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Post subject: 1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:35 am
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1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width (Fender) vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width (Gibson) Pros & Cons?


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Post subject: Re: 1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:46 am
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The difference?

1mm...

Sorry, I had to say it... :P

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Post subject: Re: 1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:50 am
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Main difference depends on the string spacing.

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Post subject: Re: 1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 11:08 am
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beowolverine93 wrote:
1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width (Fender) vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width (Gibson) Pros & Cons?

One of the differences in the scenario you presented is that the 42 mm nut is usually attached to a neck in which the headstock is on a plane parallel to the fretboard (Fender) and has a sort of scroll type shape whereas the 43 mm nut is usually attached to to a neck in which the headstock is angled back and away from the plane of the fretboard (Gibson) and has the traditional open book shape. Since it is these shapes on the headstock that are the only true measure of a guitar's monetary value and tone it quickly becomes clear that the nut width is of paramount importance when choosing a guitar.

Also as has been previously mentioned, the 43 mm nut is just a tad wider than the 42 so it will feel just a tad wider.

Hope that helps.


:wink:

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Post subject: Re: 1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 11:15 am
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Haha. I love the humor Armadillo so no worries here. :D That helped a lot BMW so thanks. :) So could you get a 43 mm on a Strat?


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Post subject: Re: 1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 12:36 pm
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I don't know the specs for all Strats but I don't think there is a 43mm nut. But, I take measurements of nut and string spacing of every guitar I get my hands on and nut size and string spacing don't always correlate logically. Some smaller nuts I've measured have wider string spacing than some larger nuts. It depends how they cut the nut, and probably what day of the week it was. This goes for all makes, Gibson, Fender, etc.

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Post subject: Re: 1.650" (42 mm) Nut Width vs. 1.695" (43 mm) Nut Width
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 3:23 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
...Some smaller nuts I've measured...


This is where I started laughing uncontrollably.

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Post subject: There's a big difference IMHO
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:32 am
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You will notice that 42 mm are almost a standard nut width on fenders under $1,000 and the wider nuts on those models over $1,000 (vintage models being the exception generally). On the Squiers it is not uncommon to find nuts less than 42 mm in width.

The narrowest nuts tend to be on the low priced and the widest on the higher priced models. This suggests to me that kids are playing the Squiers and older guys who can afford to drop big bucks are playing the high priced American Standard and Deluxe models. A 25 year old man is generally playing 42mm and a 55 year old man is collecting 43 mm guitars. Being 62 my fingers don't move as fast and my hand is no longer comfortable with crammed spaces.

Can I tell the difference in nut width. Absolutely. I noticed after hours of playing narrow nuts my index finger joint would be swollen the next day evidently from the twist I was putting on it in the low registers. When I was younger this wear and tear was not an issue. But I also noticed that I sold off all my 43 mm nut guitars even though they were better guitars - neck is too wide in the upper registers to play comfortably with my hand.

The older guys generally have more money to spend and you rarely see a higher priced fender with narrow nuts. Why do you think that is if all nut widths are equal? Obviously there are going to be exceptions with guys with large hands. You see this same thing in motorcycles. Most motorcycles are made for men in the height range of 5'5" to 5' 9". Except for some dual sport bikes you won't find one comfortable for someone 5' 11" and above. That tells you something about the guys buying motorcycles. It's like guitars for left handers.

I like the wide necks for finger picking style on an electric. But the width upper neck after a few hours is most uncomfortable. I like the narrow nuts for doing double stops. But after a few hours the 1 5/8" nut torques my index finger joint. I have found that I can live with the 42 mm as a compromise. The exception is if the 1 5/8" neck has a V profile - I can live with that. 42mm with a V is ideal IMO.

The only way to know is to own guitars with different necks. Over time you tastes will change as your playing improves. Your taste in frets, neck radius etc. will evolve over time as your playing evolves also.

I'm of the opinion that you shouldn't multiply guitars but rather flip them. If you have more than 2 electrics you are going to divide your playing time between them. If you want to master your instrument you have to live with it without distractions. Look around at famous guitarists. They are connected to that one guitar. You are going to have to go through multiple guitars as your tastes mature however. If you live by the 2 electric rule then you aren't going to let GAS empty your bank account. Until you like one more than the 2 you got you won't flip one to make room for the next one until you are sure. You will save a lot of money this way.

Over time you will come to realize why the Fender strat is the world's greatest electric guitar design and the tele second. Models will vary and individual units within these models will vary. I would prefer an American Deluxe with a 42 mm V neck and different pickups but I can't get that. Building your own guitar from parts is a pricey mistake too because you are going to flip it and take a beating on price when you do. If you go with the Fender design your own you will be better off but you will still take a hit. A lot of market research goes into design the stock models. Fender runs the numbers against the price points. You aren't going to beat their sales team. Likewise if you mod a guitar you are going to take a hit. If you want to save money on a guitar look for the used that have been modified with upgrade pickups. Those poor guys are going to take a real hit.


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