How much does nut width matter?

[Shask]

I have tiny hands, like a squirrel... But I mostly play with thumb around the neck, like a gremlin, not a classical player.

End result is I prefer 42mm nuts and also moderately thick C necks without prominent shoulders.

Give me a charvel with those squared up necks (not all of them are this way, but anyway) and I get pain almost immediately. Just unplayable.

Yeah, after many years, and many guitars, I prefer 42mm or 41.3mm nuts with C shaped necks, around 20-21mm thick at the first fret.

I have went through wrist braces, thumb pain, etc... before I figured this out. I used to love Ibanez, but had to sell them all, except for the ones I sanded the necks on to fit my hand.

 

[bukowski]

I adjust to all specs---couldn't care less about them.

 

[Blix]

EVH had small hands, so it makes sense I like Wolfgang necks.

He didn't have small hands at all, to the point there's been articles written on them... :)

https://americansongwriter.com/look-fans-are-losing-their-minds-over-eddie-van-halens-giant-hands-in-sammy-hagars-rockwalk-photo/

 

[DrewJD82]

I have tiny hands, like a squirrel... But I mostly play with thumb around the neck, like a gremlin, not a classical player.

End result is I prefer 42mm nuts and also moderately thick C necks without prominent shoulders.

Give me a charvel with those squared up necks (not all of them are this way, but anyway) and I get pain almost immediately. Just unplayable.

Yep, I can definitely say a chunky C is my strong preference, despite believing wide and flat was for a long time. Certain V-shapes can cramp my fingers up as well, which is why I got rid of my PRS SE (though I played a Zach Meyers model this weekend that was fantastic).

 

[Shask]

He didn't have small hands at all, to the point there's been articles written on them... :)

https://americansongwriter.com/look-fans-are-losing-their-minds-over-eddie-van-halens-giant-hands-in-sammy-hagars-rockwalk-photo/

Interesting. I have always heard that, and was the reason why the Wolfgangs were so narrow.

 

[Blix]

Interesting. I have always heard that, and was the reason why the Wolfgangs were so narrow.

The first EBMM EVH's were even smaller, closer to 40.5mm, makes sense since it was copied from Kramer 5150 neck, which had Pacer specs it seems. Same as my 1983 Pacer :)

 

[Chocol8]

Interesting. I have always heard that, and was the reason why the Wolfgangs were so narrow.

He was a small guy with very large hands. There are pictures where you can see his hand on a fretboard and figure out his reach.

 

[jco5055]

He didn't have small hands at all, to the point there's been articles written on them... :)

https://americansongwriter.com/look-fans-are-losing-their-minds-over-eddie-van-halens-giant-hands-in-sammy-hagars-rockwalk-photo/

Interesting. I have always heard that, and was the reason why the Wolfgangs were so narrow.

in the context of this thread and my preferences, I will say I had bigger hands than his based on his GC cement hands

 

[jco5055]

He was a small guy with very large hands. There are pictures where you can see his hand on a fretboard and figure out his reach.

should have read all the replies first so I could quote them all, but I think I'm similar where I'm a little taller than Ed was (I'm 5'9 and it seems like general consensus was he was 5'7ish) with large hands for my height but that translates to idk in general above average hands....I once found some kind of governmental chart that let you compare your percentile of hand length and width and I was I think 79 and 93rd percentile respectively...I think it comes out to me having the size of a guy 6'3 if he has average hands for his height.

 

[Shask]

should have read all the replies first so I could quote them all, but I think I'm similar where I'm a little taller than Ed was (I'm 5'9 and it seems like general consensus was he was 5'7ish) with large hands for my height but that translates to idk in general above average hands....I once found some kind of governmental chart that let you compare your percentile of hand length and width and I was I think 79 and 93rd percentile respectively...I think it comes out to me having the size of a guy 6'3 if he has average hands for his height.

I am 5'11", but my hands are the same size as my 5'2" wife's hands, lol.

 

[jco5055]

Just wanted to mention I went wedding band shopping with my fiancée and my finger was measured at like 9 ring size. Interesting because google says that’s slightly smaller than the 10 average and I’d think that would be the best indicator of finger “fatness” and probably what’s most affected with nut width… though then again if I never tried playing like jazzy chords or acoustic kinda stuff on my electrics I’d be fine with 42 I’m sure

 

[laxu]

I've got an 8-string so that's nut width out the wazoo. Yet there are 6-strings that I hate because the fretboard feels too wide for the number of strings. 2015 Gibson, some PRS models for example.

For 6-strings I actually prefer narrower necks.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Yep, I can definitely say a chunky C is my strong preference, despite believing wide and flat was for a long time. Certain V-shapes can cramp my fingers up as well, which is why I got rid of my PRS SE (though I played a Zach Meyers model this weekend that was fantastic).

This is a charvel I loved. BUT I modified the neck shape by shaving off some of the shoulders. Before that, I'd get some real pain. Eventually sold it, because wasn't playing guitar at the time.

And I have a Zack Myers. Love the neck shape.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Yep, I can definitely say a chunky C is my strong preference, despite believing wide and flat was for a long time. Certain V-shapes can cramp my fingers up as well, which is why I got rid of my PRS SE (though I played a Zach Meyers model this weekend that was fantastic).

OMG do I ever know that feeling. Years of wide,flat and skinny necks til I got my first big neck Strat a good 3 decades ago.
Since then I love huge necks, preferably big V shape.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

This is a charvel I loved. BUT I modified the neck shape by shaving off some of the shoulders. Before that, I'd get some real pain. Eventually sold it, because wasn't playing guitar at the time.

And I have a Zack Myers. Love the neck shape.

I got one Charvel that doesn’t see much use because of the shoulders.

 

[gearJunkie]

It's more about volume and distance for me.

 

[DrewJD82]

OMG do I ever know that feeling. Years of wide,flat and skinny necks til I got my first big neck Strat a good 3 decades ago.
Since then I love huge necks, preferably big V shape.

I'm not there with V-shapes, a perfect C seems to be my happy place, I dig the way they fill up my whole hand. I got that partscaster a couple years ago with the 1"-1" neck and it feels like support for my hand more than anything that'd cause discomfort. But before 2 years ago, I was saying "I don't get on well with fat necks" and now I won't even consider something less than .88 at the nut.

 

[DrewJD82]

This is a charvel I loved. BUT I modified the neck shape by shaving off some of the shoulders. Before that, I'd get some real pain. Eventually sold it, because wasn't playing guitar at the time.

And I have a Zack Myers. Love the neck shape.

The Meyers sig has a GREAT neck!! I just played the hollowbody version last weekend and really, really loved it. I know they make a semi-hollow with piezos, not too interested in that, but the bigger hollowbody with piezos would definitely be something I'd snag for $600!

Edit- am I misremembering this model? I thought the original sig SE was the blue denim one with a piezo, but I can't seem to find any. I know he has a newer thin body with a piezo, but I'd want the thick body version.

 

[EOengineer]

Yep, I can definitely say a chunky C is my strong preference, despite believing wide and flat was for a long time. Certain V-shapes can cramp my fingers up as well, which is why I got rid of my PRS SE (though I played a Zach Meyers model this weekend that was fantastic).

Was it your Orville that pulled you over to the chunky neck club? IMO Japanese LPs have perfected a Goldilocks profile that’s some magic blend of the 58/59/60 Gibson profiles. Pretty easy to love.

 

[DrewJD82]

Was it your Orville that pulled you over to the chunky neck club? IMO Japanese LPs have perfected a Goldilocks profile that’s some magic blend of the 58/59/60 Gibson profiles. Pretty easy to love.

Nope, it was my Old Man Strat-

That was actually a catalyst for getting the idea to check out an LP, the ad I got the Strat from said something about it being large or uncomfortable for those who prefer a skinnier neck, I assumed I was going to shave it down until I played it and I REALLY fell in love with it. Once I was sold on that I started getting the itch to check out some LPs as most of my previous LP experiences involved thicker necks, aside from one early 90’s Studio that had the tiniest neck I’ve ever seen on an LP (ebony board, too, that was a killer guitar).

The Orville has some meat but nothing compared to that beast above. The Edwards is a little thicker so I’m assuming the Orville is the 60’s slim taper? I’m not familiar enough with Gibson neck shapes.

Without getting all EJ-neurotic, I was playing that Strat last night and had a passing thought on how much “tone” was the result of the neck. It could just as easily be the way it fits in my hand that provides support for my finger tips making better contact with the strings, I dunno, I definitely can’t clarify it, but there does feel like there’s something ‘more’ with that neck, I just can pinpoint what. I’m buying everything I need to re-fret it as those tiny vintage frets are pretty well beat to shit now.