which electic has good string spread?

[ducati2]

I fingerpick acoustic mostly and wish to explore an archtop electric, but most I pick up are too tight in the string spread for me. I am used to 1 - 3/4" at the top nut. Are there any electric guitars out there made for finger pickers?

[cratz2]

Some shredder-oriented guitars have a 1 3/4 nut. Of course, those guitars tend to have pretty shallow necks front to back. Just go to a guitar shop and ask for a shredder type guitar with a really wide neck.

 

PRS make some guitars with a wide/thin neck, but it's not as extreme as some Jacksons, Ibanez, Washburn etc...

 

And some custom neck makers make strat nuts that are 1 3/4 wide, but if you have to be sure to have a trem that is American or Japanese spec. I think if you put a neck with a 1 3/4 nut on a guitar that originally had a 40 or 41mm nut, the strings around the 15 - 22 frets would be hanging off the frets on the E strings.

[Hemroidius]

I know I've seen a few (very few) electrics advertised with spec of 1 & 3/4 nut width. Not knowing what style or price range here are some examples (no shred sticks):

 

http://www.delisleguitar.com/index.php/de-lisle-standard/35-delisle-standard/44-delisle-standard (choice of nut widths, 24 & 3/4 scale)

 

http://musiciansdiscountwarehouse.com/vicusehoboel.html (1 & 3/4 nut, 24 & 3/4 scale)

 

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2009/Dec/BilT_Guitars_Relevator_Electric_Guitar_Review.aspx (1 & 3/4 nut, 25.5" scale)

 

As the above poster stated, neck depth is also a factor too. i.e., the current production Gibson Melody Maker has nut width of 1.695" (fairly average these days), but front to back the neck is about as thick as they come (50s style). A more "modern" guitar with same nut width and "contemporary" neck depth will feel a lot different to your hand.

[Wyatt]

There aren't a lot of guitars made stock with a 1-3/4 nut.

Rickenbacker makes the 660 model and the 650 series with a 1-3/4 nut.

Every US-made G&L model can be ordered with their #4 neck (1-3/4 nut and 12" radius) for no extra cost. This has been an option since the late-'80's or so, so it is possible to find a used one from time to time.

Other companies like Fender will offer them on Custom Shop guitars (it used to be a custom option way back when every neck was hand cut anyway, so there are '50's and '60's Tele's that turn up with a 13/4" nut).

[mdintx]

In addition, you can purchase any Strat or Tele and replace the neck with one from Warmoth that's made to you specifications.