[dirno2000]

There have been some really good finger picking threads here recently. I'm not seeking advice as much as affirmation here.

I recently spent about $1,000 on a guitar that I figured would be my "main guitar" for at least the next couple of years. About a month after my purchase I started getting into finger picking. The problem (at least it's a problem to me) is that I bought a guitar that's 1 1/16 inches at the nut and I’m having a serious case of buyer’s remorse because I didn't go for a nut length of 1 3/4. I'm 6'0 and about 210 so although my hands aren't huge, they aren't small and learning finger style would be easier with a wider neck.

So, I'm curious...what size neck do you pick on, and maybe more importantly, what size neck did you learn on? I keep trying to tell myself that if I can learn on this guitar, I'll be hell when I get one with a wider neck.

[dorio]

It took you one month to realize you had that problem, so i take it they won't give
you another guitar. Personally i've learned to play with many guitars, so many nut
sizes.



The top left one is the one i'm used to ... And as i'm lefty there were times when i
had to carve it myself from a piece of plastic cauz i couldnt find one that fit

[dadfad]

I prefer a wide nut with a short scale. I play mainly on a 1934 Gibson "The Jumbo" for that reason, about a 1 13/16" (almost 1 7/8") nut. Another consideration usually not looked at is SADDLE width. If you have a wide saddle, the strings begin to sort of fan out more, which also increases the space between them after it leaves the nut. Scale length also comes into play here. I like a short scale so I can span more frets mostly, but a short scale (like a wider saddle) also increases that "fan" of the strings more quickly. Some people (myself included) that like really wide necks have tried 12-string guitars strung with only six-strings.

[dirno2000]

It took you one month to realize you had that problem, so i take it they won't give
you another guitar.

Probably not at this point. That's why I mentioned the price of the guitar. I really don't want the take the hit that I would take by selling it already

[dadfad]

Also, as far as learning, a 1 and 11/16" nut (which I assume you probably meant) isn't that bad. Most of my acoustics have a 1 and 11/16" and they work out okay, but I just prefer wider. Besides, it'll make you more precise in your fingering when you DO get a wider neck! I wouldn't worry too much.

[dirno2000]

Also, as far as learning, a 1 and 11/16" nut (which I assume you probably meant) isn't that bad.

I did mean 1 11/16. I'd have to have hands like an 8 year old to play a 1 1/16.

[airdog4125]

I do all my fingerpicking(not much) on a classical with a 2" nut. Next may or june though, I'll do it on my Gibson J185EC with a 1 3/4" nut.

[dadfad]

Also, as far as learning, a 1 and 11/16" nut (which I assume you probably meant) isn't that bad.

I did mean 1 11/16. I'd have to have hands like an 8 year old to play a 1 1/16.

I began teaching my daughter fingerstyle guitar when she was four (and she was small for her age). She had very tiny little fingers but was extremely intent on learning to play. I bought her a mandolin, made a new nut for it and strung it like a guitar. That had about an inch or so nut-width!





(She could play Mississippi John Hurt to Jimi Hendrix and work in several tunings by age six. She's the one who first called me Dadfad when I first taught her to play in that tuning. It would crack her up! Now twenty-five (her birthday was yesterday) she's extremely good, so it was worth the trouble!)

[airdog4125]

I recall you saying she was a pretty as well, so, pass on a happy birthday from me and this wraped package (for her eyes only).

[dadfad]

I recall you saying she was a pretty as well, so, pass on a happy birthday from me and this wraped package (for her eyes only).

(I don't think I'd wanna look anyway! haha) Okay, I will.

[airdog4125]

I recall you saying she was a pretty as well, so, pass on a happy birthday from me and this wraped package (for her eyes only).

(I don't think I'd wanna look anyway! haha) Okay, I will.

That's very gracious of you. You could've gone for the S&W

[dadfad]

Nahhh, guitar-players only get rock-salt in the sawed-off. I save the S & W for accountants.










(Or drummers! )

[airdog4125]

(Or drummers!       )

or Lead Vocalists

[dadfad]

(Or drummers!       )

or Lead Vocalists

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY lead vocalists!

[wannalearn01]

I prefer a wide nut with a short scale. I play mainly on a 1934 Gibson "The Jumbo" for that reason, about a 1 13/16" (almost 1 7/8") nut. Another consideration usually not looked at is SADDLE width. If you have a wide saddle, the strings begin to sort of fan out more, which also increases the space between them after it leaves the nut. Scale length also comes into play here. I like a short scale so I can span more frets mostly, but a short scale (like a wider saddle) also increases that "fan" of the strings more quickly. Some people (myself included) that like really wide necks have tried 12-string guitars strung with only six-strings.

Ok don't shoot me but I am assuming the nut size your talking about is the part on the guitar that the strings are placed in to line them up going from the "tighteners" and the saddle. Am I right>?

Sometimes I have a problem with the "meat" of my hands muting the bottom "e" string. I beleive I have more of a "v" neck. I played one "u" neck and it seemed wider but I didn't think of it till this post. Would a "u" neck usually have a wider nut size?

I'm sad to say that most of the guitar parts are a mystery to me...look for a post later on asking all of the parts.

T&roy

[pimp_vince]

I prefer a wide nut with a short scale. I play mainly on a 1934 Gibson "The Jumbo" for that reason, about a 1 13/16" (almost 1 7/8") nut. Another consideration usually not looked at is SADDLE width. If you have a wide saddle, the strings begin to sort of fan out more, which also increases the space between them after it leaves the nut. Scale length also comes into play here. I like a short scale so I can span more frets mostly, but a short scale (like a wider saddle) also increases that "fan" of the strings more quickly. Some people (myself included) that like really wide necks have tried 12-string guitars strung with only six-strings.

Ok don't shoot me but I am assuming the nut size your talking about is the part on the guitar that the strings are placed in to line them up going from the "tighteners" and the saddle. Am I right>?

Sometimes I have a problem with the "meat" of my hands muting the bottom "e" string. I beleive I have more of a "v" neck. I played one "u" neck and it seemed wider but I didn't think of it till this post. Would a "u" neck usually have a wider nut size?

I'm sad to say that most of the guitar parts are a mystery to me...look for a post later on asking all of the parts.

T&roy

i think the shape you're referring to is known as a C-neck (still the same shape). it's more square-ish than any other neck. i've yet to try a V-neck on any guitar yet (oh the great things about being a lefty)

[airdog4125]

I think I've played a few martins that fit the "v-neck" description (even as a lefty ), but they're disgusting to me like the guitar is poking my hand. I don't know about differences in nut sizes though. I know martins have a pretty decent nut size.

[wannalearn01]

Ok don't shoot me but I am assuming the nut size your talking about is the part on the guitar that the strings are placed in to line them up going from the "tighteners" and the saddle. Am I right>? The part at the top of the guitar...

T^roy

[dadfad]

Ok don't shoot me but I am assuming the nut size your talking about is the part on the guitar that the strings are placed in to line them up going from the "tighteners" and the saddle. Am I right>? The part at the top of the guitar...

T^roy

Yes.

[wannalearn01]

Ok don't shoot me but I am assuming the nut size your talking about is the part on the guitar that the strings are placed in to line them up going from the "tighteners" and the saddle. Am I right>? The part at the top of the guitar...

T^roy

Yes.

I do have a follow-up questions:

Can you just replace the "nut", to give a little wider string spacing?
I was thinknig you could, but then I thought about the width of the guitar neck would really be the determining factor of what size nut you could use.

T^roy