Moving from 1.75" neck to 2&13/16ths

pjmsj21 · #1 08-14-2006, 04:07 PM

First the acknowlegement that I know that I need to play one for myself, of which I wholeheartedly agree, but I am checking to see if most people that have been reasonably comfortable with a 1.75" neck have had any difficulty moving to the slightly larger 2&13/16ths.

I am looking at this wider neck for fingerstyle playing almost exclusively and any comments about the wider neck combined with short scales are also appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to repsond.

kilgorekid · #2 08-14-2006, 04:45 PM

I'm thinking you're talking about 1&13/16 width. 2&13/16 and you'd need hands the size of Shaq's to make that stretch.

To answer your question, I don't think you'll have any problem making the change. I love the wider nut size. I've had two guitars that had 1&7/8 nuts and I still loved 'em.

Plaid Coyote · #3 08-14-2006, 04:47 PM

2 13/16" that there is 6 string bass territory.

pjmsj21 · #4 08-14-2006, 05:03 PM

Sorry....too many dimensions ....but yes I am talking about moving from 1.75" to 1 and 13/16ths.

astrummer · #5 08-14-2006, 05:08 PM

I tend to like wider spacings though I have medium-small sized hands for a man. Most 12 strings are 1 13/16" at minimum and most are 1 & 7/8" ( as are both of mine ) the only problem I have at wider nut widths are on some "thumb over" chords. Also I think that much of the Seagull line is 1 13/16" and short scale...you may want to try a few (IMHO great guitars for the money)

Midnight Shadow · #6 08-14-2006, 07:51 PM

I have 1 11/16, 1 3/4, 1 13/16, and 1 7/8 nuts on my guitar. I think the best spacing for me is 1 13/16 inch. It is just very comfortable. Actually I don't have any trouble adjusting to any of them with the possible exception of the 1 11/16 which just seems to cause my arthritis to come into play.
Midnight Shadow

Stixx · #7 08-14-2006, 08:13 PM

I have only one guitar left with inch and 13/16's and that
be Bubba.

Having said that I did have a Norman Blake , which brings
me to my point. The dimention itself is not the whole story.
There is the neck 'section' that is the determinant of the
comfortable factor. Not all necks are alike in fact the opposite is true. Playing one for a few minutes unfortunately doesnt tell you enough as over time I found
the NB very tiring and pain producing for me. A friend found the opposite to be true but enough people I know
kept the Normans such a short time that it must be a factor. Now this is not a condemnation of NB 000's as
they are indeed fine guitars but the neck is either love or
hate .

My Collings DS is the same width but different string spacing at the saddle and also it has a completely different
section and I have never had a problem with it . IN fact I
play that guitar more than almost any one of mine.

So more to the point. Try try Try the neck out before you
commit to it and be sure it doesn't cause thumb over dis
comfort as that can happen on some and it is a deal breaker as pain can kill your enjoyment real quick.

JMO, YMMV

Later

Bern · #8 08-14-2006, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjmsj21

Sorry....too many dimensions ....but yes I am talking about moving from 1.75" to 1 and 13/16ths.

...and I'm thinking 10 string guitar here.

Anyway, you shouldn't have too much of a problem adjusting to the wider neck. It's only .01 difference per in string spacing. What about the bridge the spacing ?

JedimasterPaul · #9 08-14-2006, 08:32 PM

The OM that John Slobod is building me is going to have a 1 13/16" nut. I'm used to playing classical guitar adn I wanted a little extra room on the fretboard.

I am also getting 2 3/8" string spacing at the (pyramid!) bridge.

ljguitar · #10 08-14-2006, 08:53 PM

Hi pmsetc...
I have a student with long fingers. We visited Michael Bashkin's shop one day to play in some guitars, and I made sure he played a 1 13/16'' neck.

That is what he has ordered on his new guitar.

pickyfingers · #11 08-15-2006, 10:51 AM

The H&D has a 1 7/8 nut, even more comfortable then the NB and I love the room up there. Still easy to illegally thumb over the F. Only problem I've developed is going from the 00 back to the banjo - sometimes I'm grabbing for strings in space and playing off the end of the fretbaord. Until I get my bearings it's kinda funny actually.........! What's the difference between playing a violin and a goose - the way you hold it....yeah-yeah......!