Neck width

[Xplorervoodoo]

Just have an idle question about 1 3/4" width guitar necks versus the 1 11/16"...  Does it just add slightly more wood surface to either edge, or does it affect the string spacing.

Like if I ordered a 1 3/4" width neck with a precut graphtec nut, are the slots cut in the same positions as for a 1 11/16" or are they widened slightly to accomodate?

It occurs to me that I may just be complicating my explanation...  How bout if I just say that I find the high and low E strings very close to the edge, and wonder if the 1 3/4" necks would help keep me from slipping off...

I'll stop rambling now  :laughing7:

 

[dbw]

The strings are always spread across the nut, so wider nuts have wider string spacing.  It might be farther from the edge too, but I doubt it... you'd have to ask Warmoth.

 

[tfarny]

You can get a nut cut for any string spacing you want at a shop - Warmoth won't do it, I think. But normally the wider the nut the wider the string spacing - that's the only reason to have a wider nut, isn't it?
Loads of acoustics have 1.75 nuts, go play some (most if not all martins, right?) and then imagine doing electric guitar work on them. It slows down your left hand but is better (for me) for acoustic styles.

 

[simple]

The wider the nut, the wider the string spacing. The strings remain the same distance from the edge of the neck on all the guitar nut widths.

Watch out pairing the wider nut string spacing with a vintage wide string spacing bridge. This causes the strings to ride closer to the entire edge of the neck than normal. It doesn't bother some people but others it drives crazy.  That is why when you see Vintage bridge string spacing on a OEM guitar, it most likely has a 1 5/8" nut width.

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

Ok cool, thanks a lot guys :icon_thumright: