Nut width?

rspst14

Tone Cat
Hey guys, I'm all set to order a Warmoth neck for my Strat project, but I'm not sure which nut width I should choose. The neck is a standard 25.5 inch scale neck, the same scale length as my Wolfgang. I find that the Wolfgang is a bit tough to play rhythm on, as it's kind of narrow at the nut, and I find my fingers a bit cramped when playing close to the nut. So I don't want a 1 5/8 nut. Will 1 11/16 be noticeably better, or should I go with 1 3/4? I really like the comfort of my Hamer when playing close to the nut, it has a 1 11/16 nut, but it also has a shorter 24 3/4 scale, so it seems to get wider faster as you go down the neck. To get that same feel on a 25.5 scale neck, which nut width would be better? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Ryan
 
Re: Nut width?

The 1 11/16" will have a small but noticable difference compared to the 1 5/8". If you like that on your Hamer then you might want to go with that. I think that the 1 3/4" may be a bit too wide. Also remember that as you widen the nut width you increase the overall string spread along the fingerboard. This will be more pronounced at the lower frets which can be good or bad depending upon what is comfortable to you.
 
Re: Nut width?

When I was looking at a custom guitar, I was tempted to try the Warmoth super wide neck... that thing looks awesome :eek2:
 
Re: Nut width?

If you have BIG hands, go for 1 3/4! Most guitars I play have 1 11/16. I have kinds longish fingers (like a monkey!), so I like to have room to stretch out. It's all a matter of preference! Go to Guitar Center and test a few nut widths out. You might want to bring a small piece of cardboard with the lenths marked (1 5/8, 1 11/16, 1 3/4) out so you can tell which is which. Plus you won't look like a dork whipping out your ruler!
 
Re: Nut width?

stupid interposed question: do these measures 1 11/16 mean from edge to edge of the fingerboeard of from 1st to 6th string? As I do not own any axe of the large brands I can't compare. thanx
 
Re: Nut width?

Psy: 1 11/16 means the string spread (i.e. E to E).

rspt14: I saw go for the 1 11/16. I'm like you, in that all of my Fender scale necks have 1 5/8ths and my Gibson scale necks have a 1 11/16th nut. I have short stubby fingers, and was kinda iffy about orderering a 1 11/16th wide neck for my 24 3/4 Warmoth VIP neck. It turned out that the extra reach required didn't bother me at all, and I found chording to be much easier with the wider nut. I haven't tried the wider nut with a Fender scale neck, but the neck for my next Warmoth guitar will be fender scale with a 1 11/16th nut.
 
Re: Nut width?

MattPete said:
Psy: 1 11/16 means the string spread (i.e. E to E).

No. A 1 11/16" nut width is the actual width of the neck at the nut.
 
Re: Nut width?

Seafoamer, did you have Warmoth install the nuts on your conversion necks or did you have them done after you got them?
 
Re: Nut width?

Hey gOgIver: I have floyd nuts on my conversion necks. Warmoth did the nut routing 4 me.
 
Re: Nut width?

Cool Seafoamer! I was just gonna make a thread asking about trem use! Please check it out.
 
Re: Nut width?

If you want to try a 1-3/4" nut, that's what comes on a Taylor acoustic (at least the 314). I'm not sure you'll find any production electrics with that wide a nut.

The 1-5/8 to 1-11/16 does make a noticeable difference. I can't play my daughter's Squier Strat below the 4th fret - the tip of my ring finger is larger than it should be due to a dumb kid stunt (me being the dumb kid at the time). My MIM Strat and Warmoth with 1-11/16" nuts are ok, but I'm going with 1-3/4" for all future projects. The Taylor is the most comfortable guitar for me.

BTW who cares if they think you're a nerd at Guitar Works?

Chip
 
Re: Nut width?

I like the vintage nut width myself. It's great for using your thumb. Play some non vintage replica model Fenders. Almost all are strat scale and have 1 11/16" nut width. Anything like an American Std will do.

It's funny on the nut width, When EVH first came out, he liked wide nuts. 1 3/4"!!!!!!

When the ernie Balls came out, he switched to 1 5/8". weird.
 
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