1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

vinterland

New member
I'm a huge stickler for nut width as I can never play a true 1 5/8" (1.625) but some manufacturers have that in between an 11/16 and 5/8 nut width (1.650). I've always been a 1 11/16" player. Can anyone honestly tell the difference between a 1.687 and 1.650? Doesn't seem like much at all but then again even the smallest things on a guitar can make a huge difference.

I have a guitar I'm dying for and the only stickler is the 1.65 nut width. I've played basically the same guitar with a 1.687 nut.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

I can instantly tell a 1 5/8" nut, it's too small for me. The 11/16 nut is what I've always played. I think the nut on my Malmsteen is between the 2 of them, and it feels perfect.

My EB/MM has a 5/8" nut, but the neck is a little thick, so that makes the neck bearable for me.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

I think most players here could tell the difference between 1 5/8", 1-11/16", and 1.650. That said, the frets, neck profile, radius, and relief will all play a part in the feel of the neck.

I spec my custom necks with a 1.650" nut and a deep profile. That's for a vintage type S or T, and it's very playable, IMO.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

I like the 1 11/16" 44mm nut width. I've been playing them old Ibanez and Kramer guitars far to long to switch up now. I can handle a 1 5/8" nut if it's on a chunkier neck that gives me the support to arch my fat fingers up a bit more.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

I have a guitar I'm dying for and the only stickler is the 1.65 nut width.

Sit and play the guitar, then decide if you can tell a difference. That is really the only way you are going to decide.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

vinterland said:
I'm a huge stickler for nut width as I can never play a true 1 5/8" (1.625) but some manufacturers have that in between an 11/16 and 5/8 nut width (1.650). I've always been a 1 11/16" player. Can anyone honestly tell the difference between a 1.687 and 1.650? Doesn't seem like much at all but then again even the smallest things on a guitar can make a huge difference.

I have a guitar I'm dying for and the only stickler is the 1.65 nut width. I've played basically the same guitar with a 1.687 nut.

Small differences in the dimensions of guitar necks are enough to change the feel.

I like my 42mm MH-400 a little more than my 43mm RG. They seem close but you can tell the difference.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

incidently, although the differences may be small at the first fret, they can be quite noticeable at the 12th, which is why most neck specs include the first and 12th fret.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

I can't really recall anytime I've ever measured any nuts....much less tried and feel the difference.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

I have played a 1 5/8 nut for most of my life and I am really bound by it now. I can tell the difference big time. 1 11/16 is as far as i will go now but still is a bit uncomfortable if the neck is thick as well.
Funny thing is that i have big hands as well. Im 6.2". weird......just guess i got too used to the width.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

Small differences in the dimensions of guitar necks are enough to change the feel.

I like my 42mm MH-400 a little more than my 43mm RG. They seem close but you can tell the difference.

Erase that. I played today both of my guitars for quite some time and felt more comfortable with the 43mm nut width. But I prefer the width at 24th fret to be narrow (around 56mm).

I guess my fingers are a little long for the 42mm one. :P
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

I've got guitars with 1-5/8" and 1-11/16". Sure thay all feel different, but there're a lot of other factors like the neck contour and thickness and the kind of frets, and the fretboard material.

I don't really want to go narrower than 1-5/8", or wider than 1-11/16", but I can't be restricting myself to one kind of neck or another.
 
Re: 1.687 and 1.650 nut width can you feel the difference?

Yes... Surprising but it's there.
 
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