How wide are your nuts?

James · Post by **James** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:45 pm

I'm sure that I've come across guitars that varied outside of the commonly given measurements, so in the interests of science, let's see if we can collect some data on this.

We're looking for Fender/Squier mostly but other brands are welcome, too. It would also be good to get some info for replacement necks like those from Allparts, though I'm sure that stuff is available online. Here are some rough guidelines so we have consistency.

- measure the width of the neck rather than the nut itself (with bound necks the nut might be set inside the binding)
- measure just below the nut but as close to it as you can (slightly into the 1st fret)
- don't worry too much about metric imperial, but if possible stick to mm for ease of comparison.

Here's a quick image to show what seems like a decent standard method.

James · Post by **James** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:58 pm

I'll start it off

Fender/Squier
1967 Cornado II - ? (currently at my parents house)
2006 Squier Hello Kitty 40mm
1996(?) Squier Venus - 43mm

Other brands
1974 Ibanez Melody Maker copy - 43mm
197x Ventura ES-175 copy - 39mm
Schecter TSH-1 42mm
1967 Hagstrom II - 40mm
196x Hagstrom - 40mm

Bass
1993 Squier MIJ Jazz Bass - 39mm
Mighty Mite fretless jazz bass neck - 41mm

mixtape · Post by **mixtape** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:36 pm

Fender/Squier
1998 Squier Super-Sonic (CIJ) - 40mm

Other
1999 (?) Bronze Series BC Rich Mockingbird - 42mm
1999 (?) Ovation Balladeer Special - 42mm

Bass
Samick mystery bass, c.2001 - 39mm
2003 Squier Bronco bass - 40mm

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:18 pm

Squier:
2004 Squier Jagmaster - 40mm
2006 Squier Affinity Telecaster - 40mm

Univox
1975 Univox Hi-Flyer - 40mm

Washburn
1995 Washburn D-11 - 43mm

Martin
2007 Little Martin LXM - 41mm

Framus
195x Framus Studio Acoustic - 40mm

Teisco/Japan
196x 1-Pickup thing - 43.5mm

Edit: Does that mean a strat/tele nut would be a nearly-direct replacement for the Univox's nut?

James · Post by **James** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 7:55 pm

Nothing doing?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:26 pm

Even after a few entries its interesting to see 40mm is the average measurement. I never really thought about this before. I'll do mine over the weekend.

*Edit* Whouse that dude with the 7 string? JJLipton? I wanna know the width of that.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:55 pm

Squier JM JM - 42mm
Squier Stagemaster Deluxe - 42mm

Fender Jaguar (1964) - 40mm
Fender JS (1970's Bronco Neck) - 40mm
Fender Telecaster (USA Standard) - 43mm

Telebastard (MIJ Fernandes Strat Neck) - 41mm

Epiphone Dot (MIK) - 42mm

BC Rich Acrylic Series Mockingbird (MIK) - 41mm

Flying V (MIJ Unknown) - 42mm

I'm really surprised the Tele has the widest nut width, it is arguably 42.5mm but still the widest even over the Metal guitars.

James · Post by **James** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:23 am

Nice one, Fran.

The main thing I was wondering was how consistent the vintage Fender A and B width necks are, but it's definitely interesting to see numbers from other types, too.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 10:58 am

Model/Year/MM/neck stamp (if known)

Fender/Squier

Vintage:
Jaguar '65 39mm A
Jaguar '67 40mm B
Muscmaster '78 41mm ?
Mustang '65 42mm B
Coronado '66 40mm B (special order)

Custom Jazzmaster '65 style (D+B) 42mm

Modern:
Strat (90s Japanese)
Tele (Indo)

I sold off the rest of my modern stuff so I don't have measurements for any of that stuff.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 11:55 am

Just want to say what a fantastic idea and thread this is James, it's INCREDIBLY useful for someone like me who gravitates towards small nuts (missus). I will crontribute all I can as soon as I find my steel ruler.

If I may be so bold to suggest that the opposing measurement at the other end of the neck might be useful too - often on guitar specs they provide a width at a higher fret. My preference, for example, is for a guitar neck that stays slim all the way up (like many 50's/60's Japanese guitars) and this info would be awesome for targetting guitars that will fit me.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 11:57 am

I keep meaning to write down all my measurements on my guitars. I will get that done soon.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 12:09 pm

Even tho both of my jaguar necks are different (A and B width respectably) there is actually only 1mm difference at the nut tho the A neck feels much thinner. I'd say that on this example at least the much skinnier A profile is achieved more through the profile/carve of the whole back of the neck rather than just the nut width. Even 'though the A/B/ etc officially just pertains to the nut width.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 12:37 pm

Dave wrote:Just want to say what a fantastic idea and thread this is James, it's INCREDIBLY useful for someone like me who gravitates towards small nuts (missus). I will crontribute all I can as soon as I find my steel ruler.

It is useful to all. For years i played what I thought looked good and sounded good, but i've started to prefer certain profiles and widths these days.
My favorite neck at the moment is the Squier JMJM which i'd say is C profile with a 42mm nut width. The shallow oval profile of most Superstrats gives me cramp in the fretting hand and the 40mm nut width of the Jag and JS seems too small.

NEED MORE CONTRIBUTIONS!

James · Post by **James** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:39 pm

Dave wrote:Just want to say what a fantastic idea and thread this is James, it's INCREDIBLY useful for someone like me who gravitates towards small nuts (missus).

Cheers. I like small nuts also.

There's definitely an element of 'put the ruler away and just play the thing' but having had the chance to go through robvonbon's mustang collection it can be useful to compare the details and find out what you like.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 4:23 am

I am glad you brought up this topic. I was recently trying to figure out why I didn't love my Comp stang Reissue neck as much and now I know why.

Shortscales
AVRI Jaguar 43mm C
1973 Fender Bronco 41mm C
1977 Mullet-stang 41mm C
CAR Competition Mustang RI 40mm D
Squier Hello Kitty Pink Mini Strat 39mm

Strat scale
1967 Fender Coronado II 40mm Thin C
Baja Telecaster 42mm Vintage profile
Squier Vista Venus 44mm U

For a shortscale neck, a C profile with 41mm nut width seems perfect for me. The extra 2 mm on the Jaguar really makes is feel a lot wider to me. The 73 Bronco neck and 1969 Mustang neck on the Mullet-stang are very close, but the 1969 neck wins with a slight more chunkiness and nitro finish. The Bronco neck feels identical in profile to the Jaguar, just 2mm less width.

For a normal strat scale, the Coronado IIs 40mm thin C is butter and the blocks, binding and nitro checked finish make it perfect. I am actually modeling my Jazzmaster project neck after it. While a 40mm nut width seems too small on a shortscale neck, it feels ideal for a strat scale. Since your fingers have more room due to the expanded scale, the nut width being smaller is less of a factor. I do love the vintage profile on my tele neck and 42mm nut width gives lots of room. The Squier Venus neck is a chunky beast. My guess is its a U profile and the binding makes the 44mm nut feel even wider. Only time will tell if I end up liking it.

One last thing I noticed on the Coronado II that was interesting. They shaped the binding to matchup with the nut so it almost looks like one piece.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 2:43 pm

taylornutt wrote:CAR Competition Mustang RI 40mm D

Surprised at that, im sure the one i had was C profile. But yeah, D profile is closer to usual Superstrat territory.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 4:16 pm

Fran wrote:
taylornutt wrote:CAR Competition Mustang RI 40mm D
Surprised at that, im sure the one i had was C profile. But yeah, D profile is closer to usual Superstrat territory.

I am guessing on the D profile, but it definitely feels flatter on the back than my other C profile necks.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 5:57 pm

Uhhh, hold up a sec. Y'all have your ideas of A and B wrong.

A is 1 1/2" or 38mm. You can look up that conversion to verify.
B is 1 5/8" or 41mm.

Some guitars have 1 9/16" which is 40mm, this is what the original Supersonic had, verified on my own and backed up by digital caliper measurements from wadeaminute who owns a handful of them.

My '96 MIJ Jaguar has a B neck, measured at 41mm. I have a custom neck in 1.5" A width (38mm) as well.

I haven't had time to go and do all of my guitars at the moment but I will. Just sayin that if y'all have B width necks at 40mm you might be measuring a bit wrong, perhaps due to curvature of the fretboard or something.

Also, profile is different than width, confusing since they used A B for neck width then there's all the letters used for profile. You can have a B width with a C or V profile, for example. Don't get that mixed up with the width.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 6:37 pm

Every time i see this thread title I think of this fella..