Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

[uOpt]

Here is the thing. I cannot play 1-5/8th nuts. I like to think of myself as a metalhead but that is just a hobby. When I actually get to play on stage (very rare these days) it is usually some chords, clean play, fingerpicking. On the 1-5/8th nut I just can't have all strings operate freely for many chords.

There also is the particular problem that I use a "double barre", index finger on all 6 and then ring finger on the DGH strings like an A major chord would be, but up the neck. On the narrow nut that kills whatever the high E string tried to do.

I learned classical guitar pretty intensely before going rock, so I have a preference for flat, wide ebony boards.

Anyway, I am feeling the limitations of this. I like Music Man guitars but they only offer 1-5/8th except for the petrucchi which isn't the right guitar for me and you can't exchange necks with -say- an Axis. Plus even the petrucchi might have a wider nut but they cut the string slots so that the strings are right back to the narrow spacing. SMACK

I also like one-piece maple necks (although I prefer rosewood board) and combined with my preference for Fender AVRI that pushes me toward 1-5/8th nuts. Nutz!

So...

Is it realistic to learn to deal with the narrow nut? How do country guitarists on vintage style Tele necks deal with this? There is full chords.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

The nice thing is, in this day and age you can find a multitude of high quality necks in various widths. If you can play a 1-5/8" neck but 1-3/4" is perfect, I'd focus on a smaller builder or a replacement neck that feels perfect. It might cost a little, but if you find that perfect neck on a "lifer" guitar isn't it worth it? (Of course this all assumes Fender style bolt on style, Gibson style is a bit more difficult)

There's a reason many fingerstyle acoustic players start the conversation at 1-3/4" and go up from there...

 

[jmh151]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

I felt that way with my EBMM Axis. Then I had it refretted with extra jumbo Jescar 57110 frets, and the slightly added fret height added a little more meat to the neck to make it feel like 1 11/16.

My PRS has a standard neck that is between 1 5/8" and 1 11/16, and I have trouble with chords in the lower positions

 

[uOpt]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

The nice thing is, in this day and age you can find a multitude of high quality necks in various widths. If you can play a 1-5/8" neck but 1-3/4" is perfect, I'd focus on a smaller builder or a replacement neck that feels perfect. It might cost a little, but if you find that perfect neck on a "lifer" guitar isn't it worth it? (Of course this all assumes Fender style bolt on style, Gibson style is a bit more difficult)

There's a reason many fingerstyle acoustic players start the conversation at 1-3/4" and go up from there...

I'm not a strong believer in custom necks. I am fuzzy about how it sounds and there are limited options to influence that before a build.

It's not hopeless, e.g. I know now that the specifics of the truss rod play a major role. You can probably also ask for what kind of glue is used and what the skunk stripe is being filled with (if any). Really large frets also change sound IMHO.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

I felt that way with my EBMM Axis. Then I had it refretted with extra jumbo Jescar 57110 frets, and the slightly added fret height added a little more meat to the neck to make it feel like 1 11/16.

My PRS has a standard neck that is between 1 5/8" and 1 11/16, and I have trouble with chords in the lower positions

Yeah. I bought my currently only Music Man guitar, an Axis, with the intention of swapping the neck with a Petrucci and then have a proper nut cut for the JP6. Which doesn't work but hey the Axis is pretty so no harm done, right?

I should actually look into a new nut for the Axis as-is. Maybe I can move the strings enough to play comfortable without them falling off.

I actually don't need the full 1-11/16th. I am fine with PRS wide/fat and with old Ibanez Blazers which are a bit less.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

I've got similar problems in that I've got long, really flexible fingers. 1-5/8 nuts are really difficult to play on for me, as I can't usually get three fingers in the space of the 2nd fret for an A chord and stuff like that. Classic profile is soooo nice. Flat and wide.

This is the reason why I'm so up on Rondo Music. You can order a custom guitar with a wide 1-3/4 nut, and for pretty cheap too. They're doing customs on LPs, V, Strats and shredders.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

For me it's the opposite; I LOVE MusicMan necks, but I have a lot of issues (cramps) with wider nuts (43mm). I got a Mayones recently because I fell in love with the sound and it has a flat and wide neck; quite a change for me but getting there. Still way less comfy than a narrow MusicMan neck though.

 

[B2D]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

I have kind of small-ish hands so i prefer a 1-5/8" nut width (or 42mm if you're metric) on electrics, but I've found that a specific neck profile makes a big difference as well. I prefer 1-11/16ths for acoustic but I can handle 1-3/4s as well if it's a nice neck profile.

That being said, i did have an acoustic with a 1-5/8" nut on it and playing fingerstyle was not fun. Not enough space in between strings.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

FWIW I have a guitar with 1-3/4" nut (my Greco EG-1000) and I can play it allright but it isn't better than 1-11/16.

I want to buy Music Man the company, beat some sense into them and sell them.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

Take a look at G&L guitars. I think all of their guitars offer neck options, including widths up to 1.75", fret size and material, finish, and fingerboard wood.

I regularly switch between my G&Ls with 1-5/8"; 1-11/16 " Gibsons and Martins; and 1-3/4" electric 12-strings, a Martin and a Taylor with no trouble at all.

Think about this: if you were stranded on a desert island with a 1-5/8"-necked guitar, you'd be able to cope with it, right? You'd adapt, and learn to play it?

Bill

 

[uOpt]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

Does G&L have neck pockets and pickup sizes that are interchangeable with, well, everybody else?

I have doubts about them. They have the weird asymmetric cut for the truss rod and of course they are all poly sprayed. 2-point trems.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

My #1 is 41mm at the nut; yes, I was quite surprised when I got it, having played a Wizard type neck for many years. However, it has given me no problems. Other guitars are about 42mm and have fatter necks.

 

[LReese]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

I grew up on Fenders. I've got a couple of 1 11/16 necks, no issue for me, I'd even like to try wider.

I can acclimate to pretty much any neck as long as it does not have sharp shoulders (I'm referring to the Smith Strats)... Bigger is better generally.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

Does G&L have neck pockets and pickup sizes that are interchangeable with, well, everybody else?

I have doubts about them. They have the weird asymmetric cut for the truss rod and of course they are all poly sprayed. 2-point trems.

True, the G&L necks are not interchangeable with other brands; they don't sell their necks aftermarket, either. I'm not sure what you mean about the truss rod cut. They offer several different profiles, thicknesses and widths. G&L is basically a Custom Shop.

And they are poly, but did you know that G&L offers a line of NCL finished guitars? Yes they do.

And IMO, the Dual Fulcrum Vibrato is the best vibrato out there. Leo designed it for both down and up pulls, and mine are rock solid stable when it comes to tuning. I've played with guys who use Floyds and Kahlers and they always have to fiddle with tuning more than I do, and my vibrato gets fairly hard use.

I've owned many vintage guitars over the years, including a 1960 Strat, and it was a good one. But, the G&L guitars I play (Legacy, S-500, Comanche and Legacy Special) are better guitars in every way. Remember, Leo Fender designed these instruments to correct some of the issues with his previous designs. My G&Ls have the right combination of improvements over the original designs, and the best recommendation I can give: no mods needed, and I am totally happy with them. YMMV.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

I never disliked them. I always preferred the 1-9/16 in. nuts on my '68 330 and '68 SG to any other nut width. That said, I also love wide fretboards. The 1-3/4 in. nut width on my G&L Rampage feels great. And for my last Esquire build, I made the nut width 1-3/4 in. as well. I guess it doesn't matter much to me.

The thing that does matter to me is nut width on a bass, though. I really dislike the Jazz Bass style necks, preferring the wider P-Bass style.

 

[brunogio]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

I recently recorded and we couldn't get the sound we were looking for from my guitars. The engineer handed me a Rickenbacker he had on the wall that sounded great (it had 50's pups and wiring). But man the neck felt small and the nut really cramped. It was really small in the open chord positions making it a challenge to play.

I got the tracks down but don't feel I could ever be comfortable playing that small a nut and neck and I don' think I'm super particular about that stuff. So my comment would be "No" some necks are just not right for some people.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

To be fair . . . Rickenbacker make some of the worst necks ever attached to a guitar.

 

[P.A.Foholic]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

For me it's the opposite; I LOVE MusicMan necks, but I have a lot of issues (cramps) with wider nuts (43mm). I got a Mayones recently because I fell in love with the sound and it has a flat and wide neck; quite a change for me but getting there. Still way less comfy than a narrow MusicMan neck though.

I've got the same situation. I too have a Mayones and it is a damn good axe but JP neck is just dreamy.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Has anybody learned to play narrow nuts when they couldn't before?

Does anybody have a maple neck 57 or 59 AVRI?

Is the nut width more like 41mm or 42mm?


1-11/16th would be 43 mm, but I find that necks which are speced at "1-5/8th" tend to randomly go toward 41mm or 42mm. I can play 42mm (e.g. Ibanez Blazer, Fender MIM 50s RI) but not 41mm (Music Man).