided that I would try to make the change. Interestingly enough (to me at least), I have made the transition between the two without any real problems. In fact I can now pick up either my Greven J35 (1 3/4 nut) or the new Martin HD28 (1 11/16) and play either with ease, flat picking or finger picking. So anybody else go along with this? I think in my case it was in my mind and not my fingers or technique. Just one persons take. Thanks
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Rick "Reputation is made in a moment:Character is built in a lifetime." |
#2
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I own both and suck equally on them.
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#3
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I agree with you, I have no problem with 1 11/16 and 1 3/4. I do notice a difference below 1 11/16" and above 1 13/16" though. 1 7/8" is just a tad too wide for me.
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'17 Waterloo Scissortail '17 David Newton 00 Rosewood '11 Homemade Strat Ibanez AS73 w/ Lollar P90s |
#4
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I can adapt to anything fairly easily, but to me, the 1.72" width of most Gibsons is perfect. I am always surprised at what a difference a few millimeters makes, but nut width isn't really a dealbreaker for me. I currently own a 1 11/16" a 1.72" and a 1.75" guitar, and switch back and forth between them without issue. I do, however, vastly prefer short scale guitars.
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#5
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Nut width and neck profile both matter, but I choose to ignore both. I play what's in my hands at the moment.
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#6
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I use nut width as a general guideline, not a hard rule, but I think it really depends on the individual guitar and maker. I am used to 1 11/16 and the majority of the time prefer that. But i have played some guitars with 1.75" nut guitars that i was just as comfortable on. Overall though i prefer the 1 11/16 nut.
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Tom 2016 Bourgeois OM SS (Addy/Maddy/Hide) 2010 Martin D-28 1968 Yamaha FG-180 |
#7
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Neither fact nor fiction. It's personal preference. I have never felt good with a nut width of 1 11/16.
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#8
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The Epi is 1.75, and the Gibson is 1-11/16 and I don't notice the difference. The Yairi is 2.1 and it takes a couple of strums to switch
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#9
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Quote:
In fact, my Tele has the big baseball bat neck and the 335 has a 60's style thin neck. Like I said, I think it was all in my head when it came to the acoustic end.
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Rick "Reputation is made in a moment:Character is built in a lifetime." |
#10
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Seems like both the neck profile and nut width in combination would affect play-ability. Am I off here?
I have no trouble switching between 1-11/16 and 1-3/4 or in between. I do have a bit of trouble stretching to 1.8" however. There I can really feel the difference. |
#11
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I go back and forth between my 1-3/4 Taylor, my 1-11/16 Martin, 1-7/8 12-string without much issue. Sometimes it takes me a few minutes to adapt, but then it's fine. I do find the 1-3/4 best for me.
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Fazool "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter" Taylor GC7, GA3-12, SB2-C, SB2-Cp...... Ibanez AVC-11MHx , AC-240 |
#12
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It depends on what you're playing in my view. If its bluegrass or blues, where simple chord forms are used with single lines, with a few double stops, then a narrow string spacing is not only manageable but preferred. With more complex fingerstyle pieces, however, extra spacing is a big help, particularly if you have stubby fingers.
I went from narrow to wide over several decades of playing, but when I went back and played my old Martin, I found the narrower spacing gave a different sound for certain types of riffs. I now believe that closer strings seem to interact better when played together somehow. One example that comes to mind is with the mandolin chop that's such a big thing in bluegrass rhythm. With the wider necks that you find with some of the older A models, the chop just doesn't sound right. With the narrower necks, the chop sounds more unified and concise. Doesn't seem like it would matter but talk to one of these bluegrass purists and they'll tell you its critical to having the right sound.
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2002 SCGC OM/PW 2002 Takamine EF341-SC 2008 Collings MT2 2014 Republic Resolian 800 1985 Al Rice Cedar/Braz archtop dreadnought 1964 Framus Dreadnought 3 Telecasters MIM/Squier/Partscaster 1980 Gibson SG 2005 Ibanez AS83 1974 Princeton Reverb 1990 DRRI Last edited by The Blood; 11-20-2015 at 09:42 AM. |
#13
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I play what is in my hands at the moment too but find it easier if the nut width is 1 3/4. A lot has to do with how large, long, etc your fingers are.
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#14
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I think it is easier to play slide with 1.75 nut width. Other than slide there is little difference to me except I like to play all with the same width for consistency. Probably a mental thing more than anything else.
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Taylor 814ce Taylor 514ce Cedar top Martin D 35 Koa Wedge PRS Studio PRS Semi Hollow Custom SE G&L Telecaster 60th aniv Fender Stratocaster PRS Hollowbody Gibson Firebird Taylor Koa 12 Fret Ltd Various Epiphone Guitars |
#15
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Larry Pattis on Spotify and Pandora LarryPattis.com American Guitar Masters 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists Steel-string guitars by Rebecca Urlacher and Simon Fay Classical guitars by Anders Sterner |