wide nuts

[daav]

I have a LP studio and a strat, but I am still looking for that guitar that fits me best, I find that I really like playing something with a bit of a fatter neck. Yesterday i played a PRS with a 1 5/8 inch nut, and another with a 1 3/4. The 1 3/4 seemed to feel the best.

What are some decent quality models I should be trying out that make wider neck electrics without needing to go into customizing?

Thanks,
Daav

 

[Ed Dixon]

Most Gibson models has 1 11/16 nut widths. Same for more PRS. Ricks and Gretch have narrow nuts and should be avoided.

Adding a wider nut can usually be done for not much $. Local techs can do this.

Ed

 

[Micter]

Most Gibson models has 1 11/16 nut widths. Same for more PRS. Ricks and Gretch have narrow nuts and should be avoided.

Adding a wider nut can usually be done for not much $. Local techs can do this.

Ed

That would require a wider neck.

 

[Ed Dixon]

I have successfully fited a 1 3/4 nut on a guitar that previously had a 1 11/16 nut without problems. Most techs can tell which combos will work and which will not.

Ed

 

[daav]

good info, thanks for that.

 

[Micter]

I have successfully fited a 1 3/4 nut on a guitar that previously had a 1 11/16 nut without problems. Most techs can tell which combos will work and which will not.

Ed

The string spacing would be very different and too close to the edge of the fretboard. Not a good idea! YMMV

 

[hixmix]

wide nuts

wider underwear?

Sorry. But who can resist with a thread titled "wide nuts"?

 

[Ed Dixon]

The string spacing would be very different and too close to the edge of the fretboard. Not a good idea! YMMV

Not really. The difference between 1 11/16 and 1 3/4 is 1/16 of an inch spread over 6 strings on a neck that is 1 11/16 nut width. The string spacing is very slightly wider.

Since I've been doing it on multiople guitars for multiple years, it works fine for me. Again one should talk to the tech first to be sure all will be well when the dust settled.

Ed

 

[legionserial]

wider underwear?

Sorry. But who can resist with a thread titled "wide nuts"?

Awww ya beat me to it

 

[dgatwood]

Awww ya beat me to it

The sad thing is that in the context of the "do your fingers stink after..." thread, I was thinking the same thing....

 

[Slowrider]

You guys do seem to have strange threads......but I like it!

 

[Light]

The string spacing would be very different and too close to the edge of the fretboard. Not a good idea! YMMV

Well...maybe. For some people, that would certainly be true, but for others it most certainly would not. I need some space on the edge of the fingerboard, and I would absolutely notice that 1/16" difference, but I know other guys (Leo Kottke comes to mind), who much prefer to have the strings quite close to the edge of the fingerboard. For Leo, his degree of precision when he is fretting is (not surprisingly) much higher than mine. For him, having the strings closer to the edge of the fingerboard makes it easier to fit his fingers into some of the chords he plays.

You can try getting a new nut to start with, they are not all that expensive. See if it works for you. If not, you can always buy a custom neck for your Strat from someone like USA Custom Guitars or Warmoth. Save the old neck so you can sell your gutiar with the Fender decal on it (it makes a BIG difference in the value of the guitar), if you ever chose to do so.


Oh, and I tend to like 1 3/4" necks too, by the way, though I'm usually most comfortable on a 1 11/16" neck.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Slowrider]

String Spacing Rule

Has anyone tried the string spacing rule from StewMac? I bought one last year and have used it for layout for 1 bridge and 1 nut, so far. That thing is ingenious and a time saver. I used to use dial calipers to get the spacing within .002, but this rule is alot faster and just as accurate. As Light said, some customers want different spacings.

 

[Ed Dixon]

As Light said, some customers want different spacings.

I have big hands and big fingers. On Gretsch and Rick guitars, which generally have a 1 9/16 nut, I cannot physically play a C chord, as my fingers will touch neighbor strings. I need the larger spacing to use most open chords.

I am more than willing to work around the reduced neck width next to 1st and 6th strings for the wider spacing.

Ed

 

[Light]

Has anyone tried the string spacing rule from StewMac? I bought one last year and have used it for layout for 1 bridge and 1 nut, so far. That thing is ingenious and a time saver. I used to use dial calipers to get the spacing within .002, but this rule is alot faster and just as accurate. As Light said, some customers want different spacings.

The metal one with the graduated spacing? Yeah, we use it all the time. We have one for each bench (well, I have to borrow one when I need it, but every one else has one). They're great.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi