Wide neck guitars?

[Jedeel]

Hello all.

 

I'm looking (on the net) for brands which have a wide-neck-guitar (El.Ac.metal).

 

Until now i found;

- Takamine (AEN30C, EG334C)

- Epiphone (Masterbilt)

- Ovation (1613; discontinued)

 

I'm looking for at least a 1,9" neck.

 

It's very time-busy (excuses for my english) to click and read all those different types on each site.

 

Can you give me some hints of brands and types with such a wide-neck?

 

Thanks for info.

 

Jos

[kwakatak]

Seagull guitars have 1.8" necks on average:

 

http://www.seagullguitars.com/specs.htm

 

The Peppino D'Agostino (sp) model in particular has a 1.9" neck.

[guitarist21]

I have an Epiphone Masterbilt, as you mention. Of the options you presented, I think a Masterbilt would be the best choice. They are well-built and well-priced. Highly recommend it!

 

Ellen

[EvilTwin]

+1 on the 'Gulls.

 

Although they've guilt some with slimmer necks (at 1.72", I think), the 1.8" necks are plenty wide.

 

Plus, they're very affordable.

[Jedeel]

Thanks, Kwakatak, Ellen and EvilTwin for the reply's.

 

The Seagull is too expensive for me.

I'll go surching on the net for Guild.

 

Thanks a lot!

 

Jos

[Freeman Keller]

Jos, unforturnately wide necks on steel strings are really rare. Most, of course are 1-11/16 at the nut, and we consider 1-3/4 "wide" (this is out to out on the fretboard, the strings will be about 1/16 in from the edge). There are few six strings with somewhere around 1-7/8 (one of my Dobros is that wide), and that is the common nut width for a 12 string. As you also know, the standard classical neck is 2 inches.

 

May I ask why you need a 1.9 inch neck?

[knowspicker]

The cheapskate option for Seagull is to buy S12 with a 1.9" nut and string it up as a six string not elegant but workable.

 

Simon and Patrick and Art & Lutherie also have 12 strings with a 1.9" nut. You can string them with medium strings to get more tension on the top.

[Jedeel]

 

Originally posted by Freeman Keller Jos, unforturnately wide necks on steel strings are really rare. Most, of course are 1-11/16 at the nut, and we consider 1-3/4 "wide" (this is out to out on the fretboard, the strings will be about 1/16 in from the edge). There are few six strings with somewhere around 1-7/8 (one of my Dobros is that wide), and that is the common nut width for a 12 string. As you also know, the standard classical neck is 2 inches. May I ask why you need a 1.9 inch neck?

 

 

Certainly you may ask :-)

 

The guitar is not my main-instrument.

I've a little thick fingers so I want to have more space between the strings (left and rijght).

And I like to (learn to) play the fingerpicking style. (metal and el.ak.)

 

Jos

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by Jedeel Certainly you may ask :-) The guitar is not my main-instrument. I've a little thick fingers so I want to have more space between the strings (left and rijght). And I like to (learn to) play the fingerpicking style. (metal and el.ak.) Jos

 

 

The problem with that arguement, Jos, is that a bazillion people have learned to fingerpick just fine on standard fretboards. I see tiny little ladies playing beautiful classical music on those big wide flat nylon strings guitars, and I see big guys with "little thick fingers" playing just fine on 1-11/16. I'm currently learning mandolin and I use the arguement "my fingers don't fit these frets" - then I watch someone like Bill Monroe and I shut up.

 

The reason most fingerpickers like 1-3/4 isn't the nut width, it is so they can get the fingers of their picking hand in between the strings - a 1-3/4 nut will have a wider spacing at the bridge. Flat pickers like the narrow nut, not because it makes fretting easier, but they can move that little pick around faster at the soundhole.

 

I am a fingerpicker and play 1-11/16, 1-3/4. 1-7/8 and 2 inch nuts - all equally poorly. In fact, I frankly have more trouble with the wide nuts than the narrow, since one of the things I do is wrap my thumb over the top. My humble suggestion is that unless your fingers are totally abnormal, try to play a normal guitar.

[guitapick]

Originally posted by Freeman Keller My humble suggestion is that unless your fingers are totally abnormal, try to play a normal guitar.

 

A WHAT guitar!!!????

 

Actually, Freeman's correct in saying that the main advantage of the wider spacing is for the right hand technique. Rest strokes are much easier that way. I have to say, though, that there are some tunes I play which are much easier to finger on a wider neck. (I have long, skinny fingers, by the way). It's also a bit easier to get a clean pull-off on a wider neck, IMHO.

 

And, yawn, as usual...he's right about just about everything else he's written in his post. We can all learn to accomodate ourselves to the instruments at hand.

 

But: "Normal" ? Let's get our semantic duckies in a row, here, Freeman, 'lest we give my li'l sound boxes an inferiority complex.

[guitarist21]

 

Originally posted by guitapick Let's get our semantic duckies in a row, here, Freeman.

 

 

WOW that made me laugh. Another Freeman gem of a semantic duck: "Retro-Grouch."

 

Back to the wide nut discussion: My Epi Masterbilt has a really wide nut. I have really small/skinny fingers. At first it was kind of uncomfortable and reminded me of a classical guitar, which I didn't like. After having the guitar for a few weeks, I've actually grown to like the feel quite a bit. I've asked some people with big hands about it, and I think it just comes down to being a feel thing. "Which feel do you like better, wide nut or not so wide?" as opposed to "which will be easier for me to play?"

 

Ellen

[Freeman Keller]

You people stop making fun of the old duck.

 

Yes, please, lets get back to the wide nut discussion...... I find it interesting that Martin's single nylon string guitar is not a 2'' nut like most true classicals, but 1-7/8. I always figured that was a concession to all us who grew up with their narrow necks. Actually I think Taylor's hybrid is the same. That might be another possibility for Jos.

 

There, thread drifted back where it belongs.

[guitapick]

Thanks, Freeman. Sorry for the digression. Hope you took it for the good natured nudge it was meant to be. I really enjoy and respect your posts.

 

I used to play on a neighbor's Martin nylon string back in the 60s when I first started playing guitar. It was definitely a thinner fretboard and very easy to play. Dark wood body. Nice guitar.