Tech: Wider guitar neck

Subject: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 09:38 AM

Arthritis has made some chord shapes more difficult for me to hold down, over the past number of years. I recently recommenced attending a "sing along" on Friday nights at a local pub but found some little difficulties in playing. Could any members recommend a steel-string, accoustic guitar with pick-up, that I could finger more easily. I tried a friends Classical guitar last Friday, with it's 50mm nut size and found it ideal for my not so nimble fingers. Is there a similar width accoustic, with steel strings ?
Another friend advised that I try to procure a twelve string model and change the strings to six, would a twelve string's neck be that wide ? generally ?

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 10:45 AM

Adapting a 12 string is always an option, but there are guitars out there theses days with wider string spacing, to suit those of us who play fingerstyle. Taylors tend to be wider, and various designs in cooperation with players like Chet Atkins, Martin Simpson Tommy Emmanuel, etc. are also available. No doubt others here can offer similar suggestions. However, your problem might be more to do with the profile of the neck, but again, there are plenty of variations on offer these days.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Geordie boy
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 11:29 AM

Lowden

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 11:41 AM

I ave a very nice Lowden, but I believe a Collings might be even wider. Expensice, though...

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: Acorn4
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 11:41 AM

Seagull have a slightly wider neck similar to a Lowden for a more bargain price.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 11:46 AM

My (not used for a couple of other problems with it but to get fixed one day...) Fylde Falstaff would probably make the OPs requirements.

One problem here that passes my mind as I read this thread so far is we come up with Fylde, Taylor and Lowden... that are not all cheap, What is the OPs budget?

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 12:27 PM

My Santa Cruz “F” has a wider neck than most but, again, they’re not cheap - Ivor Mairants currently has one with £900 off but it’s still just under £4000. I was lucky, they don’t turn up second hand that often.

You could ‘phone up Mr Clapton and ask him if he’s interested in selling his!

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 12:55 PM

I you're in the US, check the usual used guitar sources for an older guitar built by Augie LoPrinzi. The ones built in New Jersey in the '70s were sold as "LoPrinzi" (I've had one for 35 years and it's not for sale), The ones built in Florida during the 80's were called "Augustino". They all had fairly wide necks with thicker than average profiles. He started using narrower profiles in the '90s and on, so look for older examples.

Augie was a very underrated luthier, in my opinion. His guitars don't fetch the fat prices of most boutique builders. They're usually in the $1,000 USD range.

As far as I know, he never built acoustic-electric models, but any used guitar is apt to have an after-market pickup installed. Or you could have one installed yourself.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 01:13 PM

The Seagull Cedar Folk is a really nice guitar with a wider neck width. (45mm I think)
http://www.hotroxuk.com/seagull-coastline-s6-cedar-folk.html?utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=organic&gclid=CjwKCAiA0O7fBRASEiwA

This Recording King guitar ROS6 has a 46mm neck width. I have this guitar. It's got a really good tone:
https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/recording-king-ros6-acoustic-guitar/1318760900

However, most "wide" neck widths are still a fair bit shorter than the 50mm of classical guitars. This Harley Benton, from Thomann, at 48mm wide, is the widest steel string on the market currently as far as I'm aware. It gets very good reviews and is a bargain at about £165 new:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hb_custom_line_cld_1048sce_ns.htm

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 01:17 PM

I'm an electric guitar player... to me, all acoustics are wide..

It might be helpful to have an idea of what measurements at nut and say 12th fret are considered wide...???

Then it's jut a matter of checking specs on various guitar brand's websites...

My Art & Lutherie cedar top cost about 200 quid 20 years ago, and was a reasonable enough quality guitar.
From my point of view it's wide at the nut, but to others it might be really skinny...?????

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 01:20 PM

Matt - that's an interesting coincedental cross post...

2 votes for Canadian good value for money acoustics..

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 01:26 PM

I think generally over 45mm nut width tends to be considered wide.
I only play wide-neck acoustics and I find 43mm too narrow: the two Recording King guitars I own both have 46mm nut width and I find that perfect.

I've heard it said many times that nut width is not necessarily an indication of string spacing    but I have never once playing a 43mm-nut guitar that had wide string spacing. Never.

Thomann's Harley Benton range do a surprising amount of wider nut widths. There's the one I linked to above.

But there's also this 45mm 12-fret-to-body parlour that I will inevitably buy one of these days, it's just too tempting:
cheap Early Benton mahogany parlour


And they do this one (45mm):
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_custom_line_cla_28v_wn.htm

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 01:30 PM

All the Harley Bentons I mentioned above come in fitted-pickup versions as well as without. I think I just linked to the withouts, so you might need to spend a modicum of time on the Thomann site to find their pickup-fitted equivalents (I think they're the same model numbers but with E on the end)

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: C-flat
Date: 27 Nov 18 - 05:29 AM

Hi Beachcomber,

As soon as I saw this thread title I immediately thought of my Recording King, but I see Matt Milton got there before me.

Best value-for-money instrument I've ever owned (apart from one guitar I got for free!) with a very accommodating neck for my very large hands!

Regards

Merrick

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 12:58 PM

Many, many thanks to all who advised on the various guitars and brand names. Particular thanks to Mr Milton whose links were invaluable. I have identified a Harley Benton (48mm neck)that I think would be excellent. Now, I have only to await an opportunity to buy one online from that website, provided they will ship to the Republic of Ireland.

["The boss" must not know until after the Christmas Hols :-)]

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 06:59 PM

glad to be of help Beachcomber. If you do go for the Harley Benton 48mm do post to let us know what it's like. The online reviews are positive and the sound samples I've heard sound good, so I'd be keen to hear a first-hand review.

Thomann have a 30-day no-questions-asked returns policy too. So if you really don't like the guitar in terms of sound or playability you can return it. You do have to pay the postage unfortunately (unless of course there's something actually faulty with it) but it's still a very low-risk way of buying an instrument.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Some bloke
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 04:01 AM

There are some out there.

Ironically, I’m selling one right now although obviously Mudcat isn’t the place to do it.

I have large fingers and they aren’t exactly slim. I have an Aria SW3 special edition made in Japan in 1980 that is as wide as any classical yet is a steel string acoustic. It is lovely for finger picking, being so wide and the main reason I’m selling is because since buying a Terry Pack small jumbo, I’ve found a 1 3/4” nut width with string spacing that allows everything I want to do.

So;

1) There are some out there.

2) Play a few 1 3/4” and see. It’s the string pitch every bit as much as the neck width.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: beachcomber
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 07:31 AM

Hi Some Bloke, Can you give me details , in full, dimensions , type of body etc., etc., of this wide neck guitar that you would sell ? I am waiting for Joe to confirm my re-application of my old membership under this same pseudonym when I will be able to PM you re price , packing and delivery etc.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: beachcomber
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 07:35 AM

Oh oh, but you are only a guest and, I see that Joe has accepted me , once more, as a bona fide member of the Mudcat family. I am so pleased.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Pseudonymous
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 07:56 AM

Could I put in a word for Fylde Guitars?
They will, I understand, build you a custom one, and do wider neck models. Their web site has testimonials, and I have played one which was great.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: beachcomber
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 08:12 AM

I daresay you are talking "Big Bucks" Pseudonymous ?

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 08:34 AM

Fylde standard guitar prices are here
I'd call those fairly big bucks...

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: GUEST,Pseudonymous
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 11:32 AM

I suppose they aren't cheap, sorry if the idea bombs for that reason. But they are good!

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: beachcomber
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 11:48 AM

Thanks for your good intentions fellas but my Old Age Pension won't run to it. I'm not a professional entertainer in any case so it would be a purchase just for "sing alongs" and the like. But thanks !

Subject: RE: Tech: Wider guitar neck
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 12:38 PM

Cash Converters always have used acoustics hanging on the wall to try out...

Our local has a bunch of yamahas and similar budget acoustics..


Prices vary from stupidly over optimistic down to fair enough...
average about £150...

If one takes your fancy, you can sometimes haggle a reasonable deal depending on the sales assistant...

I got a decent enough yamaha for £50 quid after 10 minutes boring the salesman to death about defects needing costly fixes
which I exagerated as much as i could get away with...