I know something is wrong with me (I have 22 guitars). Be that as it may, I noticed something the other day while inspecting them. Nut width is not always related to string spacing measured at the nut. Wouldn't it be more accurate for a manufacturer to state the string spacing in their specs. instead of the nut width? I was looking at the specs. of the new J. Mascis and it says the nut is 42.5 but before I would depend on that to be a meaningful measurement, I would measure the width of the strings at the nut. I wouldn't be surprised if the string spacing isn't the same as a standard Tele/Strat (42mm).

I'm a bit obsessive myself. I've taken all kinds of measurements of six guitars in an effort to understand what makes them "feel" different. I've found the same as you. If you want to know how much room you've got to move around you need to measure the string spacing because it doesn't follow the nut width like you'd expect.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Hi TVR: it is true that string spacing can vary a certain amount on necks with the same width fingerboard at the nut. But then it is perfectly easy to adjust that spacing simply by cutting a new nut, so a player can have what he wants in that department.

By contrast, the width of the neck itself at that point is fixed (unless you want to get into some serious woodwork), so that is the number we need to know. It fundamentally determines how the neck feels in your hand when fretting at low positions.

Mind you, nut width is only a guide in any case. The reality of the situation on any individual guitar depends on who was on the sanding machine the day that neck was made and how heavy-handed he was: one 42 mm neck is not the same as another.

Also, I'd suggest that the thickness of the neck front to back at first and twelfth frets is far more important to the feel of the guitar than whether it is 42 or 43 mm wide at the nut, which when all is said and done is a very small difference. Manufacturers never give those thickness numbers - but it would be more useful if they did.

Cheers - C

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Those are two of the measurements I've been taking and keeping track of on my guitars. Also, the width of the neck at the 12th fret because that varies a lot. I've found that Gibson does quote the depth of the neck at the 1st and 12th frets on some of their models, particularly the Joe Bonamassa LP.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Hi Drew: that is very interesting. I'd be most curious to know those numbers for the Bonamassa Gold Top, if you have them handy? So happens I have a bit of neck carving to do shortly, and more data are always useful to think about.

Just for shucks, here's some numbers for a few guitars in my possession, for the sake of comparing models. The first number for each guitar is thickness front-to-back at the first fret, the second number at the twelfth:

Squier Strat - 20.65mm (0.813") - 23.40 (0.921)

MIJ Strat - 21.95 (0.864) - 25.40 (1.0)

MIA Strat - 20.90 (0.823) - 25.33 (0.997)

MIK Tele - 22.16 (0.872) - 22.88 (0.9)

Les Paul - 21.39 (0.842) - 24.81 (0.977)

Yamaha CPX - 21.02 (0.827) - 22.44 (0.883) (at the tenth fret)

Interesting how the Tele's neck is the thickest near the nut and the thinnest up the dusty end. That's the baseball bat carve for us: so much more useful information than mere nut width.

Also, of all those guitars strangely the Squier is the one who's neck would be most shredder friendly, if that's what a guy is into. Just goes to show, a player should choose a guitar for his hands and ears, not for the name on the headstock or factory of origin.

Cheers - C

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Here's the info I have for my guitars and my friends that I've been borrowing as well as what Gibson lists for the Joe Bonamassa Studio Les Paul. The first numbers are taken flat against the fretboard, against the top edge of the 1st fret wire and the second number at the top edge of the 12th fret wire. Notice that the numbers for the FMT HH Tele are not reversed, it is thicker at the 1st fret than at the 12th.

Am Dlx Strat, modern C .830" .870"
JA 90 Tele, modern C .830" .890"
FMT HH Tele, Korea .825" .815"
'67 Guild Starfire .870" .954"
'76 Gibson Firebird .810" .985"
'57 Tele looks U shaped .880" .908"
Joe Bonamassa Studio LP .838" .983"

I hope this helps. I also have nut info and width at the 12th fret as well as string spacing at the nut and bridge.

_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Hi Drew: that is seriously interesting information, thank you.

But just to be clear, are you saying you're taking those measurements from the top of the fret wire, or the front of the face of the fingerboard? Because if it is the former we'd then need to know what size the fret wire is in each case to find out about the thickness of the neck itself.

Either way, thank you.

And yes, that is an amazing pair of measurements for the FMT Tele. How does that feel under your hand, I wonder?

Cheers - C

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Sorry that I made that statement confusing. My measurements are taken flat on the fret board to the back of the neck and do not include the fret wire.
The FMT HH is a strange bird for me in several ways because it has jumbo fret wires and a 15.75" radius fretboard. I can definitely feel the shallow neck at the 12th but it plays fine. I nearly bought it from my friend but after using his Firebird for a week, decided my next purchase will be a LP. I'm researching them now and my gas quotient is getting close to eruption.

_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Hi again Drew: thanks for the clarification. Got it.

And 15.75 inch radius? That IS odd. Since that comes out as an even 40 cm I guess that must be a metric thing springing from the Korean origin of the guitar. My Korean Tele also has a bridge with adjustment screws that take a metric sized allen wrench - though the trussrod is imperial. And I'm sure the fingerboard is a regular 9.5 inches.

Strange stuff.

Cheers - C

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