In The Shop: Guitar Geometry, Nut Width and String Spacing | Elderly Instruments

In the Shop is back with another installment of Guitar Geometry. This week, Joe Konkoly will look at nut width and string spacing at the bridge, and discuss how those two measurements affect the playing experience.
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[@lw216316]

Excellent - thank you. The focus by makers is on the nut width. That can give me a good indication of what comfort level I will have with playing. For me, it is more about the string spacing at the nut and not the actual nut width. That can vary depending on how close to the edge of the board they want to get with the E strings. I bought a guitar I liked that had a 1 3/4 nut. I prefer 1 13/16 or 1 7/8. I am a finger picker who started out on classical and then picked up steel string also - so I prefer a wider neck (string spacing actually) on my steel string guitars. So I got the shop to cut a new 1 3/4 nut with slots a little wider to increase the string spacing. They were able to do it and still leave enough room to the edge of the board so the string did not slip off the board when played. It may have increased the string spacing by a few millimeters but that difference was worth it to me. I think a binding along the board may be a factor to consider also if you are wanting to widen the string spacing. I wish makers would advertise the actual string spacing at the nut (as they do at the bridge) instead of just the nut width. I really have no concern about the nut width - the string spacing is what I need to know.

[@incognito50091]

I purchased this very Santa Cruz last summer. It is incredible! Thanks!

[@klauscottonswab2322]

3:30 boomp!! Camera started sputtering... 🤣🤣🤣

[@rickyeaton9117]

I got it now.

[@johnhubble5373]

What is the width of the Bridge in comparison to a nut? Is there a scale to tell me what the Bridge Sting Space should be for, say a 1 1/2” Nut with say 3/8” string center to center ?

[@Malc664]

30 seconds of an inch? I measured my guitar and it's 40mm. My fingers are a bit big so maybe I need 45mm. Whatever inch fraction that is IDK.

[@nakana_212]

Is it possible to go from a 1 11/16” nut and install a new 1 3/4” to make string spacing a little wider?

[@lw216316]

Did you find an answer? I bought a guitar with 1 3/4 nut. I got a new 1 3/4 nut installed with the slots cut for a slightly wider string spacing. It was possible because there was enough room on the outside of the E strings. You have to be careful or the strings can slip off the edge of the board as you play unless there is enough spacing to prevent it. I forget the exact amount but I think it was about $50 to have it done. It probably increased the string spacing by 1/16 or so and that was worth it to me. I finger pick and could tell the difference.

[@cs-ub4we]

I think that might be called a Dial Caliper, not digital, without wanting to detract from the effort made.

[@seinfan9]

lol yes, that is most definitely an analog reading, not a digital one.

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Why don't manufacturers offer a given model with some choice of nut/neck dimensions? Those of us with small hands have a hard time finding playable high-quality instruments.

[@saulcantu347]

I need your advice I have arthritis and I need an acoustic electric dreadnought guitar with the spacing of the strings like a nylon Classical Guitar can you recommend something

[@johnhubble5373]

Have your Guitar center near you make a new nut but only one mm or two wider spacing between each string.

[@billpiotter8190]

25:09 I think guitar manufacturers/sellers should alway state the string spacing at the nut as well as the nut width.

[@mathiasjohannesson9833]

Interesting, but the imperial measuring system is really really bad. It is just not a equal choice to metric, it is just so bad that it is off the scale. ;)

[@hosoiarchives4858]

I love inches feet and miles

[@theonkloppers971]

And in Metric system? Like 98% of the world uses??

[@gabeah]

This is an American presenting a video shot in America, aimed at Americans on an American video platform. So... maybe someone or you can make a similar video in metric on your country’s version of KZbin, and then you can stop your bitching?

[@cesar.arrano]

Ok, now in millimeters

[@pablomenjivar2475]

Its so annoying and frustrating that the majority of this info is managed in imperial measurements, is ridiculous how imprecise and hard to wrap arround compared to the metric system.

[@hosoiarchives4858]

It’s totally easy

[@chrisreich40]

The word "either" is not a synonym for "each".

[@daverobinson22]

Sorry dude, too long winded and I lost the will to live.

[@orbodman]

This could be easily condensed to about 3 minutes

[@ElderlyInstruments]

We agree, and so about a year ago began a higher production version of this series. Check it out!

[@orbodman]

@@ElderlyInstruments I shall

[@mathiasjohannesson9833]

@@ElderlyInstruments Hopfully in metric...

[@Malc664]

@@ElderlyInstruments Do you guys understand the metric system and add that to the videos? That would be nice, otherwise, I'm totally lost.

[@49ProRatStreet]

Dial caliper, not digital.

[@skyflyer900]

Cut it down to 12min. ☮️

[@ozoneswiftak]

Skinny necks suck. Esp if you have big fingers.

[@fedexnman]

Zzzzzzz

[@paul4292]

inches are so cringe ..use metric