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I was wondering what the rest of you guys use for your standard nut width when say the customer does not specify what they want. I am building a guitar right now that I hope will go to a local guitar shop and I thought I would see what is most common. I am a fingerstyle guy and have always liked 1 3/4", which is what I use as my standard. My spacing at the bridge is usually 2 1/4". I know a lot of factory instruments have 1 11/16" as the standard. But I have seen that 1 3/4" is becoming standard with more factories (Taylor has used it for some time). Any thoughts on this subject would be appreciated. Thanks

JoshJosh H38686.3805555556

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

These are steel string widths, of course. But then I don't make classicals. I like 1-3/4 best but I would use 1-11/16 if I were to make a dreadnought.

1 3/4 rules!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Josh,

That's a very personal question

46mm which I think equates to 1 13/16 of your North American inches.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

45 mm

(Hey, I just became a senior member!)Arnt38686.3684143519

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I use 1.80 for a slightly wider string spacing at the nut. The reason...because Jim Olson does
Tracy

I have been using 1 11/16 but I am planning on converting to 1 3/4 since that seems to be what most people I talk to are interested in.

However that being said. I have built a couple 000-12s with the 1 7/8" with and I really like how that feels. But I suspect I will be in the minority on this opinion.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I said 1.75", but really it's 45mm. 1.75" is 44.5.

Used to be 45mm, but like Dave have recently gone to 46mm.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

As has been said, it's a personal choice. I've done one at 2-1/4" at the nut(not a typo: 2.250") for a really big fella, and my own is 1-9/16" at the nut(again, no typo: 1.565").

If you're building for inventory, decide what type of playing the guitar will be used for, and build accordingly.

As for orders, mine are split about 50/50 between 1-11/16" and 1-3/4". Seems both are as popular as the other.

i use 1.75 and sometimes 1 13/16. i prefer a it wider

where is John Mayes and his comments on this one?

>when say the customer does not specify what they want<

I would not let this happen. Someone is custom ordering a guitar; if they
don't know I tell them to go to a music store with a rule and find out what
they like, or I figure it out from which Martin model they find most
comfortable.

Building on spec I usually go 1-3/4; sometimes 1-25/32. But on a small
12-fret slot head I'll go 1-13/16.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Howard

You are right with your comment and I have never let that happen. I have had customers who were a little undecided and I did my best to help them make the right choice for their style of playing.

Thanks to everyone for you input. This has been helpful.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

52mm...but then mine are classical

Hey I can top that, my next has a 75mm nut, but it is an 8-course lute!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.